| Office Mississippi Central Railroad Company |
| Grenada, March 29, 1864
|
|
|
| Lieut. Gen. Leonidas Polk, C. S. Army, Demopolis |
| |
| Dear Sir, |
| I find the engines and other equipments
on this road are fast wearing out, and probably before many months
transpire they will become almost, if not entirely, useless, unless
I can obtain materials for repairs. The business of this road is now
almost entirely confined to government transportation and the income
but little, if any, more than sufficient to pay expenses. The cost of
subsistence is so great that I am frequently compelled to increase
the wages of employees to enable them to pay their daily expenses
for board. I find it almost impossible to hire blacks to keep our
track in safe condition. It is quite probable I could obtain a
limited supply of materials for repairs from within the Federal
lines if permitted to send out cotton in payment for them. I have no
other means of paying for them if obtained outside of the
Confederate lines. Will you grant such permission? If granted it is
quite probable I could obtain some army supplies also and make the
effort if you will enter into a contract with me to that effect on
the same terms and conditions that contracts have been granted to
others. I received notice about a week since through Colonel Tare {Tate?}
that you wished this road repaired into Canton and desired me
to commence the work at once. I immediately commenced making such
preparations as I could to facilitate repairs, and informed Colonel
Tare that it would be impossible for me to hire labor, and if
obtained it must be done through the military authorities. Since
then I have no further instructions, and nothing has been yet done. |
| Yours, respectfully, |
| W. Goodman |
| President |
|