NP, CM 9/11/1862

From the Charleston Mercury
 
September 11, 1862
 
Report of the Chief of the Department of Justice and Police to the Governor and Executive Council
Part III
On the Special Action of the Department of Justice and Police
To His Excellency, Governor Pickens, Presiding over the Executive Council of South Carolina:
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   I was charged with the execution of a resolution, adopted March 1st, to wit:
   "Resolved, That the sum of twenty five thousand dollars be loaned to the Charleston & Savannah Railroad Company, upon the condition that any future indebtedness of the State to the Company, for transporting troops or carrying provisions, or any other purpose, shall be considered a payment by the Company of a part of the said loan, and that the cars or other property purchased with the money loaned as above, shall be mortgaged to the State."
   This was adopted at a time when the region of country through which this railroad passes was considered in imminent peril, and the removal of negros, provisions and other property, was deemed of the utmost importance. The road, it was represented, could do a much larger business but for an insufficiency of cars, and of switches and turnouts.
   I insert the report of the President of the road upon this subject, but recently received:
"President's Office, Charleston & Savannah R. R.
Charleston, August 16, 1862
Hon. I. W. Hayne, Chief Department Justice and Police, Columbia, S. C.
Dear Sir: On the 22d March last I had the honor to report to you the result of my effort to purchase twenty (20) cars, under the resolution of the Council (March 1st). After a thorough inquiry, I could only obtain the number authorized with great difficulty here. Roads everywhere refused to listen to proposals for the sale of any portion of their rolling stock.
   The price agreed upon was $12,250 (twelve thousand two hundred and fifty dollars), but in consequence of a difficulty in delivering the cars, I have not yet called for the appropriation. I expect to do so, however, in a few days.
   Under the resolution above referred to, we were also authorized to construct additional turn-outs, for the purpose of aiding the removal of provisions and other property from the line. The work, so far as we felt warranted in proceeding, has been done. And I beg to enclose you statements of its cost in full detail. The amount, $8,262.03, you will please cause to be remitted at early convenience. I take the liberty to add that it would not be easy to estimate the importance to the public of the aid thus furnished by the Council.
With great respect,
W. J. Magrath"
   The amount of the advance will, I have no doubt, be made good, ultimately, to the State.
   About the same time the attention of the Governor and Council was called to the advantages which would accrue from uniting the Charleston & Savannah Railroad with the South Carolina and Northeastern Railroads, and more particularly the completion of a bridge allowing rolling stock of the Charleston & Savannah Railroad to cross the Ashley River. Gens. Lee, Pemberton and Ripley expressed the greatest interest in the work, and the two latter pronounced it a military necessity. Time has only served to magnify the importance of the enterprise. The rolling stock of the Charleston & Savannah Railroad must alone be worth, at this time (that is, if money can be made a measure at all of that which, all important in itself, cannot be supplied elsewhere) at least a half million of dollars. If that road would get even into temporary possession of the enemy, the rolling stock must inevitably be lost. But the connection proposed is of the utmost importance. After a great deal of negotiation, and the failure of many efforts on the part of the Governor and Council, the following resolution was adopted, to wit:
   Resolved, That the Chief of the Department of Justice and Police be authorized to take all necessary measures to have the connection completed between the Charleston & Savannah Railroad and the South and Northeastern Railroads: Provided, in his judgment, it can be effected for anything within the sum of thirty-five thousand dollars, General Pemberton having pronounced the work a military necessity.
   Upon the report of competent engineers, I concluded that the work might be accomplished for the thirty-five thousand dollars, and accordingly appointed a Commission, to consist of Messrs. W. J. Magrath, President of the Charleston & Savannah Railroad Company; and Alfred Ravenel, President of the Northeastern Railroad Company; and H. T. Peake, Superintendent of the South Carolina Railroad, to executed the work. I have recently received from Mr. Magrath the letter appended, together with the report of the Engineer, which I likewise append:
President's Office, Charleston & Savannah R. R.
Charleston, August 16, 1862
Hon. I. W. Hayne, Chief Department Justice and Police, Columbia
Dear Sir: I have the honor to submit, for your information, the accompanying report of B. D. Hasell, Esq., Vice-President of the Charleston & Savannah Railroad, on the progress and present condition of the Ashley River bridge.
   When, in May last, I undertook, at your request, in connection with Messrs. Ravenel and Peake, to arrange for the execution of this work, I immediately placed it entirely in charge of Mr. Hasell, whose large experience and ability as an engineer would, I felt sure, accomplish all that could reasonably be looked for.
   It is hardly necessary that I should add anything in confirmation of the Engineer's statements of the obstacles he has had to encounter, and which have greatly retarded the work. It is well known to you, and to all, how difficult just now it is to forward, with energy and rapidity, enterprises of any magnitude, and his work has been peculiarly embarrassed by the necessities of the Confederate authorities for the very material, machinery and labor indispensable to its speedy completion.
   I am gratified, however, in being able to state that so far, in this month, the progress of the work is much more satisfactory than previously. We are all animated by a most earnest desire to bring it to as early and successful conclusion as possible, and will unite all our energies for the purpose.
With great respect,
W. J. Magrath, Chairman
 
President's Office, Charleston & Savannah R. R.
Charleston, August 11, 1862
W. J. Magrath, Esq., Agent of the State of South Carolina
Dear Sir: Up to this date, the piling for sixty-eight piers of the Ashley River bridge have been driven, fifty-four piers have been capped, and three hundred lineal feet of longitudinal braces have been put on the caps. The original estimate calls for one hundred and fifty-two piers of the main bridge, and, therefore, 46-100, or nearly one-half of the piling, is finished. None of the corbells or stringers have been put on the bridge, but the timber is mostly on the ground. The value of the work done, and materials furnished, may be estimated in round numbers at ten thousand five hundred dollars.
   The slow progress of the work is mainly attributable to the difficulty in procuring hands and labor, and also additional pile-drivers.
   The contractor had, at one time, two pile-drivers engaged on the bridge, but was compelled to give up one, to be used by the Government on harbor defences.
   With the present difficulty in procuring labor, tools and materials, I doubt if the contractor will be able to finish the bridge much before the time when we may expect the enemy to renew his demonstrations against us in the fall.
Very respectfully, yours,
Bentley D. Hasell, Vice President
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Respectfully, your obedient servant,
I. W. Hayne

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