| Office Richmond & Petersburg Railroad Co. |
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Richmond, Va., October 17th 1862 |
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Hon. James A. Seddon |
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Secretary of War |
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Sir, |
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This Company by its Charter in 1836, was required to
purchase all the stock in the Manchester & Petersburg Turnpike Co which
the share holders might be willing to sell at a valuation ascertained by
certain assessors appointed by the Legislature. Accordingly this Co has
acquired nearly all the Stock of the Turnpike Co. It has kept up the
turnpike and taken toll thereon for the purpose of meeting the expense
of its maintenance. This was the state of affairs before the war and
until the construction of batteries at Drewry's Bluff. Since then the
passage of troops, trains, cattle, teams and other service for Govt has
caused such serious injury to the road that I am now advised it is
wholly unfit for travel and has long been in such a state that no tolls
can be collected on it. Unless it be repaired before winter weather sets
in it will then become in passable. Its daily use for the military
purposes is, I believe, absolutely necessary, and in the event of any
portion of our army being again stationed along its line, as was the
case last winter, would become still more important. It has never been
an object within this Co. (RRd) to make money out of the turnpike. I
have, therefore, made no charge against the Govt for its use altho
authorized to do such thing. This Company cannot procure the loans,
tools and materials to put the turnpike in order, and it would receive
no just compensation for doing so. As the present condition of the
turnpike has been caused almost entirely by Govt I propose, therefore,
that you have the condition and importance of the turnpike to military
operations, if deemed necessary, enquired into, and that in
consideration of the fact that at no time have tolls been demanded for
its use that the Govt shall have it put in good order. I need not add
that if the road is to be repaired it should be done at once before
harsh weather renders such earth work impossible. |
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I am, most respectfully, |
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yr. obt. Servt. |
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Charles Ellis, Prest R. & P. RRd Co |
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