| Endorsement on letter from Col. C. F. M.
Garnett to Sec of War in regard to papers referred to him concerning
the Florida Railroads. Dec 2d/63. |
| Eng. Bureau Dec 3rd/63. Respectfully
forwarded to the Hon Secy of War with various papers relative to the
Florida Railroads herewith returned. The Eng. Bureau is clearly of
opinion that the Live Oak and Lawton connection, East of Allapoha {the
Alapha River} is
preferable to that from Tallahassee to the Chattahoochee River. The
former is already graded and some of the cross ties on the ground, so
that, though its length is forty two miles, it can be rapidly put in
running order, while the latter, twenty two miles in length, requiring
heavy grading, will necessarily be of slow realization. The importance
of the Lawton and Live Oak connection is fully recognized and it will
be seen from Col. Garnett's letter that, measures have already been
taken in that direction -- but the Bureau agrees with him that the
advantages arising from the connection of the Waldo & Ocala Branch
Road {a 33-mile branch off the Florida RR} are not sufficient to justify the diversion of so much railroad
iron from more important connections. It would seem proper at this
time that the iron should be removed from the Florida RR only at its
extremities -- from Baldwin northward {approximately
45 miles} and from Gainsworth {Gainesville?}
southward {approximately 60 miles},
thus leaving untouched a portion of about fifty miles {the
Waldo to Ocala branch would have connected to this remaining part of
the Florida RR}. I regret to
state, from information first received, that the Florida Railroads
from which it has been determined to remove iron have taken legal
steps to resist such action. |
| A. L. Rives |
| Lt Col & Actg Chf Bureau |
|