|
President's Office, Charlotte & S. C. R. R. |
| Charlotte, N. C., Jany 18th, 1864 |
|
|
|
Honorable J. A. Seddon |
|
Secretary of War |
|
Richmond |
|
|
|
Dear Sir, |
|
Some weeks since I had the honor to hold a brief interview
with you in regard to the Columbia & Hamburg R. R. and you were kind
enough to express the interest the Government felt in the early
completion of the work. |
|
I am pleased to report to you that the location of the
entire line will be complete within ten days and the graduation of the
entire route offered to contractors. Hoping that Congress would adopt
some salutary financial scheme the Directors have delayed letting
contracts for graduation until some settled policy in regard to the
currency should be adopted. Believing however that the work is yet
destined to be of great military value to the Government & country the
Directors have authorized me with the cooperation of the Government to
press the work with as much vigor as possible. To this end, I would
respectfully ask that you will authorize Major Melton Chief of
Construction of the State of So. Carolina to grant exemptions from
military duty to not exceeding forty contractors who will obligate
themselves each to work not less than twenty slaves on the Graduation of
said road, getting crossties & constructing the bridges at Columbia &
Augusta. You will readily see the embarrassment to contractors in
getting rations & clothing for the slaves & the company would further
respectfully ask that the Government furnish these articles through its
agents. This would relieve the Government from any competition on the
part of the company and greatly facilitate its operations in the rapid
prosecution of the work. Should this not conform to your views of policy
the absolute privilege is asked to grant to the company the right to
purchase and transport such supplies as are necessary in the prosecution
of the work. There can be obtained with your order & approval in Florida
& Mississippi & in the latter state it is believed that much can be had
by diligent & prudent agents which will otherwise be lost to the country
if it does not go to support our enemy. The means of this company are
believed to be ample for the completion of the Road except the purchase
of the rails. Should the government therefore grant to this company the
detail for provision & clothing asked it will enable it to secure in a
very short period one thousand (1000) to fifteen hundred (1500) hands &
with this force the entire road can be graded & a portion of the rails
laid within twelve months, from its organization. To the rapid
construction of such works large contractors are not favorable; hence
the application for not exceeding Forty (40) contractors while a lesser
number might answer. Believing that you fully appreciate the importance
of this road of Seventy (70) miles to the Government, in its military
operations I refrain from comment on this branch of the subject when
completed it can be readily operated by the trains of the C&SoCa & Ga
Rail Roads. Trains will then run from Charlotte direct to Augusta, one
hundred and seventy nine (179) miles instead of two hundred & forty nine
(249) miles as at present via Kingsville & Branchville making a saving
in actual distance of about Seventy (70) miles independent of the
detentions & embarrassment at the points indicated. |
|
For any further information I beg to refer you to Major
Wood & General Carns, to the latter of whom I ask to introduce to you as
a gentleman of character and the Agent of this company. I shall be
pleased to hear from you at your earliest convenience. |
|
I am very respectfully |
|
Your Obt Servant |
|
Wm Johnston |
|
Prest C&H RR Co {President, Columbia &
Augusta RR} |
|