|
Oconee River {almost the exact center of
the Georgia RR, from Augusta to Atlanta} |
|
Dec. 12, 1864 |
| |
| {Recipient not noted -- it was
clearly not Capt Grant, but it ended up in his papers} |
| |
| Captain, |
| We received Col Grants two ropes and
blocks yesterday afternoon, but both ropes have been cut, the larger one
in about 3 places. We are much in need of the tared inch rope to get the
old bridge out of the River, so we do not wish to use the Cols rope for
that purpose. |
| Mr Printess has a bill at the mill for
stringers 12x12, 30 ft long and unless you direct differently I think I
shall increase the spans here to 27 1/2 feet so a to avail ourselves of
the old cribs between the piers. With a little increase in the length of
bolsters & braces I think it will be plenty strong. The old trestle this
side the River is composed of 8 spans 33 feet with 12"x13" stringers. Mr
Pointriss thinks there will be difficulty about the stringers. Please
let me hear from you about this matter. I think I can work all the hands
on the track you can send me, and to good advantage. 500 will not be too
many once we get organized, for I think we shall have frequently to cut
ties as we go, besides we ought to have several squads to do nothing but
straighten irons. This work will be very tedious and in many cases
impossible with the means we shall probably have. Mr Henry thinks he can
fix a concern with which by means of a lever he can straighten all
ordinary crooks, and I have no doubt but his plan will work well, but
from what I hear of the condition of the iron above, I fear we shall not
be able to do much with a considerable portion of it with any appliances
we can carry with us. It seems to me therefore that there should be some
arrangements made for straightening and untwisting iron in the shops in
Augusta, and to work to advantage we should have from 5 to 10 miles of
extra iron to lay while the old iron is being sent to Augusta to be
straightened. |
| I have been over the river today to see
some persons who Mr Sandford said he thought would get ties. Mr Saffold
cannot get any, Mr Jackson has 200 cut in the wood which he will deliver
immediately and get one or two hundred more by Christmas. Mr Lee
Jordan cannot promise to get any definite number, but will do all he
can, after he gets through killing hogs. He can only put 4 or 5 hands
and a couple of ox teams at the work, most of his mules having been
taken by the Yankees. Mr Jackson has an exemption from Gov. Brown for
the express purpose of cutting ties for the Geo. R Road, and if he does
not go at it right I think we should report him to the Governor. Six or
eight hundred ties will probably answer to fix the breaks in the road
this side of Madison. I shall go there tomorrow and endeavor to get Mr
Porter to go along the line of Road beyond and make contracts for as
many ties as possible, to be delivered when practicable at the points
where the Road is damaged. But with all we can do by contracts I expect
in many places we shall have to go out and cut ties, and in order that I
may have no trouble with the people, I hope you will send me proper
authority for impressing timber when necessary. |
| Can you not make an arrangement with Mr
Yonge {George Yonge, Superintendent, Georgia RR}
by which he will recognize tickets given by me to persons
employed here to pass over the Road each ticket to be good against you
for one seat. They might be presented once a month when you could either
pay the money or get transportation for them from the Q M. |
| I shall probably have frequent occasion to
send persons over the Road, besides occasionally a sick negro as was the
case this morning. |
| As postage stamps are scarce I shall adopt
the plan of sending my letters down by the Conductor, care Mr Yongee, and
you can send John down for them. |
| Yours truly |
| J. T. Stone |
| Asst Mil Engr |
|