| Engineer Bureau |
| Sept. 4, 1863 |
| |
| Hon. James A. Seddon |
| Secretary of War |
| |
| Sir, |
| I have the honor to return the enclosed communication from
Judge Thomas A. Walker, Presdt. of the Alabama & Tennessee {River} R. R. with favorable
endorsement from Gen. Jos. E. Johnston & others, urging upon the
Department the extreme military importance of the proposed Blue
Mountain & Rome connection & the propriety of furnishing iron
for its completion. The importance of the proposed road, second only
to that of the Danville & Greensboro connection {the Piedmont RR} , has been always
acknowledged & repeatedly urged by this Bureau. It was upon an
estimate prepared here that the appropriation was made by Congress for
its construction. But whilst extremely anxious to promote the speedy
completion of the Road proposed, the difficulty of furnishing the iron
necessary, appears to be very great, & the Government has
uniformly refused to bind itself to deliver it. It is inclined
therefore that no assurances can be given in regard to supplying
promptly the iron called for by Judge Walker, especially as the
removal of the iron from the Marion {Cahaba, Marion & Greensboro RR}, the Gainesville {Mississippi, Gainesville & Tuscaloosa RR} & the Newbern Branch {of the Alabama &
Mississippi Rivers RR} Roads has been suspended for special reasons, by the direction of the War
Department. |
| A letter from Col. C. F. M. Garnett, commissioner for the removal of
Railroad iron etc. of which I have the honor to enclose herewith a
copy, discusses the possibility of furnishing the necessary iron for
the construction of the Blue Mountain & Rome connection. |
| Very Respectfully |
| Your obdt. Servant |
| A. L. Rives |
| Lt. Col. & actg chf Bur. |
|