| Richmond 16 April 1863 |
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{Recipient not noted, but was found in the
Secretary of War's Letters Received file} |
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Sir, |
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Feeling a deep interest in the completion of the Rail Road
from Elyton in Ala to Tuscaloosa and from Tuscaloosa to York Station in
Sumter County I trouble you with this note -- |
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In point of utility and importance to the Country, this
road is inferior to none. The whole Southwest will be furnished with
coal & iron by it indeed it is the road that should have received the
patronage of the Government Now in reference to the aid the
Government can give -- of course the loan of treasury notes would not be
judicious -- But the indorsement of the bonds of the Company or the Loan
of Confederate bonds taking a lien on the property of the Road would
facilitate greatly its completion and from my knowledge of the property
of the Road, I freely believe there would be no danger of loss to the
Government As Congress will adjourn in a Short time if you should
conclude to recommend any aid the time is growing short within
which Congress could meet on the matter at this Session. |
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I am very Respectfully |
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Yours |
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E S Darfour |
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{There does not appear to have been a single RR
proposed for the route mentioned above; parts of three RRs are
mentioned, but no single RR could have fulfilled the requirements of
taking a lien against its property to build this road -- if iron and
labor could be found to build it} |