| Engineer Bureau |
| March 18, 1864 |
| |
| Maj. Minor Meriwether C. S. Engr
Comr &c |
| Demopolis Ala. |
| |
| Major, |
| Your letter of the
4th inst. informing me of an order for (180,000) one hundred &
eighty thousand Dollars drawn by you on the Bureau for in favor of the
President of the Alabama & Florida {of
Florida} RR Co for the purchases of two
locomotives, has been received. The Bureau, whilst regarding the price
fixed by the State Commissioners as extortionate, approves your action
in this matter as the best that could be done under the circumstances.
Your disposition to resist the further claim of ($3163) Three thousand
one hundred & sixty three dollars appears justified by a variety
of considerations. In this connexion I will add that the Hon. Secy of
War has decided that, in the case of an outstanding claim held back
for payment until after the introduction of the new currency, a new appraisement
may be demanded on the part of the Government. |
| Yours Very Resp'y |
| A. L. Rives |
| Lt Col &c &c |
|