| Quartermaster General's Department |
| Richmond, February 15th, 1862 |
| |
| Lt. Col. Smith |
| Asst QM Genl. |
| Richmond, Va. |
| |
| Sir, |
| To secure uniformity of rates the charges
proposed by the Chattanooga Convention were adopted after deliberation
by this Department. The same were then formally proposed by me to
Companies not represented in the Convention, and a large number of
those companies have accepted them, as binding between the Government
and themselves. To other companies too those terms are still open for
acceptance. |
| I do not therefore see any course open but
to adhere to these rates. If on short lines the transportation charges
on some articles come heavy, I feel confident that there will be a
satisfactory result on the longer lines. |
| Live Stock, Hay, and Bran are the only
articles that are charged for by the car load. You are consequently
authorized to pay for the articles mentioned in your letter, at the
rate therein referred to, and by the pound. |
| A. C. Myers, Q. M. General |
|