| Hd Qrs: Petersburg 20 Jany '65 |
| |
| His Excy Jefferson Davis |
| Pres: C. States -- Richmond |
| |
| Mr. President, |
| I am aware that it will take
some time to regulate & perfect the Piedmont R. R. & that the
whole difficulty cannot at once be overcome by the Governments taking
it in charge. Its condition is so important to our military
operations as well as to the welfare of the community that I venture
to enclose a letter lately recd from Genl Martin. I do not see how a
road can be worked advantageously & to its full extent without a
regular schedule for running the trains. Under a temporary pressure it
might be operated by special instructions by telegraph. I understood
that the road was so operated while under charge of the {Richmond
&} Danville {RR} Compy,
& I presume there is some reason for continuing it, but as soon as
a fixed schedule can be established & regular connections made
with the roads north & south the better. I would also suggest that
a competent Engineer with four or five hundred laborers be sent to
ditch drain & repair the road along its whole extent. From the
character of the present Supt I trust the road if once put in good
order, will be efficiently managed. |
| I have the honor to be |
| Your obt servyt |
| R. E. Lee |
| Genl |
|