| Engineer Bureau |
| October 27th 1863 |
| |
| Hon D L Yates |
| Gainesville Fla. |
| |
| Sir, |
| Your letters of the 25th & 26th ult to
the Hon Secretary and Asst Sec of War were duly received and referred
to this Bureau for reply. The Hon Sec of the Navy has also requested
us to reply to your letter addressed to him some two weeks since on
the same subject. |
| My delay in writing is due to the press of
business in this office and the fact that no immediate action was
contemplated in the case of the Florida Railroad. |
| One of the most serious embarrassments
which the govt is called upon to meet arises from the want of
transportation, and the great wear and tear of iron caused by the
large measure of freight and travel on the principal roads. Not only
is iron imperatively required for several important links now
approaching completion, but for the repairs of many of the great trunk
lines of the Confederacy which are daily becoming ??? ??? ??? unfit
for travel. It is of vital importance that these great lines should be
kept in good repair and the scarcity of iron is so great that the Govt
will be compelled at an early day to take action to meet their
pressing necessities. To this end a commission of three impartial and
disinterested officers were appointed to designate the roads which
could best be spared in a national point of view. In this number your
road was included but it is not proposed to remove the iron unless
from urgent national necessity. |
| Viewed in this light it is hoped that the
action of the Govt will not meet with opposition from any patriotic
citizens as it is the general, not private or individual good which is
sought. |
| Very Respectfully |
| A. L. Rives |
| Lt Col & Actg Chf of Bu |