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Augt 6th 1863
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| Q. M. General |
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| It is notorious that whilst
the Government is unreasonably delayed and supplies absolutely needed
for our armies is in the field and inadequately furnished because of
such delay, private freight in large quantities is transported with
certainty & speed over long distances. 'Sugar and molasses from
Vicksburg,' liquors & general merchandise imported at Charleston
& Wilmington & other places an{d}
sold in large quantities in Richmond. The Rail Road Companies charge
for such goods no higher freight than is paid by the Government, the
President & Directors of such Companies have every incentive to
aid the Government, yet the fact exists that the private speculator,
and merchant, secures by some means what the Government cannot obtain.
The only 'rational' method by which such injury to the service can be
accounted for is upon the hypothesis that the individual trader
provides specially for transportation on each road, by some
arrangement, secures cars for his freight on every transshipment and
that he pays liberally for the special accommodation and extraordinary
exertions afforded him. The Government freight is started for its
destination to be carried at such time and in such quantities as rail
road employees who are under no military supervision and subject to
the temptation which a sharp speculator fails not to expose him to,
many determine. It is a matter of public notoriety that any man who
can secure freight to be carried long distances on rail roads at the
schedule prices will realize a profit in proportion to the distance,
such profit being generally very large. It is equally notorious that
no shipper of freight which has to pass over various roads can procure
its certain and speedy transportation unless he pays a bonus over
& above the prices of carriage charged by the rail roads. Large
sums are frequently paid for the carriage of a single shipment. It may
readily be seen how completely the Government is left at the mercy of
speculators under the present system of rail road transportation and
that no other protection to the public interest can be devised
than that which gives to a Government officer the poser to secure a
preference when ever the public necessity demands it. To remedy the
existing evil the following provisions might be made which it is
thought would be adequate to the end desired. |
| A Quartermaster to be posted
at each railroad terminus, as for instance, Macon, Augusta,
Branchville, Columbia, Charlotte, Raleigh, Weldon, Petersburg, who
shall have power to compel the carriage of all Government freight in
preference to that of individuals. To avoid unnecessary injury to the
public, discretion to be used in permitting goods furnished for
private use to be forwarded in small quantities, and Government
freight not immediately needed not to be pressed forward so as to
preclude shipment by merchants and traders. In all cases when
Government freight is withheld to permit family supplies or goods
belonging to merchants or traders to be shipped, such detention of
Government freight to be made in favor of articles of food, implements
of husbandry and trade, or raw material to be manufactured into
clothing when shipped by a manufacturer or mechanic. When freight is
shipped from any place, a freight list to be sent to the Quartermaster
at next post who by him forwarded to next Quartermaster & so on.
Duplicate to be sent by mail to the officer to who the freight is
consigned at point of final delivery. In case of detention of freight
at any point by order of a Quartermaster as provided for herein or
otherwise to inform the officer to whom it is consigned stating cause
of detention. If necessary freight so detained to be ordered forward
by telegraph, order to be made by officer commanding at place to which
freight is destined on application of Quartermaster to whom it is
consigned. The various Quartermasters to have power to examine lists
of freight supplied by each train before the departure thereof &
to compel the unloading of freight shipped contrary to their
provisions, to compel the bringing of the empty cars of a rail road
company from all intermediate stations to be loaded with Government
freight in case cars are kept idle at intermediate stations or engaged
in way traffic for private persons. Government officers to hire extra
teams and labor when necessary to speed transfer of freight between
Rail road depots. In case of evasion of the order by rail road
companies such as loading private freight at any station other that
the principal depot the Quartermaster at station to have power to
compel the unloading of cars so employed and the appropriation thereof
to the carriage of Government freight. Ordnance and Commissary stores
to be forwarded under like arrangements. Proper limitation to be
impressed as to the number of cars employed for the Express Company.
Rail road employees refusing or failing to comply with the demands of
the duly authorized officers or in any way evading the law to be
reported to President of road in case such employee guilty of any such
misconduct shall be kept in employ of a rail road after complaint the
Quartermaster making the same shall report the facts to the
Quartermaster General who can report the discharge of such employee if
satisfied of the truth of the charges. One or more Superintendents to
be appointed to inspect & report as to the manner in which the
officers in charge under this order do their duty. In no case should
liquors be forwarded in advance of Government freight. |
| These views are respectfully
submitted to the Q. M. General for his consideration. |
| R. H. Cole |
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Maj. & TrspAgt
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