| N. E. & S. W. Alabama Rail Road Company |
| Engineer Department |
| Eutaw January 1st 1861 |
| |
| R. E. Rodes Esq |
| Chief Engineer &c |
| |
| Dear Sir, |
| Whiting's letter to have the
boys sent up only reached me on yesterday and as they did not have their
clothes ready I allowed them to wait for the next both so that they may
be in Tuskaloosa certainly on Wednesday evening. We could not hire the
boys until yesterday. Chiles had put his figures up to $250 for them but
by a ?ing proceeding protracted for several hours we got George Bill &
Jim for $650.00 and afterwards hired Gazz?? from Judge Oliver for
$170.00, this was the best we could do and I judged it to be better to
pay these prices than to hire green hands for fifty dollars less.
Cresswell says that he is not willing to sign the notes and consequently
I shall send them up for the Inauguration of the President. The fact is
that Cresswell shewed an evident desire to escape from any
responsibility in the matter and I don't believe would have hired them
at all if I had not kept him continually stirred up and finally when
Chiles comes to terms he went off so that I would have to close the
bargain. By his direction I will have the bonds drawn up by Maj Webb and
enclose them to you that you may get them signed. |
| Yours respectfully |
| Peyton Randolph |
| Asst. Engr. |
| |
| P. S. Major Webb has just handed me the
enclosed note for somebody to sign I suppose it properly comes under the
department of our Prest. please send it back to me by the first
opportunity that I may hand it over to Chiles. |
| P. R. |
|