| From the Southern Confederacy (Atlanta,
Ga.) |
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| May 31, 1861 |
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| The Manufacture of Locomotive Engines |
| In the view of the present
state of the country by which we are separated, commercially, as well
as politically, from the North, it behooves us to look about for
needed appliances to supply the many manufactured articles of
imperative want, which have heretofore been obtained in the North. The
Locomotive Engine is a necessity which it needs no argument to impress
upon the minds of our people who are either connected with or
dependent on our Railroads. Without proposing plans or places, I would
only endeavor to draw the attention of our Railroad Presidents and
managers of this and contiguous States, to the absolute necessity of
prompt concert of action on this subject. The number of locomotive
engines now owned by the Railroad companies, in this State, and the
State, will probably fall somewhere between 225 and 250. To keep this
equipment full will require 20 new engines annually, without any
provision for increased traffic or equipment of unfinished lines. If
we embrace the States of South Carolina, Tennessee and Alabama, the
number of engines required annually will probably make 50. This would
give full work to one extensive manufactory. How shall such an
establishment be put in operation? The answer is readily suggested,
that it can be done most easily and efficiently by the joint action of
our Railroad Companies. |
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It is true that superior locomotives have been built in
the shops of the Central Railroad, the Georgia Railroad, and the
Western & Atlantic Railroad, but all conversant with this subject
understand the reasons why such sources can not economically
supply their own wants, much less the wants of all the Railroads of
the State of Georgia. The shops attached to our Railroads, as well as
to all others of which the writer has any knowledge, are repair
shops, not designed for building locomotive engines.
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| The skillful and well tried
master machinists of our Roads could supply all the practical
information and working plans in the commencement, and the
Superintendents of the Roads would be just the men needed as a Board
of Managers. |
| These crude ideas and hints
are thrown out, trusting that this subject may engage the earnest
attention of those most deeply interested. |
| G. |
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