| Jany 31st 1865 |
| |
| R. L. Singletary |
|
Prest. {President, Charleston &
Savannah RR}
|
| Charleston S. C. |
| |
| Dear Sir, |
| Your two favors of Dec 19th & Jany 5th
are at hand and would have received earlier reply but for a protracted
absence. |
| Permit me to call your attention to your
letter of Nov 29th in which you state that "several other roads, some
of which do not labor under the disadvantages of C&S RRd, have
been allowed more than you offer us," and, again, that you are not
advised that the statement of affairs asked of you is not asked of
others. Your favor of the 5th announces Mr C. O. Sanford as your authority
for making these remarks to which I objected. |
| The Virginia roads labor under many
disadvantages which yours did not, particularly in cost of wood,
provisions & negro labor, and when Mr Sanford asked for an
increase he based his demand upon the ??? disadvantages under which
he labored by reason of the high prices of the materials above named
and also because his road was cut by the enemy and a portion of it
held by them. |
| I do not think either you or Mr Sanford
could find any parallels between the PRRd and the C&SRRd Co in
November last, and I hope you will ???, and I hope you will, with this
explanation, ??? ??? from the charges you have uttered that would ???
??? of which do not labor under the same advantages with yours, have
been allowed more than ?????. |
| As to your second charge that similar
statements to his required of you and not required of others I have to
reply that I have laying on my desk, this instant, a statement made
out by Mr Sanford in his own handwriting showing the operations of the
Petersburg RRd for the eight previous months to the date of his
application of a increased compensation. |
| I cannot imagine why Mr Sanford should
have given me such information as you claim from him, and must believe
that it arose from some misunderstanding. |
| I am ready to advance your rates when you
do as all others have done when rates have been increased, viz satisfy
me by an exhibition of the operating of your road that your demand is
a just one. You surely must not have me increase the tariff of any
railroad blindly. |
| It rests with you of course whether this
statement asked for shall be granted, but let me ask you what would an
impartial observer think of your refusal to submit it? Could he favor
any other consideration than that your road was so prosperous it was not entitled
to an advancement. You publish this information every year and it is
therefore not prying into your secrets. |
| In conclusion permit me to assure you of
my anxiety to be equally just to all and I see no way to observe this
rule but in adhering to the plans already adopted. |
| Very respy |
| F. W. Sims |
| Lt Col &c |