| From the Columbus (Ga.) Enquirer |
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| January 19, 1864 |
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| The Question of Questions |
| While Congress manifests its
chief concern about swelling the army, every man who will take the
trouble to inquire into facts, can easily satisfy himself that the real,
vital question turns upon our ability to supply the army. The
difficulties are two fold and exceedingly threatening in their
character. The first difficulty is in the scanty supply of food in the
country, and the second, which is perhaps even still more minatory in
this character, is the insufficient and falling means of transportation.
The railroads and their motive power and rolling stock are giving out,
at a time when the great bulk of our army supplies have to be carried
vast distances. It is possible a final break down might be averted
altogether postponed by strengthening the repair forces of the roads and
their workshops, but the railroads are now busy, apparently without
effect, in endeavoring to save even their present force from
conscription. If they fail to do it, the story will be short with their
lines of roads, and if they fail to get sufficient force in their
machine shops to keep up repairs better than they have done, the tale
will not be much longer. |
| The railroads of the country,
which ought to be its great element of defensive strength will hen be
useful only to the enemy. The Confederate authorities may rely upon it
that when our roads cease to be in running order, the enemy will put and
keep them in good and effective condition during the balance of the war. |
| These two points, which we
have indicated, are the great dangers of the Confederacy, and yet
Congress says noting about them. On the contrary, he clamor for
universal conscription, it is to be feared, is already thinning out the
rail road shops of foreign workmen, whose services are invaluable to the
roads and the country as machinists, but who will not take the field as
soldiers. |
| Macon Tel. |
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