Piedmont Railroad, Superintendent's Office
| Danville,
Va., April 10, 1865 |
| |
| His Excellency President Davis |
| |
| Sir, |
| I beg leave to suggest to you the importance
of using all the means at command of the Government without delay in
changing the gauge of the Piedmont Railroad from Danville to
Greensborough. Upon it depends the safety of twenty-two engines and
their trains of cars that are blocked upon the Danville road {Richmond
& Danville RR} at this place, and all the transportation
on that road of an immense amount of stores, machinery, &c. In
addition thereto is the transportation of our army and its
equipments and supplies. I have ordered all the force on the
Danville and Piedmont roads to this point to-day with the view of
commencing the work at once. This force, if we can keep it, is
inadequate to complete the work as soon as it ought to be done.
Indeed, it ought to be done at once and completed as soon as
practicable without regard to expense or labor. Its importance in my
view cannot be exaggerated in this emergency, and therefore I appeal
to you as the highest officer in the Government to have it done
without any delay. There is a force working on the fortifications at
this place which it seems to me could be diverted advantageously to
this work, and I would earnestly, but most respectfully, urge that a
sufficiency of labor be put to work to complete the change of gauge
as soon as it can be made.
|
| With the highest respect, |
| Lewis E. Harvie |
| President Piedmont Railroad |
|