Office Greenville & Columbia Railroad
Company
| Abbeville, S. C., January 14, 1862 |
| |
| Hon. J. P. Benjamin |
| Secretary of War |
| |
| Sir, |
| At a meeting of railway men at Montgomery
in April last it was resolved that our railroad companies would
transport munitions of war, provisions, etc., for the Confederate
States at half our usual charges, and Confederate soldiers at 2
cents per mile. Since that time we have been rendering services at
those rates. The business on our road has greatly decreased in
consequence of the disturbed condition of public affairs, so that we
are not making interest on our debt, and expenses. Our stockholders
have realized no dividends. Their stock is taxed by the Government
as though it were profitable. This tax on the stock my company must
pay and relieve the stockholders. The Post-Office Department pays us
nothing. The Postmaster-General has adopted the self-sustaining
principal and we have not been refunded the amount advanced and paid
by us for messengers. |
| Under these circumstances we are compelled to
advance our charges or cease altogether to run our trains. I have
ordered that the Confederate States be hereafter charged 3 cents per
mile for soldiers and that our regular charges on all freight for
the Government be restored. I do this not for the purpose of making
dividends for my stockholders--they are willing to serve the
Government for nothing--but simply as a vital measure to enable us
to run our trains. |
| Very respectfully, your obedient servant |
| Thos. C. Perrin |
| President |
|