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Wilmington & Weldon Rail Road Co.,
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Office Chief Engineer and Superintendent,
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Wilmington, N. C. June 9, 1864. |
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| Lt Col. F. W. Sims |
| QM Richmond |
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| Colonel -- |
| I have received the
papers in the case of the two Engines sent to Charlotte. |
| I have also been in
correspondence with the Master of the establishment Chief Engineer
Ramsay, and I find that he has laid out a great deal of work not
contemplated by my master of machinery. |
| The object of this letter is
to ask if the Hon. Secy of Navy will authorize the repairs of these
Engines if I send a man to take charge of the work, they giving us the
aid of two to three machinists to work on them. Not to exceed three
months. Some castings & some forgings will be wanted & with
such aid we can fit them ??? and they will materially aid us. |
| Had I known this dislike the
Navy Dept. at Charlotte has to undertake this work I would not have send
them at an expense of $1500 & the same or more to come back, but
now being there I hope we may have the aid asked in this letter. |
| I am Respectfully, |
| Your obt servt |
| S. L. Fremont, |
| Chief Engr & Supt {Superintendent,
Wilmington & Weldon RR} |
| |
| {on the back of the
letter} |
| S. L. Fremont Eng
& Supt |
| Wilmington &
Weldon RRoad |
| Wilmington N. C. June
9, 64 |
| Has
corresponded with Chf. Eng. Ramsay who contemplated doing more work on
the two locomotives than was anticipated. Asks if the Hon. Sec of Navy
will authorise repairs that can be made by three machinists in
three months under a foreman he will furnish. Will want some castings
and forgings. |
| Also
states that had he known the dislike the Navy Dept. at Charlotte has
to undertake this work he would not have sent them there at a cost of
$1,000. |
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| Railroad Bureau |
| Richmond June 13/64 |
| Respy referred to Q.
M. General. |
| The repairs to these
engines are so heavy that much delay was expected in getting them out.
Mr Fremont proposes to lessen the work need in consideration of the
pressure upon his road it could be a great favor if the Hon Sec of Navy
would grant this request and disregard the "fling" in the
last paragraph. |
| F. W. Sims |
| Lt. Col. & C |
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| QM?? June 26, 1864 |
| The endorsement of
Lt. Col. Sims is approved, and these papers respectfully submitted to
the favorable consideration of Hon Secy of Navy |
| A R Lawton |
| QMGenl |
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| Comm Brooke to say
whether the services of the machinists asked can be spared. The
repairs of locomotives is very important to all branches of the public
service, and it is proper that any possible aid should be extended to
consistent with the demands upon us for Naval work. |
| S R Mallory Sec |
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| Office of Ordnance
& Hydrography |
| June 25th 1864 |
| Respectfully returned
to Secretary of the Navy. Chief Engineer Ramsay has reported under
date of May 5th 1864 that with his small force of mechanics working at
night and on Sundays he was not able to fill orders for munitions of
war as rapidly as desired. His force has not since been increased, and
is still inadequate. If mechanics are supplied, the work on
Locomotives may be executed. |
| Chief
Engineer Ramsay says he expressed a strong desire to aid the Rail Road
Companies, and has made every effort to procure mechanics for that
purpose, as well as to comply with the demands of the service. |
| There
are now required |
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7 Machinists |
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8 Blacksmiths, in addition to other mechanics. |
| John M. Brooke |
| Commander in charge |
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| Resply returned to
the Q. M. Genl. whose attention is called to Com. Brooke's endt. I
think that the importance of the work desired call for immediate
details of mechanics. If sent there it can be ??? whereas it seems
impracticable without it. |
| S. R. Mallory |
| Sec Navy |
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| QMG June 27
1864 |
| Respectfully returned
to Lt Col Sims. Can the mechanics be supplied |
| By order of QMGenl |
| W F Alexander |
| QMGen |