NP, FO 3/23/1863

From the Fayetteville (N. C.) Observer
 
March 23, 1863
 
The Southern Railroads
P. W. A. writes to the Savannah Republican:
   Our southern railways are beginning to feel the wear and tear of the war to an extent that must give rise to serious apprehensions for the future. The locomotives and rolling stock, as well as the rails on many of the roads, are fast wearing out, and but little effort is being made in any quarter to replace them. So far has this deterioration proceeded, that it has been found necessary to adopt a new schedule on the lines between Richmond and Montgomery, the object of which is to reduce the rate of speed and allow more time for the trains to make connections. The change, while it lessens the speed and increases the time, will render the connections more certain, and thereby really expedite both travel and the mails.
   You will remember that the attention of railway companies and the government was called to this subject, nearly a year ago, in one of my letters from the West. The evil has been allowed to continue, however, and now the roads are barely able to do the transportation of the government. What will be their condition a year hence? Iron bars and iron locomotives, like human hearts and muscles, will wear out in the course of time. If something be not done soon the enemy, whose means of transportation are abundant both by land and water, will have greatly the advantage of us in the rapid movement of troops.
   The roads in Georgia have not been so heavily taxed as those in other States, and are therefore in comparatively good condition. In this, as in her freedom from invasion, the State has been singularly fortunate. The Charleston & Savannah road, and the Charleston and Northeastern road, were just completed when the war broke out, and with certain lateral lines in other States, are in good condition, but with these exceptions, the condition of the Railroads in the Confederate States is of a character to excite the serious concern, and call for prompt action, both of the government and the people.
   If some other plan should not be adopted, it may become necessary for the companies owning the lines chiefly used by the government, to buy the iron, locomotives and cars on the branch roads, in order to repair their tracks and keep up their rolling stock. The government itself may intervene, and require the parties to come into such an arrangement.

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