| Shelby County Iron Manf. Co. |
| Columbiana Ala. Nov. ? 1862 |
| |
| Col. J. Gorgas |
| Ordnance Department |
| Richmond |
| |
| Sir, |
| Since my return from Richmond,
my company have decided to construct a rail way from their works, to
the Alabama & Tennessee river road, a distance of about five
miles. They are induced to do this to expedite and facilitate their
business; it being difficult to transport on wagons, the large amount
of iron they expect to be making soon, to say nothing of the large
amount of provender required to be transported. The Company desires
also to lay in an ample supply of provisions and provender which can
now be obtained, for their numerous operatives and hands and teams,
for the ensuing year. To meet these requirements, and to pay for
machinery they have had to contract for at very high prices, a large
amount of funds is required beyond what I articulated when I had the
pleasure of seeing you at Richmond. I am therefore under the necessity
of asking for my company, a further advance from the government, say
fifty thousand dollars. If we are successful in making iron as we
hope, and have every reason to expect, the former advance, and that
now asked for, will soon be refunded to the government in iron. Our
large new blast furnace believed to be the best in the Confederacy,
and estimated to be capable of turning out 125 tons per week, will be
in full blast very soon, only waiting for the last of the machinery
now on the way and daily expected, which should have been delivered
months ago according to contract. The delay of the machinery, wholly
beyond our power to prevent, has caused delay in our operations which
is regretted, as will on account of the disappointment caused to the
government, as for the serious loss it has caused the company. Most of
the machinery is on hand and in place for the second new furnace to be
of same size as the first, which will be put up without delay; the
materials for it being at hand. We will continue to fill the orders
sent us through Genl. McRae as far as practicable, until some of the
other companies can give a supply of pig iron. The Bibb Company have a
furnace about completed, and expect, I understand, to have it in
operation in the course of a few days. Unless delayed beyond our
calculations, we expect to be able to increase the manufacture of pig
iron in the course of January to upward of 300 tons per week, our wish
being to make it as large as possible. |
| The company are actively
engaged in preparations, which are far advanced, to fill the bill of
flag officer W. F. Lynch, for ship plates. |
| Please dispatch me by
telegraph if the company can have the advance requested on presenting
proper and satisfactory bonds. |
| Very Respectfully |
| Your obt servt |
| A. T. Jones, Prest |
| |
| P. S. A dispatch directed to Selma will be
forwarded to me from there. |
|