| From the Columbus (Ga.) Times |
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| February 18, 1865 |
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| The Government and the Railroads |
| On the 5th of last month the
Senate by a resolution, revealed the injunction of secrecy from a bill
passed on the 1st of May, 1863, "to facilitate transportation for the
government." As it is a matter of much importance to railroad men, we
will give the chief features of the bill. Section one provides that the
Secretary of War under the direction of the President, is authorized to
require from any of the railroad companies in the Confederate States,
that they devote, when, in his judgment, it may be necessary for the
support of operations of armies in the field, all the means and
resources of such companies, over and above what may be required for the
running one train for passengers in each twenty four hours, to the
transportation of freight, supplies, material and men for the
Government, and that they run freight trains on such practicable
schedule as may be prescribed by the Quartermaster General, to regulate
the running of railroads, either on their own roads alone, or as through
trains on other roads; and in the event after due requisition made by
the Secretary of War, under the direction of the President, on such
railroad companies, or any company refusing or unreasonably failing to
comply with such requisition, then the Secretary of War, under the
direction of the President, be authorized to seize and impress such
road, with all its depots, cars, locomotives, running stock, machinery
and implements, and turn the same over to the Quartermaster General who
may compel the continued prosecution, employment and work of such of the
officers, agents, employees and operatives as are within the ages liable
to conscription under existing laws, and shall continue the working and
operations in transportation of the road, paying to such railroad
company, for the possession and use of its franchises, road, depots,
rolling stock, machinery and implements, such just compensation as may
be assigned and presented by the board of assessors, constituted in the
State in which the road is located, under the act of March 20, 1863, to
regulate impressments. Roads owned by States exclusively and worked by
them are not included in the act. |
| The second section empowers
the Quartermaster General as before provided to remove the rolling stock
off and from one road to another, whenever, in his judgment, it is
necessary for the public use; but such just compensation shall be made
for the use of the same as may be assessed in the manner prescribed in
the first section of this act. |
| The third section gives the
Quartermaster General power either to remove the rails or other movable
structure, or the machinery of any railroad, in order to prevent their
capture by the public enemy, or to repair, extend, or alter the roadway,
structures or machinery of a railroad, anything connected with any
railroad, such work shall be upon the requisition of the Quartermaster
General, under the direction of the President, promptly executed, under
the control and superintendence of the officers of the railroads, the
cost thereof to be defrayed by the government on bills duly rendered,
and certified by the President and Superintendent of the road, to be
charged to, and rendered by the company on whose railroad such
structures are built, or such repairs or alterations made, to the extent
only, and at the time when, they shall be of value to such company,
irrespective of their value to the government; such value to be
determined by the board of assessors prescribed in the first section of
the act. The bill to take effect on the date of its passage. |
| Meridian Clarion |
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