| Asst. QM Genl Office, 13th January 1862 |
| |
| The following statement in reference to
the rate of charges upon Rail Roads, for freight, under the
Chattanooga convention, is respectfully referred to the QM General |
| |
| It is not possible to strike an average
and show the precise relation between the prices paid for
transportation by individuals under the Local Tariffs of the various
Rail Roads, and the prices paid by the Government under what is known
as the Chattanooga Tariff. Hitherto the R. Roads have charged the
Government only one half of the local rates, or one half of
the rates paid by individuals. |
| The local tariffs of the several Roads
differ greatly, hence an average cannot be reached, nor indeed is it
material, since it is sufficiently manifest that the Chattanooga plan
pays the Roads much more than they have been receiving -- and it may
be safely alleged that every Road, whether long or short receives,
under that plan, more than individuals pay for the same
transportation. The excess cannot be stated at any precise and
uniform sum, since it must necessarily vary with the different Roads,
but it may be safely set down as an excess in the case of each Road.
In other words it may be safely assumed that under the Chattanooga
rates, the Government is paying more for transportation to every
Road than individuals pay for the same transportation. I
take two Roads as illustrations -- one a long, the other a short Road. |
|
A Long Road |
| Take the Wilmington Weldon Road
which is 162 miles long. |
|
1st class |
such for instance as ammunition. Individuals pay
90 cts per 100, which under Chattanooga rates the Government
pays 73 cts. on other articles in this class, such as
medicines, individuals pay 90 cts, while the Government pays,
under Chattanooga plan only 22 1/2 cts |
|
2d class
(Cuttlery, designs in wood &c) |
Individuals pay 55 cts per 100 lbs, while under
the Chattanooga plan the Govt pays 32 1/2 cts (few items of
this class are transported for the Government) |
|
3rd class
(anvils, molasses, coffee, &c) |
Individuals pay 35 cts per 100. Government under
Chatt plan pays 32 1/2 cts (Few articles of this class are
carried for the Govt.) |
|
4th class
?achons, Guano, Horse shoes &c pork
& beef |
Individuals pay 30 cts pr 100. Government under
Chatt. plan pays 32 1/2 cts. (This class embraces much of the
Govt freight transported on the Road, such as ordnance |
| Specific Articles
Not Classified, such as |
|
Corn |
Individuals pay 10 cts per bushel. Government
under Chatt plan pays 17 1/2 cts |
|
Coal |
Individuals pay $2 pr ton (2240 lbs). Government
under chatt plan pays $7 20/100 pr ton |
|
Pig iron |
same as coal |
|
Flour in barrels |
Individuals pay 50 cts pr barrel (200 lbs).
Government under Chatt plan pays 70 cts pr barrel |
|
Car load of live stock |
Individuals pay $45. Government under Chatt plan
pays $?? |
|
| |
|
A Short Road |
| Take the Richmond & Petersbg RR Co to
illustrate the disadvantages to the Government of the Chattanooga
rates. This Road is 22 1/2 miles long. The Chattanooga arrangement
counts it, as it does all Short Roads, at 100 miles. It is permitted
to charge 20 cts a hundred for a very large number of articles for
which under the old arrangement it has charges but 8 cts which is 1/2
rate. The full rate, charges individuals on such articles is 16 cts
being four cents less than the Government has to pay under the
Chattanooga plan. Articles of the first class are carried for
individuals at from 17 to 20 cts pr hundred, of the 2d class at from
13 to 16, of the 3d class at from 11 to 12, of 4th class 16 cts, of
5th class 12 cts, of 6th class 10 cts. These are the rates paid by
individuals. |
| But under the Chattanooga plan the
Government pays 20 cts per hundred on all of these various classes of
freight. |
| There is a yet more marked difference in
some articles not classified and which are charged at specific rates,
for instance Iron pig & bar & coal when over five tons, an
individual pays 8 cts per hundred, while under the Chattanooga rates
the Government pays 20 cts, on corn individuals pay 9 cts per 100,
while the Government has to pay 20 cts. |
| As to car loads of stores baggage &c
individuals are charged $14, while the Government under the
Chattanooga rates can be charged $20. (the Road carrying them for only
charges $7, being 1/2 of which an individual pays.) |
| Respy submitted |
| Larkin Smith |
| LtColAsstQMGenl |
|