| Richmond & Danville R. R., President's
Office |
| Richmond, Va. |
| March 31, 1863 |
| |
| Hon. James A. Seddon |
| Secretary of War |
| |
| Sir, |
| I regret to have to report to
you that the condition of this road is such as to make it
indispensable that there should be at least 5 miles of iron procured
for it. There are between 4 and 5 miles of road at Amelia
Court-House that is unsafe and cannot be rendered safe without it is
laid with new rail. With the exception of that portion of the road
we may continue to run it, with great care and caution, for some
time to come. No caution or care can make safe the portion of the
track above referred to. We have had various and frequent accidents,
caused by the condition of that part of the road, and, being unable
to procure iron, I am driven with great reluctance to appeal to the
Government for help. The old iron now on the track is the flat bar,
which we will exchange with the Government, yard for yard, for T or
U rail, we paying for the difference in weight if the Government can
furnish the new iron. I know very well the difficulty that it will
have to encounter in order to furnish this road with the iron asked
for, but it has become indispensable to the continued use of the
road, in my judgment and that of the superintendent, and, it not
being possible for us to get the iron, no alternative is left, but
to appeal to the Government for aid. Without the use of this road I
do not see how the necessary transportation for the army can be
done, and it therefore becomes my duty to apprise you of its
condition. The constant increase of prices paid in the Government
shops for mechanics makes it impossible for us to procure and keep
machinists enough to keep in repair our roiling-stock. That and the
deterioration of the track for want of material presents a gloomy
condition and calls for some action on its part. Every effort on the
part of the management of the road has been made and will be
continued to enable it to answer the calls made on it by the
Government and community. I beg that you will give this matter your
early and serious attention, as the exigency does not admit of
delay. |
| Respectfully, |
| Lewis E. Harvie |
| President |
| |
| Indorsement |
| Engineer Bureau |
| April 7, 1863 |
| Respectfully returned to the
honorable Secretary of War. |
| The condition of the Richmond
& Danville Railroad, as represented, seems to demand that a
portion of the iron taken from other roads (if it be decided to take
it) should be applied to its wants. The removal of the rail from the
York River road is now in progress, and it is hoped some will soon
be obtained from the Norfolk and Petersburg road. In exchange for
good iron the Government should have an amount of worn iron
equivalent in value. |
| J. F. Gilmer |
| Colonel of Engineers and Chief of Bureau |
|