| From the Yorkville (S. C.) Enquirer |
| September 10, 1862 |
| |
| Railroad Convention |
| The Convention was organized
by the choice of Mr. John Caldwell as President, and Messrs. Samuel G.
Jones and Alfred L. Tyler as Secretaries. |
|
Committees were appointed to report on transportation,
supplies and schedules.
|
| The Committee on
Transportation made a report which was adopted, recommending that the
transportation of troops, soldiers on furlough and discharged
soldiers, be two cents per mile on main lines, and three cents on side
lines. Commissioned officers on furlough to pay full fare. On freight,
the rate offered y Government was adopted, viz: 1st class, 65 cents
per 100 lbs. per 100 miles, 2d class 20 cents, 3d class $20 per car
load, 4th class $15 per carload. If carried on passenger trains, the
rate to be increased 50 per cent. Each road to adopt and publish its
own regulations in relation to the carriage of dead bodies. |
| The Committee on Supplies made
a report recommending that two establishments for the rolling of
railroad iron and the manufacture of supplies be erected, one near the
iron and coal region of Alabama, and the other upon Deep river, in
North Carolina. The Companies in South Carolina, North Carolina and
Virginia to join in the erection of the works on Deep river, and the
Companies in the other States to join as far as possible in the
erection of the other. And as the Government has taken into its
possession all the coal, iron, brass, copper, tin, tools, &c., and
also the mechanical skill o0f the country, that application be made in
the name of this Convention to the Government, requesting that such
articles may be supplied at cost to any Company that may truly need
them. |
| The following was adopted: |
| That owing to the difficulties
and delays of settlements, for the present, through tickets should not
be sold in either direction beyond Augusta, Savannah, or Charleston;
and it is recommended that through tickets be arranged on the basis of
the local rates of each road, and that a standing committee be
appointed to prepare such tickets as soon as the rates over all the
lines can be ascertained. |
| The following resolutions were
unanimously adopted. |
| Resolved unanimously by
this Convention, That our best endeavors for the future, as in the
past, shall be given to the Confederate Government in the
transportation of troops and Government property. And hereby
respectfully request the President of the Confederacy to issue an
order that officers of the Government shall not interfere with the
loading or running of trains, as our experiences has been that such interference
has heretofore resulted both in detriment to the Government and to the
road. |
| Resolved further, That
Dr. Lewis, representing the Government in this Convention, is
requested to bring the above resolution to the notice of President
Davis, and to solicit his prompt action in the promises. |
| Resolved, That in
making schedules in future, time shall be given at suitable watering
places, for soldiers and other passengers to obtain water, and that it
shall be the duty of conductors to have it announced to the passengers
on all the trains, upon arriving at those places, that the train will
stop -- minutes for the purpose of obtaining water. |
| Resolved, That the
rates reported and adopted this day do go into operation on the 1st
proximo. |
| Resolutions of thanks to the
City Council and to the Chairman were adopted, after which the
Convention adjourned. |
|