| January 12, 1862 |
| |
| Hon. J. P. Benjamin |
| Secretary of War |
| |
| Sir, |
| I hope you will excuse me for
pressing upon your consideration a matter of high importance to the
future operations of the Government in the present struggle. I refer
to the rolling-stock upon the railroads. Under the enormous pressure
of freight the locomotives and cars are rapidly wearing out, and the
period is not distant when transportation upon the roads will be
exceedingly difficult, and on many routes impossible. I do not
pretend to know the capacity of companies at a distance from this
point in this respect, but I suppose it to be limited; and I am not
aware of any means on foot to supply any accruing deficiency. As
these roads are either under the direct control of the Government,
or for the time being in its special use, would it not be wise for
the Government to induce, by negotiation with several of the
strongest companies, the speedy creation of establishments adapted
to the manufacture of both locomotives and cars? This might be done
by the advancement of money upon mortgage or other security, to be
refunded in freight or paid at some stipulated time. The companies
have a permanent and ordinary interest in the question, which it
seems to me might be easily enlisted, while the Government has a
present, pressing, and vital interest which will admit of no delay
or evasion.
|
| If some such arrangement cannot be made,
then will not the Government be forced to organize some one or more
establishments of its own to meet the emergency? To keep up the
roads is now a means of defense second in importance only to
supplying munitions of war. The policy of a Government establishment
I know is objectionable for many reasons, not the least of which
would be its cost. It may be that independent private enterprise
might be prompted to undertake the work upon a liberal advance. The
subject has for some time forced itself upon my observation and I
had hoped to see private capital volunteer in the cause. This,
however, has not been done within my knowledge, and I fear, from the
continual depression in monetary affairs, will not. Unless something
is done, and that speedily, there is much cause to apprehend a
failure on many of these thoroughfares in the means of
transportation. I know that the roads which converge at this point
are deficient in this respect and incapable of furnishing prompt
transportation for troops and munitions, to say nothing of ordinary
supplies.
|
| You may, perhaps, have been troubled with this same
question from other quarters. If so, you will excuse, I hope, this
intrusion.
|
| Very respectfully,
|
| Neil S. Brown |
|