| Office Insptg Engr R. Rds |
| Houston 22d Oct 1863 |
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| Maj B Bloomfield |
| Ch Qr Mr &c |
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| Maj, |
| I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your communication of the 19th inst and in reply be leave
to state, that I have been unable to do any thing toward the repair of
the Washington County (Brazos) Rail Road bridge. For the reason, that
I cannot control the services of a single mechanic, or have I been
able to obtain any of the tools or machinery necessary for this
purpose. |
| Whether the bridge is susceptible of
temporary repairs or whether it will have to be taken down and
reconstructed. I can not decide until I can survey the work with
competent carpenters. |
| I will here state, that the heavy
transportation over the roads during the past two months, has so
severely taxed the small amount of "rolling stock" at their
command that they are now altogether unreliable and that I have
applications made to me daily for mechanics to repair them, but have
not been able to furnish them, because, I have not been able to obtain
them by detail, and they are all in the ranks of the army. Unless some
very rigorous measures be at once adopted for the repair of the
rolling stock in the state it will be totally unserviceable before the
winter is over. |
| I have been able with the negroes
furnished by the "Labor Bureau", to materially improve the
tracks of all the roads, but having failed to obtain the requisite
numbers of mechanics, either by detail or otherwise, I am unable to
meet the demands for repairs, caused by deterioration from daily use.
Still less: am I able to improve, the general bad condition of all the
"rolling stock in the state". I beg leave to refer you to a
communication on this subject I had the honor to address to the Maj
Gen Comdg on the 16th inst, now in the hands of Capt Turner A. A. G. I
there suggested that a sufficient number of mechanics be placed at the
command of the Insp. Engr for work upon the several roads as their
necessities may require. And I would here further suggest that upon
failure on the part of the Rail Road Companies, to avail themselves of
the permission granted by the Maj Gen Comdg to import tools and
materials. That in view of the scarcity of these articles, that the
Government for its own protection should at once take steps to have
brought into the state such machinery tools &c as may be necessary
to keep the rail roads in working order. Without, I have some
authority to compel the roads to keep their machinery in repair I fear
they will not do so and would suggest that the Maj Gen Comdg be
requested to issue an order on this subject. |
| Again referring you to my report of the
16th inst to Maj Gen Magruder |
| I have the honor to be |
| Your obt Svt |
| E. L. Heriot |
| Capt & Inspg Engr R. R. |
| Aug 2/63 |
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| Office Chf Qr Mr dist of Texas |
| Houston, Tex. Oct 22d 1863 |
| Respectfully referred to Capt E. P. Turner
A. A. Genl for the information of the Major Genl Commanding, with a
copy of my Letter to Capt Heriot, referred to by him in this report,
and with the remark that I first directed Capt Heriot to put the
Washington Co RR Company Bridge in thorough and substantial repair on
the 19th Septr. Since then I have received ??? communication from him
on the subject, till now. |
| I would respectfully suggest that every
possible facility within the control of the Major Genl Commanding,
should be granted to Capt Heriot, to proceed at once with the work, as
it is of the utmost importance that this Bridge, and all work &
repairs on Rail Roads & rolling stock pertaining to R. Roads
should be done with the least delay possible. |
| I would also (if allowed) respectfully
suggest that a guard be placed at all important Bridges, on the line
of Rail roads, within the dept. |
| Very Respectfully |
| B. Bloomfield |
| Major & Chief Q. M. dist of Texas &c |