| Confederate States of America |
| War Department |
| Nitre and Mining Bureau |
| Richmond, Novr 2/64 |
| |
| Hon Jas A. Seddon |
| Secy of War |
| |
| Sir, |
| Final instructions are respectfully
requested relation to the Rolling Mill ??? undertaken by this Bureau
to cover the loss of the Etowah Iron Works in Georgia. |
| In July last, to meet the most urgent
wants for small iron in Genl. Hard's Army, a small rolling mill was
started in August, and was supplied from plantation scrap iron.
For more permanent and detailed work, complete machinery was ordered
at the Government Iron Works in Alabama. These preparations have
progressed so far as to raise the question of site and immediate
erection. |
| While this was being done, the moveable
material of the Atlanta Rolling Mill then controlled by a Navy
Contract, was transferred to South Carolina. And arrangements have
since been made by the Navy Dept to rebuild at Columbia the machinery
is very complex and its reconstruction is charged to a very Energetic
and Competent Machinist Engineer. The local officers of the Bureau
have been instructed to aid his operations to the extent of their
present authority. |
| Under ordinary circumstances, both
Rolling Mills should be completed and worked. But under the existing
scarcity of labor, iron and fuel, the interests of the service demand
that all the resources of both Depts, War and Navy, should be
concentrated on one holding the other for reserve machinery ??? ???
further contingencies. At the direction and under the requirements of
Genl. Order No. 77 & 82, the mechanical labor of the country has
become too much ordered to man the Rolling Mills of Virginia and
Alabama. The new Rolling Mill on the Deep River, No. Ca. is awaiting
hands this ready for work; while the establishments which should be
working, night and day, are working half time. The question of
Mechanical labor is becoming far ????? want of the service possibly
can be. |
| I have therefore
respectfully to request some conference with the Secretary of the Navy
to authorize a plan of combined operation to meet the increasing
poverty of our resources. |
| Very Respectfully |
| I. M. St. John |
| Col & Chf Bu |
|