| Engineer Bureau |
| May 30th 1863 |
| |
| Hon. J. B. Heiskell |
| Richmond, Va. |
| |
| Sir, |
| It is evidently proper to lay
before you the reasons which have induced the Government to decide on
removing the iron of the Rogersville Branch Rail Road {the
Rogersville & Jefferson RR} of East
Tennessee, and it is hoped that a candid statement will have the
effect of inducing the Directory of the Road to withdraw any
opposition they may have felt inclined to make at the onset. |
| The question of
transportation, coupled with the deterioration of some of the most
important rail roads in the Confederacy, is one of such vital
importance, that the Hon. Sec. of War appointed a Commission of three
to report upon the urgency of the case, and the judiciousness of
despoiling comparatively unimportant and local roads for the benefit
of such as were indispensable. This was done, and after an earnest and
conscience endeavor to avoid injustice in any case, your Road was
included in the list of those which would be established as possessing
almost exclusively, only local importance. Even as it is, there is no
probability of the Government being able to secure a surplus supply of
rail road iron needed for the repairs and construction of
indispensable lines. |
| The immediate call for the
Rogersville Branch R. Rd. iron, is caused by the fact that it is
absolutely needed to enable the Va. & Tenn. R. Rd. Co. to supply
the salt works of Washington Co. Va. with the fuel required for their
enlarged operations, by extending the branch road a short distance to
a heavily timbered region and is farther absolutely needed by the
Company to construct indispensable sidings &c. which will enable
it to transport with the present rolling stock all the products of the
mines. |
| A liberal supply of salt, it
needs no argument to show, is one of the prime necessities of every
state of the Confederacy, many of which look for it almost exclusively
to these very salt works of Virginia. |
| Hoping that the foregoing
explanations will prove satisfactory |
| I have the honor to be |
| Very Respectfully |
| Your obt. Servt. |
| J. F. Gilmer |
| Col. of Engrs & Chf of Bureau |
|