| Engineer Bureau |
| Richmond, May 9th, 1863 |
| |
| Lewis E. Harvie Esq. |
| President of the R. & D. R. Rd. Co {Richmond
& Danville RR} |
| & also of the Piedmont R. Rd. Co. |
| |
| Sir, |
| I have been credibly informed, that, the
iron on about five miles of the Richmond & Danville R. Rd. track,
is so worn that its further use has become dangerous, and, to aid in
promoting as far as I can, the efficiency of transportation, I
respectfully invite your attention, to the following statements and
propositions. |
| It is very important to the Confederate
Government to maintain this road in good repair; not only because it
is the only outlet to an extensive and rich section of country,
capable of furnishing large supplies of forage, and commissary stores,
but also because, it is an essential link in one of the great railway
connections with the South and West, the only gap in which is the
Piedmont railroad, that is now being built between Danville and
Greensboro'. You are aware that the Government has recently obtained
from the York River R. Rd., a quantity of iron to be used in
constructing this road, and, though it is desirable to push it to
completion as soon as possible, it is obviously unnecessary to do so,
if the R. & D. R. Rd. is to become unsafe, or useless for the want
of good track. |
| I know that it is extremely difficult, if
not impossible, for private parties, or corporations, to procure
railroad iron at this time, and I am sure, that you, being President
of the Piedmont R. Rd. Co., also, would be unwilling to take any steps
that would even apparently, retard the completion of that road. |
| I therefore propose, and recommend: |
| 1st. |
That you use in repairing the Richmond &
Danville R. Rd., as much of the iron recently taken from the {Richmond
&} York River R. Rd., as may be needed, provided the quantity so
used, shall not exceed five miles of track. |
| 2d. |
That you contract, at once with J. R. Anderson
& Co. to re-roll the old iron to be taken from the
Richmond & Danville R. Rd., and use it, as far as it will
go, in replacing the iron diverted from the Piedmont Road;
this should, of course, be done at the expense of the the
Richmond & Danville R. Rd. Company. I will endeavor to aid
you in making the necessary contract with Anderson & Co. |
| 3d. |
That you procure in behalf of the Richmond &
Danville R. Rd. Co., and deliver to the Government in Richmond
on or before the 1st. day of August next, a quantity of scrap
iron; broken castings and the like, equivalent in value to the
difference between the re-rolled iron and that taken from the
Piedmont Road, in consideration of which, I will pledge all
the practicable resources at my command to furnish, at
Government expense enough Railroad iron, to prevent the
proposed diversion from retarding the construction of that
road. |
| 4th. |
That if you accept these propositions, your
letter of acceptance together with this communication, shall
be considered as an agreement between us, and recorded as such
in this Bureau. I am satisfied of your unwillingness to do
anything that will interfere with the progress of the Piedmont
Road, but, looking to the best interests of the public
service, I make these propositions with the hope that they
will accord with your views. |
|
| I am Sir Very Respectfully |
| Your obt. Servt. |
| J. F. Gilmer |
| Colonel of Engrs. & Chf of Bureau |
|