| Confederate States of America |
| Quarter Master Generals Department |
| Richmond 8th Sept 1862 |
| |
| Hon G W Randolph |
| Secretary of War |
| |
| Sir, |
| I have the honor to report as follows
upon the letter of W Goodman Esq President of the Miss Central RRoad
Company asking the rates on Government transportation be increased
"from 20 to 25 cents per 100 lbs per 100 miles or less on freight.
In the beginning of the War the terms of transportation agreed upon
by the Rail Roads, generally, were two cents per mile per man, for
troops, and one half of the local rates, for freight. This Tariff
continued for some months. At length a convention of the R Road
Companies was held at Chattanooga on the 4th October 1861, to adopt
"uniform rates." This convention established a tariff of rates known
as the Chattanooga rates, applicable solely to freight and not
affecting Passenger rates. (I enclose herewith a copy of this
tariff) up to th?? time the change for freight, as I have learned,
was one half of the local rates of the several Roads. I think it may
be safely assumed that under the Chattanooga tariff, transportation
costs the Government more than twice as much as it did before and in
such items as corn, lumber, coal &c, more than twice as much, this
increase was allowed, to meet the increase, present and prospective,
in the prices of RRoad supplies labor &c. The effort is now made to
get an increase of twenty five per cent on these liberal rates. One
argument employed to sustain the demand, is, that the increase from
the Roads from "individual Passengers and private freights," is now
greatly reduced. Admit the fact, and get the inferences suggested,
does not follow. Those who before traveled as individuals, now
travel as soldiers, and as prices for by this Government at two
cents per mile per man, and they are often times sit crouched into
the cars, that the space hitherto occupied by one person is now
occupied by two. Then, Passenger cars were used for Private
Passengers, now, box cars and flats are used for the troops. As to
freight, it may be safely assumed, that, what, but for the war would
have been private freight, is now transported as Government freight,
greatly increased in quantity, and chargable at higher rates than
would have been paid by individuals. It is manifest that the roads
are now transporting more passengers and more freight than they ever
transported before, that they are transporting these for the
Government and get a higher price than they would get from
individuals. So the diminution of private transportation is more
than compensated by Government transportation. As to the alleged
increase of rates, "on private passage and freight" that may be done
at any time by RR Companies, and used as an argument in favor if
increasing the cost of transportation to the Government. |
| It is admitted that iron, aie (?), labor
etc are extraordinarily high, but it was to meet these increased
prices that the extraordinary rates established by the Chattanooga
convention were allowed. |
| My opinion is that the rates now allowed
are amply remuneration, and that the Rail Roads are making more
money than they ever made before. It is proper to remind that for
specious or extra service, they receive extra compensation. |
| Peculiar circumstances may be supposed,
under which the claim of a Road for rates higher than Chattanooga
rates, might commend itself to favor, but no such circumstances
appear in connection with this application of the Miss Central Road.
Should this application be allowed, then all the Rail Roads will
make the same demand. I respectfully advise against allowing the
increased compensation asked for. |
| A C Myers |
| Q M Genl |
|