NP, WJ 11/17/1862

From the Wilmington Journal
 
November 17, 1862
 
Wilmington & Weldon Railroad Company
Chief Engineer & Superintendent
Wilmington, N. C., Nov. 14th, 1862
 
Editors of the Journal, Wilmington
 
Gentlemen,
   It is due in justice to the undersigned as the officer charged with the working department of this Road, that a few words of explanation should be given to the public in reference to the supply of corn and other articles of food requiring transportation, during the past few months on this Road.
   It might be sufficient to point to the very large amount (more than $900.000) received by the Company as the earnings of the Transportation Department, to show that we have not been idle. But holding as I do, that we owe an important duty to the community, as well as the Government, it has been my instructions -- (however humble I may be) -- to all operatives in the transportation of supplies, to afford every possible facility for the transportation of food, to Wilmington and other points from the country, and to return other necessary supplies to the country.
   And while this in a great measure has been successfully accomplished, yet in a few cases, (too many,) the great demand for Government transportation has put to great inconvenience many of our oldest and best patrons. The supply of corn and wheat has occasionally been very short here in consequence, the inability of the transportation department to do more than it has done.
   With means of transportation provided for a state of profound peace, and unable during the war to increase the rolling stock, and hardly able to maintain what we had in good order, the Road has done a vast amount of work beyond that of any former year since its existence, as shown by the income. The transportation of 100,000 troops over it during the year, with freight proportionably large, shows for itself. These facts are here alluded to as evidence that if we have not satisfied all our patrons, we have done something to entitle us to be classed with those who have not been idle or indifferent to the wants of our people.
   In the matter of a supply of provisions to our afflicted fellow-citizens during the terrible epidemic through which they have just passed, I beg on behalf of the operatives of this Road to call your attention to the notice in your paper during the last part of September, and until the paper was suspended, to show that we did do what we could to relieve their necessities, both as to transporting as well as to collecting supplies.
   The undersigned requested all agents of the Company to obtain such supplies of fresh provisions as they could, either for money or as donations, and forward them to Wilmington. A considerable amount of articles needed were thus obtained and sent forward by mail trains. These facts are here enumerated not for the purpose of claiming any credit for those who were doing a Christian duty, but to, allow that they were not unmindful of their suffering fellow-citizens who were wrestling with a fearful disease.
   The facts stated above are for those who desire to know them.
S. L. Fremont
Eng. & Supt.

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