Virginia Central Railroad, President's Office
| Richmond, Va., January 22, 1862 |
| |
| Hon. J. P. Benjamin |
| Secretary of War |
| |
| Dear Sir, |
| A convention of a number of railroad
companies of the Confederate States held in this city on the 19th
ultimo for the purpose of devising a plan for procuring supplies,
appointed a committee to get information for the advancement of that
object. Understanding that the Government was engaged in similar
inquiries in reference to its wants, they were instructed to
communicate with the Department having charge of that subject with a
view to co-operation. At a meeting of the committee held this
evening D. T. Bisbie, esq., read a communication which he designed
presenting to you, containing some suggestions, the result of recent
experience. I am requested by the committee to say to you that they
were very favorably impressed with the scheme of Mr. Bisbie, so far
as it was developed, and, not committing themselves without further
reflection, they recommended it to your consideration. |
| Very respectfully |
| E. Fontaine |
| Chairman |
|