| Selma Foundry, July 3, 1862 |
| |
| Colonel J. Gorgas |
| Chief of Ordnance, Richmond |
| |
| Sir, |
| I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of
yours of the 26th ultimo ***
|
| I have not yet been able to make any contracts
for railroad iron, though I have been endeavoring to do so with the
Shelby County Company, Mr. [C. C.] Huckabee, and another party, with
whom I was negotiating for the delivery of 6,000 tons of pig metal
per annum before I received your letters instructing me to give
railroad rails the preference in all contracts. I fear, however,
that nothing can be done with any of these parties, as none of them
seem disposed to risk a dollar of their own money for the benefit of
the country. I am, however, now in correspondence with another party
who proposes to take a large contract, half pig and half railroad
iron (6,000 tons per annum of each {the 6,000
tons of rail would have made about 30 miles of track, both sides),
if the prices can be agreed on. I have offered 6 cents per pound for
railroad rails, spikes, chains, and fish bars, and the same price
paid the Shelby Works for the pig. They are willing to furnish the
pig iron at the price, but will not undertake the rails for less
than 7 cents per pound. I shall wait your answer to my letter of the
20th, in reference to the price to be paid for rails, before I go
further. The increased contract with Mr. Huckabee will require
$30,000 in Treasury notes. The other contract for 6,000 tons pig
metal requires an advance of $30,000, and if I succeed in making the
large contract for rails and pig metal (6,000 tons each), it will
require an advance of $75,000. It is, therefore, necessary for you
to place $135,000 in Captain Wagner's hands during this month in
order to carry out these contracts. ***
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| I have the honor to be, with much respect, your
obedient servant,
|
| C. J. McRae
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