| Confederate States of America |
| War Department |
| Engineer Bureau |
| Richmond, Va., 29 Jany 1863 |
| |
| Capt. L. P. Grant |
| Eng. Corps P. A. C. S. |
| Atlanta, Georgia |
| |
| Capt., |
| Your letters of the 15th & 24th insts.
have been reviewed. The mortgage proposed by the Alabama & Tenn.
{River} R. R. Co. is not considered
satisfactory. Correspondence by telegraph & otherwise on the subject is
now going on between the authorities here & Judge T. A. Walker, the
President of the Company. It will be some days, if not longer, before
any decision can be obtained on the contract you have submitted. As soon
as any determination is arrived at you will be promptly informed. |
| Col. Gilmer desires me to inform you, that
you have his authority to adopt "T??s Lattice, in substitution for
Howe's truss" where in your judgment it will be safe to do so. |
| You are also authorized to purchase the
second hand stationary Engine for the salt works, if in your judgment it
will answer the purpose. Enclosed I send you a letter of introduction to
Governor Shorter of Alabama. From recent conversations held with Col.
Northrop, Commissary General, I infer that it is extremely doubtful
whether the Government contemplates making any addition by purchase to
the area of the salt works ground known as the "Reservation." Col.
Gilmer is desirous that you use every effort to collect skilled labor to
prosecute the proposed salt works. If you cannot get a negro force of
one hundred and fifty hands by hiring it would be well to request
assistance from the Government of Alabama. |
| Very respectfully yours, |
| A. L. Rives |
| Maj. & Asst. to Chf Engr. |
|