|
Office Mississippi Central Railroad Company
|
| Grenada, March 23, 1863 |
| |
| Col. W. M. Wadley A. A. Genl |
| Now at Jackson Ms |
| |
| Dear Sir, |
| The accounts of this Company against the
Government of the Confederate States for the part ????? not been
audited nor paid although rendered monthly. Almost the entire traffic
of the road is on Government account and unless promptly paid we
cannot keep our road in running order and will be compelled to
discontinue our trains to lessen our expenses. |
| One cause of the delay in the payment of
our accounts is as I understand, the advances in our charges for
Government transportation over rates charged prior to 1st October last
and Wm Frost Superintendent of this road informs me that you decline
as Agent of the Government to assent to an increase of rates without a
statement in writing of the causes that have justifies them. |
| Before replying to those ????? to date
that I deny the right of the Government on the authority of its
officers or agents in the absence of a mutual agreement to determine
what we may or may not charge the Government for transportation and I
should resist any such attempt by every laudable means. Although I
should deeply regret any collision with the Government in a matter of
so great interest to both parties. |
| When in 1861 the rail road companies
agreed to receive from the Government half of their then local rates
for transportation labor was abundant and could be procured at
reasonable rates. Iron could then be procured at from 3 to 8 c per
pound, steel at from 10 to 15c, bacon at 10c oil at from 80 to $1.25
per gal Mechanics at from $2 to 2.50 per day, now these and all other
materials, including labor that enter into the Consumption of Rail
road Companies for operations and repairs have increased in price from
300% to 800%. |
| You are too well informed on these matters
to ????? to enter into ????? |
| As late as July last ????? but military
orders forbid the transportation of private freights and reduced our
business to that of the Government or nearly so. |
| Our cars have been taken from us by
military orders and retained on other roads from many months by the
same authority to their benefit and our injury. Many of them destroyed
or when returned they have been found unfit for use, and some of them
almost worthless. More than a half million of dollars worth of
property of this Company has been destroyed by the Confederate Army.
Our road track and equipment fast wearing out and will soon be unfit
for use without a very large outlay that our present income will not
justify. These are among the many causes that have compelled us to
increase our Government rates of transportation, and unless those
rates are allowed and rapidly paid I shall be under the disagreeable
necessity of discontinuing our trains, discharging our employees, or
requiring pre-payment on Government freights as I do now on that of
individuals. |
| Our ordinary expenses have increased
fourfold our extraordinary expenses almost exceed belief. I have even
been willing to enter into an agreement with the Government for the
transportation of all freight and at rates it may desire to transport
so far as my ability would enable me to comply with its requests; but
in the absence of such agreement I must determine our own rates. I so
advised the Secretary of War by letter in October last and then stated
that in consequence of ??d and increasing expenses I could not
continue to supply transportation for the Government at rates
previously charged. |
| When the depreciation of our property is
taken into the account I am confident we should gain largely by
repaying to the Government all we have ever received from it if
thereby we should be restored to the same condition we were in the
spring of 1861. |
| I think equity and justice require that
the Government Tariff should be largely increased, if not necessity
does, and I trust the settlement of our accounts be no longer delayed
and if it be necessary for you to ??t their allowance and payment that
you will do so at once. |
| With respect I remain |
| Your Obt Servt |
| W. Goodman, Prest |