President's Office
| Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac R. R. Co. |
| Richmond, July 2, 1861 |
| |
| Hon. L. P. Walker |
| Secretary of War |
| |
| Sir, |
| In compliance with your request of this
morning I herewith hand to you a copy of my recent communication to
the President in relation to the railroad connections in the cities
of Richmond and Petersburg. In addition to the information therein
contained you desired to be informed: First. Within what time the
railroad companies concerned would bind themselves to construct
these works if supplied by the Confederate States Government with
the requisite pecuniary aid advanced on account of the cost of
transportation to be performed by them for the Government. Second.
What would be the amount of that pecuniary aid required. Third. At
what time or times and in what mode and amounts those companies
would refund to the Government the money so advanced. My reply to
the first of these inquiries is, that although these works may be
constructed in from six weeks to two months, yet, in view of the
difficulty at this time of procuring either men or materials for
such a work, the companies concerned could not bind themselves to
complete the work in less than three months from the day when the
arrangement with the Government shall be made. Second. To the second
inquiry I reply that $60,000 in money or in the bonds of the
Confederate States would greatly facilitate the early construction
of these works, but even $50,000 of the same funds would enable them
to construct them within the three months specified. Third. This
amount, if so advanced by the Government, the railroad companies
could refund in annual installments of 10 per cent., payable in
tolls and fares for transportation done for the Government so far as
the same shall be due at the date when each installment shall be
due, and in money or C. S. securities to the extent that the said
tolls and fares shall fall short of any installment at the date when
it shall be payable, the whole balance of the amount so advanced by
the Government, with legal interest thereon from the date or dates
of such advancement, to be repaid to the Government at the
expiration of three years after the termination of the existing war. |
| Asking the favor of a reply as early as may be convenient
to you |
| I am, with much respect, your obedient servant |
| P. V. Daniels, Jr. |
| President Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac RR.
Co. |
| (In behalf of the companies concerned.) |
|