| From the Confederate Union (Milledgeville, Ga.) |
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| April 14, 1863 |
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| Report of the {Georgia}
Committee on Transportation |
| The joint committee of the Senate and
House of Representatives on transportation have had under
consideration the matters referred to them by the General Assembly. We
most sincerely concur with his Excellency the Governor of the State,
in the important suggestions he so eloquently and feelingly presents
in his message on this subject. The question of transportation is one
of painful interest when considered, with reference to the supply of
bread, meat, salt and other necessaries to the people of the needy
sections of Georgia; but its proportions and magnitude become vast
when considered with reference to the general interests of the
Confederacy and the final success of our cause. The supply of the
rolling stock and machinery of our several Rail Roads, and the
condition of their road beds is such that, unless measures are taken
to meet their necessities, the days of transportation by rail in the
Confederacy are numbered. We are glad to have been informed by the
intelligent and patriotic R. Road managers of the State, in the
interesting conference the committee had with them; that there are
steps that can be taken which will not only ameliorate the condition
of the country, but which if promptly adopted and industriously
pursued. will improve our Rail Roads and insure their continued
usefulness. In this work it will be necessary to have the co-operation
and favor of both the Confederate and State Governments. |
| The Governor and the managers of most of
the Rail Roads of the State having been present at our deliberations,
partaking in them freely by our invitation, many subjects of necessary
supply, and plans to obtain the same, were discussed; and abuses
materially interfering with the success of transportation were brought
to our knowledge. Prudential considerations render it improper that we
refer to these in detail; but believing that his Excellency is fully
imbued with a sense of the importance of this subject, and that the
willingness of the State to render aid and encouragement will be met
by the R. R. companies with a determination to make every effort
ingenuity can devise and industry accomplish, to keep up their needful
supplies and business, and thus preserve their status as highly
respectable and useful institutions of the country, we unanimously
recommend the adoption of the following resolution: |
| Resolved, That the Governor is
hereby requested to appoint a commissioner to repair to Richmond with
plenary powers to confer with the President and other officers of the
Confederate Government upon subjects touching the providing of
supplies for Rail Roads and the regulation of transportation thereon. |
| Corn Supply |
| The problem presented by this subject, is
how to supply the needy of the northern part of the State with grain
from the southern part of the State. The roads leading from the
suffering regions into southern Georgia, in the opinion of the
officers managing them, are able to carry 133,333 bushels of corn per
month {about 533 car loads per month}.
These gentlemen declare their painful sense of the condition of our
citizens, and pledge to do all they can to increase their carriage for
them and prevent suffering. In this the managers of other roads
concur. Of this amount, it is calculated that as much as 100,000
bushels per month will be needed by the Confederate Government
for the army, leaving 33,333 to be shipped from the South Western R.
Road and Macon & Western R. Road. The Central R. R. and Geo. R. R.
companies are also heavily engaged in carrying corn to the more
eastern counties, and the Atlanta & Westpoint Road, is taking out
corn from the region along its line. We are glad to have been assured
that the supply may be reasonably expected to be sent forward in time
to prevent actual want. But all that can be done consistent with other
necessities should be done. It is suggested that agents to purchase
corn carry with them a certificate of the Inferior Court of their
respective counties under seal of the county, that their errand is to
buy for supply and be prepared to take affidavit to that effect, also
that they should not all seek one market, but so distribute their
purchases as to keep each and every agency of transportation that can
be commanded to the work in active and regular employment. We notice
with pleasure the fact that the Governor has sent a train from the
Western & Atlantic R. R. to engage in this work and unanimously
recommend the following resolution: |
| Resolved, That the action of the
Governor in sending a train from the W. & A. R. Road to South
Western Georgia, to transport corn and other supplies to the suffering
people of northern Georgia meets our most hearty approval. We request
him to continue the train on the work during such time as he may find
it necessary, and also to adopt such other regulations and
arrangements as, in his judgment, the exigencies of the case may
require. We but express the sentiments of every Georgian when we say,
these people are our people -- with them we will live or with them we
will die -- their fate shall be our fate. |
| Salt Supply |
| Your committee are informed that there are
now at Saltville, Virginia, awaiting shipment to Georgia as much as
40,000 bushels of salt {about 125 car loads},
the product of the furnaces erected and worked under the contract made
by Hon. John W. Lewis, under the direction of the Governor, and by the
Planters' Salt Company, and the Georgia Salt Company, and that the
manufacture of salt for supply in Georgia is daily progressing at that
place. The Governor has set apart a train to be sent from the Western
& Atlantic R. Road to Saltville, to transport the salt to Georgia
and carry needed supplies for their furnaces. As the rate of daily
manufacture is large, say 1500 bushels per day {almost
5 car loads}, further arrangements so
soon as practicable, will probably be found necessary. We are informed
that some negotiations are pending with intermediate R. Roads, on the
subject of transportation. Without proposing to act disrespectfully to
the committee on salt supply, we unanimously recommend the following
resolution: |
| Resolved, That we approve the
action of the Governor, in relation to sending a special train, with a
good engine and cars to Saltville, for the transportation of salt,
made under the contract of Hon. John W. Lewis and the Planters' Salt
Manufacturing Company, and Georgia Salt Company for supply to Georgia,
and of taking needful supplies to the furnaces making the same. He is
further authorized and requested to make all such contracts and
arrangements with R. Road companies, as he may deem proper to
facilitate transportation and to procure and send such other engine,
and train or trains, as he may deem the exigencies of the work demand,
having due regard to other calls for transportation. |
| Cars of the Western & Atlantic Rail Road on Other
Roads |
| Your committee are informed that in doing
transportation rendered indispensable by necessary requirements of the
Confederate service, more than 100 cars have been taken off the road
which are not yet returned. It is highly important that they be again
placed in the possession of the road if practicable. We learn too,
that the Governor has permitted a train to be used for the military
service and benefit of the citizens along the route on the Brunswick
& Gulf R. Road: Therefore we unanimously recommend the following: |
| Resolved, That the action of the
Governor and general Superintendent of the Western & Atlantic R.
Road, in permitting the cars of the road to leave it for the benefit
of the Confederate service, is hereby approved as patriotic and right,
but, it being highly important that the same should be returned if
practicable, we request the Governor to send out a special agent to
find said cars, wherever they may be scattered on the several roads of
the Confederacy, unless used then in service of Georgia, and to bring
them, or so much and such parts thereof as may be advantageous to
Georgia, with power to sell or otherwise dispose of such as cannot be
brought back. |
| Resolved, That the action of the
Governor and Superintendent of the W. & A. R. R. in permitting an
engine and cars to be used on the Brunswick & Gulf R. R., for the
benefit of citizens along the line and convenience of military
authorities is hereby approved, and the Governor is hereby requested,
under any arrangement with the officers of the road, satisfactory to
himself, to permit the train to remain so long as, in his judgment, it
may continue to subserve the public good and aid in the common
defense. |
| Establishments to Repair and Aid in Further Supplying
Rolling Stock |
| The committee learn with pleasure that
there are several establishments now in operation in Georgia, and
others projected for this necessary object. Without proposing any
invidious distinctions, we mention the establishment of Messrs.
Laughborough & Timmons at Augusta, for the manufacture and repair
of car wheels, axles, &c., and an enterprise projected by Mr.
McNeill, and other citizens to provide supplies for R. R. companies to
be located at Macon or Atlanta or some other convenient place. We
unanimously recommend the following: |
| Resolved, That the Governor is
hereby requested in the management of the W. & Atlantic R. R. to
furnish to the works of Messrs. Laughborough Timmons, and such
other works as are erected or may hereafter be erected to furnish R.
R. supplies, such special facilities of transportation for coal, iron
and other supplies as may be in his power, and consistent with other
demands on the road. |
| Regulations of Certain Rail Roads as to Contracts
Limiting Their Liabilities as Common Carriers |
| Your committee are of the opinion that it
is unwise, unless in cases of extreme and unusually great risk, beyond
the powers of prudent management to control, for R. Road companies to
propose and make any contract limiting their well understood liability
as common carriers. They notice with pain that this has been done by
several R. Road companies in Georgia, and by the Western &
Atlantic R. Road. The committee recommend the passage of the bill
herewith submitted, as well as the bill referred to the committee
touching this important subject. It is due to several members of the
committee, to state that the passage of this bill is not unanimously
recommended. |
| Wm. M. Brown, Chairman |
| A Bill |
| To be entitled an act to regulate the
transportation of provisions on the several Railroads in this State,
and to punish officers and agents who may violate the provisions of
this act. |
| Sec. 1. The General Assembly of the State
of Georgia enacts, That it shall be the duty of the several officers
and agents of the several Railroads in this State (the Western &
Atlantic Railroad included), whenever any lot or quantity of corn,
bacon, flour, or other articles of provision of prime necessity in the
sustenance of life, shall be offered for transportation, to receive
and ship the same with as little delay as practicable; and it shall be
the duty of the officers and agents, at every point of transhipment on
said Roads, to tranship and forward said articles and provisions with
as much dispatch as practicable, until the said articles and
provisions shall reach the place of their consignment; provided, the
person offering and desiring to have said articles and provisions
shipped, shall make and subscribe an affidavit in writing, and file,
or offer to file the same in the office of the depot, or with the
agent or officer thereof, from which it is desired that said shipment
shall be made, swearing as near as practicable to the quantity and
kind of said article and provision, and that the same was not
purchased or procured for the purpose of speculation or retail for a
profit, and that the same is necessary for the consumption of the
person offering the same, or his family, or of other persons and their
families; specifying the names and residence of such other person or
persons, if for their use; and if there be more than a sufficiency of
such article or provision, for the use of the persons named, that the
residue shall not be sold to any one other than an actual consumer,
and then only at actual cost and no more, either directly or
indirectly; a copy of which affidavit shall, by the agent or officer
at said depot, be attached to the bill of lading thereof, and
forwarded therewith, which, on arrival at the delivering point, shall
be filed by the agent thereof in his office, and the original
affidavit shall be filed at the receiving depot. |
| Sec. 2. Any person swearing falsely in
such affidavit shall be deemed guilty of perjury, and on conviction
thereof, shall suffer all the pains and penalties inflicted by the
laws of this State on persons guilty thereof, and shall also be fined
in the sum of $5,000, and the party may be indicted and convicted in
either of the counties where the receiving or the delivering depot is
located. |
| Sec. 3. Any and all such railroad officers
or agents refusing or failing to receive and ship, with as little
delay as practicable, all such articles or provisions, or charging an
amount therefor over and above the usual tariff of freights, shall be
guilty of a misdemeanor, and on conviction thereof shall be fined in a
sum not less than $5,000, and imprisoned not less than six months. |
| Sec. 4. If any commissary, quartermaster,
or other officer of the State or Confederate Government, or professing
to be such, shall seize or impress any such article or provisions,
under any pretence whatever, or shall hold or attempt to hold the
same, or prevent the regular and due shipment thereof to its proper
destination, after receiving notice that such affidavit has been made
and filed with the agent or officer at the receiving depot, he shall
be guilty of a high misdemeanor, and on conviction thereof, shall be
imprisoned at labor in the Penitentiary for the term of three years,
and fined in the sum of $5,000. |
| Sec. 5. A certificate under the hands of
any three Justices of the Inferior Court of any county in this State,
accompanied with the certificate of the clerk thereof, with the seal
of the court or county attached, certifying that the articles or
provisions ordered to be shipped is alone for the use of the indigent
soldiers' families of their county, as beneficiaries under the act of
the
December, 1862, shall be received in lieu of the affidavit specified
in the 2d section of this act, and shall have the same force and
effect; and any person or persons acting or professing to act as such
Inferior Court or clerk, who shall falsely or fraudulently procure
such shipment to be made, under such certificate, or aid therein,
shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and on conviction thereof, shall be
dismissed from office and fined in the sum of $5,000. |
| Sec. 6. In all cases where fines are
imposed under any of the provisions of this act, one-half of the fine
imposed shall go to and belong to the prosecutor, who shall be deemed
a competent witness, and the other half to the use of the county where
the conviction may take place; and this act shall remain and continue
in force until the close of the present war with the United States,
and no longer. |
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