| Shelby Iron Works |
| September 24, 1864 |
| |
| Captain James T. Peters |
| |
| Sir, |
| Your letter of the 22d inst
has been recd. You say heavy complains are being made against this
company for short deliveries of iron; and that the chief of the bureau
does not understand why we cannot deliver as much iron now as heretofore.
The cause lies in the multiplicity of difficulties with which the
Company have had to contend, and beyond their control. To state all
the difficulties fully would require a letter of many pages. The chief
of them have been, and are, the want of means, the want of materials,
and the want of reliable workmen. I do not wish to be understood as
complaining of the bureau for not making payments according to the
terms of the contract, when it was not furnished with the means of
doing so; but you are aware that months elapsed without any payment
having been made. But one payment was made from about the 25th of
March until the 6th of the present month. |
| ***** |
| We have been repeatedly delayed
for days at a time for want of coal for the puddling and heating
furnaces which we could not get transported. *** Our teams have been
much reduced by hard and constant use, and for want of sufficient and
proper forage, and we have repeatedly been under the necessity of
stopping them from work and turning them into the woods to graze with
hands to mind them, because a supply of provender could not be
obtained. And with the teams we have in the condition they are, it is
utterly impracticable to haul the iron to the depot, haul wood for
coaling, haul coal to the furnaces with the increased distance from
the piles to the former, and do the other necessary hauling. This
difficulty will be in a great measure relieved, so soon as we can get
the switch to connect our road with the Ala & Tennessee {River}
rail road which we have the promises of the rail road
Superintendent to do so soon. When this is done, we have a
considerable quantity of pig iron on hand which we can commence
delivering so soon as transportation can be obtained. |
| ***** |
| Respectfully |
| {No signature on the
draft/file copy, but it was obviously by A. T. Jones, the President} |
|