| Williamsboro NC, October 15th 1864 |
| |
| Major S. B. French |
| CS |
| Richmond VA |
| |
| Major, |
| I regret to notice the utter
inability of the Rail Roads between Montgomery and Columbia, and
Columbus and Macon to meet the ordinary demands of the Subsistence
Department for the removal of supplies through them. Nor induced with
the exclusive use of the former Road can corn of the old crop be brought
out of Montgomery in all this year. With the aid of Major Hottel Q Mr it
was arranged that Major Campbell at Montgomery should have fifteen cars
daily at his disposal and Major Allen at Columbus twenty, but no sort of
dependence can be placed upon any arrangement that can be made. As an
evidence, profit after entering into this agreement. Major Campbell in
three days, could procure but thirteen (13) cars. Other imperative
business takes precedence, and you cannot prevent private property from
being moved. |
| There has been no increase in
the facilities for transportation, either in cars or engines since I was
in Columbus last May: and the Road between Columbus and Macon has within
a few months been deprived of two of its most powerful engines from
collision, which materially impairs its power for transportation. |
| In the crisis something must
be done to improve the condition of the roads, and ensure the prompt
removal of supplies, and I take the liberty of submitting the only means
in my opinion whereby existing evils can be corrected. |
| The government must have
exclusive control of the roads. If the necessity of this be made
apparent to those Governors recently assembled at Augusta, and through
them with those influence submitted to their respective Legislators, the
control can be had. Guarantee to the different Roads a consideration of
15% on their Capital Stock which is the average dividend they now make.
Agree also to do all the necessary transportation for the respective
states and to move needful supplies for the people for a reasonable or
nominal consideration, and there can be scarcely a doubt of success |
| The principal objection will
come from the managing proprietors of the roads, whose pay and dividends
are secondary to the profits they realize on their own private
transportation. |
| But it will be necessary to
appropriate the extensive workshops of the Navy Department in repairing
and building Engines and Cars. There are several hundred idle and
dilapidated cars and many Engines in the State of Georgia alone, these
can soon be placed in running order, and new engines and cars can be
built to meet accruing demands. New and suitable rails for heavy work
will be required, says for twenty miles on the So Carolina road and some
sixty miles on the Charlotte & S. Carolina road. Iron can be taken from
contiguous branch roads and wagon transportation substituted until other
iron can be had, or these branch roads can use the flat iron until other
can be obtained. Another important improvement will be to make uniform
the guage of all the roads, so as to avoid the delay & expenditures of
breaking bulk. With these suggestions carried out all the demands not
only of the Subsistence Department but of every other branch of the
Government for transportation can in a short time be met, and the states
and people be better accommodated. As matters now stand Roads are going
to decay and in a short time will become useless for heavy
transportation. The Road from Union Springs to Montgomery, a distance of
only forty miles, should be completed without delay. This would give
another outlet than the miserable West Point & Montgomery Road. The Iron
for this improvement Major Walker tells me is obtained altho Col Sims
says otherwise and it is graded & in readiness for rails except some
seven miles. But you must have a man of energy & practical experience to
carry out these views. I hope the plan I have suggested can be carried
out, for I consider it the only means where by the great difficulties
that encumber all departments of the Government necessary
transportation, can be met and overcome. |
| I am Major |
| Very Respectfully |
| W H Smith |
| Major & CS |
|