| From the Fayetteville (N. C.) Observer |
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| March 23, 1863 |
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| The Southern Railroads |
| P. W. A. writes to the Savannah
Republican: |
| Our southern railways are beginning to
feel the wear and tear of the war to an extent that must give rise to
serious apprehensions for the future. The locomotives and rolling
stock, as well as the rails on many of the roads, are fast wearing
out, and but little effort is being made in any quarter to replace
them. So far has this deterioration proceeded, that it has been found
necessary to adopt a new schedule on the lines between Richmond and
Montgomery, the object of which is to reduce the rate of speed and
allow more time for the trains to make connections. The change, while
it lessens the speed and increases the time, will render the
connections more certain, and thereby really expedite both travel and
the mails. |
| You will remember that the attention of
railway companies and the government was called to this subject,
nearly a year ago, in one of my letters from the West. The evil has
been allowed to continue, however, and now the roads are barely able
to do the transportation of the government. What will be their
condition a year hence? Iron bars and iron locomotives, like human
hearts and muscles, will wear out in the course of time. If something
be not done soon the enemy, whose means of transportation are abundant
both by land and water, will have greatly the advantage of us in the
rapid movement of troops. |
| The roads in Georgia have not been so
heavily taxed as those in other States, and are therefore in
comparatively good condition. In this, as in her freedom from
invasion, the State has been singularly fortunate. The Charleston
& Savannah road, and the Charleston and Northeastern road, were
just completed when the war broke out, and with certain lateral lines
in other States, are in good condition, but with these exceptions, the
condition of the Railroads in the Confederate States is of a character
to excite the serious concern, and call for prompt action, both of the
government and the people. |
| If some other plan should not be adopted,
it may become necessary for the companies owning the lines chiefly
used by the government, to buy the iron, locomotives and cars on the
branch roads, in order to repair their tracks and keep up their
rolling stock. The government itself may intervene, and require the
parties to come into such an arrangement. |
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