| Engineer Bureau |
| Aug 27, 1863 |
| |
| Hon. James A. Seddon |
| Secretary of War |
| |
| Sir, |
| The communication of the Hon. A. E.
Maxwell enclosing the protest of many citizens of Florida against the
removal of any more iron from the Ala. & Fla. R. R. of Florida
& referred to this Bureau "for consideration & a brief
report of the reasons inducing the removal of the iron," has been
received. All the iron of this road, originally 42 miles long, with
the exception of 15 miles has already been taken up: this remainder of
the road is of little value in a national point of view, as it
communicates with no point of military importance & is only a
branch. Such are the imperative demands for iron for military
purposes, to keep in repair rail roads of vital consequence that it
has become necessary to make use of the iron on all local &
unimportant roads, the iron of all of which, as you are aware, it has
been decided to remove. Full explanations were made by Col. Garnett
and also, I believe, by Col. Gilmer to the President of this Road, who
recently visited this city. |
| Very Respectfully |
| Your obdt Servant |
| A. L. Rives |
| Lt Col & Actg chf Bur. |
|