NA, RRB 5/x/1863

On the 15th Decr 1862 another Rail Road convention was held in Augusta Georgia which adopted a Tariff advancing the rates on both Freights and Troops. This Tariff has never been accepted or recognized by me. It is submitted herewith and marked D.
   A convention of Virginia Rail Roads was held in this city some two or three months ago which passed resolutions in favor of increasing the rates on transportation generally, but without indicating any precise Tariff. These resolutions were communicated to me by Mr. Fontaine the Chairman of the Convention and the President of the Va Central R Road. Some weeks subsequently Mr Fontaine made application to me on behalf of his particular company (the Va Central) for increased rates and accompanied his application with a table of the specific rates desired. I referred both of his communications to Col. W. W. Wadley. They were recently returned to me with an endorsement signed by Col Wadley A. A. G. This endorsement allowing certain specific rates, I embedded in a communication to Lt Col Larkin Smith (who pays the Rail Roads in this vicinity) on the 24th inst. Col. Smith being in doubt as to whether Col Wadley's endorsement was designed to compare the allowanced of increased rates to the Va Central Road, or whether it was meant to include all the Virginia Roads, or to be intended to all Rail Roads in the Confederate States, has written to Col Wadley, by my direction, for information on the subject. I herewith inclose a copy of my letter to Col Smith together with a copy of his communication to Col. Wadley, Marked E.
   One other arrangement remains to be mentioned. On the 15th April Dr Hawkins President of Raleigh & Gaston R Road Company wrote to Major Chas S. Carrington, Qr Master, asking an increase of rates. Major Carrington enclosed my letter approving them together with Dr Hawkins' letter jinignating them, to Lt Col Smith on 20th April 1863. As it appeared uncertain whether the rates in question were applicable to Forage only, or to all freights, and whether they are allowed to particular Roads or to all the Roads in Virginia and North Carolina, and as to the precise dates on which they are to take effect, copies of all the papers have been enclosed to Major Carrington at Raleigh N C, accompanied by a letter asking the needful information. There has been no settlement either under this arrangement or under that mentioned in connection with Col Wadley (see package marked F.
   It is not in my power to state the relation that exists between the Columbia rates (at which Rail Road accounts are settled) and the rates proscribed by 
{end of document in the Archives}

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