| From the Richmond Examiner |
| |
| July 5, 1861 |
| |
| City Intelligence |
| Railroad Convention |
| In publishing, as matter of
general interest to the community, the proceedings of the late Railroad
Convention in this city, we would call particular attention to the 8th
and 9th resolutions, as evincing the liberal spirit and patriotic
feeling which actuate the gentlemen at the head of our public works. It
has been said that corporations have no souls; it cannot, with equal
truth, be asserted that Railroad Presidents and Superintendents, who are
the heads of corporations, have no hearts. |
| At a meeting of the officers
representing the different railroads in the State of Virginia, held at
the Capitol, in the city of Richmond, on Tuesday, the 25th day of June,
1861, on motion, Wm. T. Joynes, President of the Petersburg Railroad,
was unanimously elected Chairman, and Thomas Dodamead, General
Superintendent of the Virginia Central Railroad, was appointed
Secretary. |
| Present, Wm. T. Joynes,
President, and C. O. Sanford General Superintendent of the Petersburg
Railroad; Mr. Mahone, President of the Norfolk & Petersburg Railroad;
Peter V. Daniel, President of the Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac
Railroad; Charles Ellis, President of the Richmond & Petersburg
Railroad; H. D. Bird, General Superintendent of the South-Side Railroad;
John M. Robinson, General Superintendent of the Seaboard & Roanoke
Railroad; Lewis E. Harvie, President of the Richmond & Danville
Railroad; Thomas Dodamead, General Superintendent of the Virginia
Central Railroad. |
| In consequence of the
representatives of some of the roads being expected by train, it was
resolved that the meeting adjourn to meet at half past 5 o'clock, P. M. |
| The meeting was called to
order at half past five o'clock. |
| Present, in addition to those
present in the morning, were Thos. H. Wynne, Superintendent of the
Richmond & Petersburg Railroad; John S. Barbour President of the Orange
& Alexandria Railroad; Samuel Ruth, Superintendent of the Richmond,
Fredericksburg & Potomac Railroad; Charles G. Talcott, Superintendent of
the Richmond & Danville Railroad. |
| On motion, it was resolved
that, when the Convention adjourns, it will adjourn to meet on
Wednesday, at 11 o'clock, at the same place. |
| On motion, a committee of
five, consisting of Mr. Ellis, Mr. Mahone, Mr. Daniel, Mr. Talcott and
Mr. Dodamead, was appointed by the Chair, with instructions to prepare
business for the meeting. |
| |
| Wednesday, 26, 1861. --
Meeting was called to order at 12 o'clock. Present same as previous day,
and Thomas H. Campbell, President South-Side Railroad. |
| The following resolutions were
reported and adopted: |
| 1. Resolved, In view of
the different financial condition of the various railroad companies in
the State, that the mode of payment by the Confederate States be left to
the discretion, and the decision of each company, it being understood
that all the companies will take a large a proportion of the Confederate
securities as their means will allow. |
| 2. Resolved, That the
rate of charge upon troops, or other persons engaged on service for th
Confederate States, be at 2 1/2 cents per mile on roads exceeding 25
miles in length. Roads less than 25 miles in length shall be assumed to
be 25 miles long, and charge at the rate of 2 1/2 cents per mile. For
distances on longer roads, not exceeding 20 miles, 3 cents per mile;
provided, no charge for any distance be less than 12 1/2 cents. |
| 3. Resolved, That the
following classification of freight be transported for the Confederate
States Army, as herein specified, be adopted on all the roads in
Virginia. |
| First Class -- Powder fixed
ammunition, cartridges, percussion caps, loaded shells, fuses, and all
explosive articles, to be charged for at the rate of 5 mills per 100
lbs. per mile. |
| Second Class -- Heavy
ordnance, solid shot, unloaded shell, grape and canister, ( not fixed)
muskets, rifles and small arms, camp equipage, viz: tents and baggage,
and all articles necessary to equip troops for the field,
Quartermasters, Hospital and Commissaries Stores, including provisions,
forage, medicines, clothing, &c., &c., 3 mills per 100 lbs per mile. |
| Third Class -- Light field
artillery, gun carriages, wagons, timber and lumber, and all bulky
articles necessary to be carried on platform cars, to be charged at the
rate of 2 cents per car load per mile for each car required to transport
the same. |
| Fourth Class -- Horses, Mules
and Beef Cattle, when not less than an 8-wheel car load, 4 cents each
per mile. When in numbers less than an 8-wheel car load, or for any
excess over one or more car load, but not sufficient to load an
additional car, 6 cents each per mile; provided, that not less than two
dollars be charged for the transportation of a single Horse, Mule or
Beef, for any distance. |
| 4. Resolved, In
estimating the charge for transportation on roads less than 25 miles in
length, the same shall be estimated at 25 miles; and for distances less
than 25 miles, 33 1/3 per cent. shall be added to the foregoing rtes. |
| 5. Resolved, That these
rates for the transportation of freight apply only to transportation by
freight trains, and that double these rates will be charged for freight
transported by passenger trains; such difference of rates being charged
in the ordinary business of our respective companies. |
| 6. Resolved, That the
charge for all special trains shall be made at the rate of one dollar
per mile run, making the distance going and returning, whether loaded or
empty, whenever the revenue for such trains, at the rates as herein
before specified, shall fall short of the sum arising from the rate per
mile as aforesaid. |
| 7. Resolved, That for
an engine specially detailed by order of the Confederate States
Government, kept fired up and stationary for a period not exceeding 6
hours, no charge will be made; but for each hour beyond that period, a
charge of one dollar per hour may be made. |
| 8. Resolved, That all
persons of the Confederate or State Army going upon furlough or leave,
upon a certificate to such effect from their commanding officer, shall
be passed at the rates charged the State and Confederate Government for
the like service. |
| 9. Resolved, That the
Companies represented in this Convention agree to pass free over their
roads all soldiers who are honourably discharged during the war on
account of sickness or wounds; provided the persons so discharged
present the proper certificate of such discharge, and that a
recommendation be sent to all Railroads in the Confederate States to
adopt this resolution. |
| 10. Resolved, That Mr.
Daniel, and the Secretary of the Convention, be a committee to attend to
the printing of the proceedings of the meeting. |
| On motion, the meeting then
adjourned. |
| Wm. T. Joynes, Chairman |
| Thos. Dodamead, Secretary |
|