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Assistant Quartermaster General's Office
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Richmond, Va. March 9th 1863
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| Col A. C. Myers |
| Quarter Master General |
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| Sir, |
| I have the honor to report as follows upon
the letter of E. Fontaine Esq President of the Va. Central R. Road
Company, asking for an increase of rates of Government transportation
both for freight and troops. |
| Mr Fontaine seems to misapprehend the
spirit of your letter of the __ Jany last in reply to one from him
enclosing the proceedings of a convention of the Virginia Rail Roads.
You did not express yourself in favor of releasing the Roads from the
inadequacy of its rates. On the contrary you de??ly stated it as your
opinion that these rates were, generally, amply remunerative. You
however, said that "during the progress of the war there have
been instances of Rail Roads, that for some or all of the reasons
stated in the report of the Committee, have been allowed higher rates.
Such instances will doubtless occur in the future. The same equity
that has been extended in the past, will be extended in the
future." You expressed your willingness to make an exception from
the general tariff of any Road "That shall furnish me (you)
satisfactory evidence of the inadequacy in its case of those
rates." |
| The present communication of Mr Fontaine
is a formal application for an increase of the rates on his Road. But
whilst his application is special and confined to the Va Central Road,
the arguments appear to me to be altogether general in their
character. While it is only asked that the Central Road be exempted
from the Columbia Tariff, the arguments are ??ted against the adequacy
of that Tariff generally. If well founded, it would follow that not
only the Central Road, but all Roads should be excepted from it -- in
other words that the Columbia Tariff should be cancelled. Moreover the
application appears to be based upon prospective estimates for the
year 1863, which, however candidly and carefully made cannot be
altogether relied upon. They will |
| Since the former correspondence between
yourself and Mr Fontaine it has come to be understood that the duty
and the responsibility of making "contracts for transportation
with Rail Roads or any of them" appertains to Col Wadley A. A. G.
It is within my knowledge that he has acted on applications for an
increase of rates, like this, and has decided the question as to
whether a particular Road is a side line or a through one. I would,
therefore, for the sake of uniformity, respectfully recommend that
this application of the Va Central Road be referred to him together
with a copy of your former letter to Mr Fontaine. |
| Very respectfully |
| Your obt servt |
| Ch. Maurice Smith |
| Captain & A Q M |
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