April 15, 1863
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| Col. W. W. Wadley, A. A. G. |
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| Sir, |
| Enclosed I hand you an account for the
use by the Government of this company's locomotive engine "G.
P. R. James" on the Government road through Petersburg from the
first of December 1862 to the 31st of March inclusive. |
| For about seven months prior to the first of
those dates it was used by the Government and paid for at the rate
of only ten dollars per diem, a rate which bore us no just
proportion to either the value of its use to the Government, or to
what its use would even then have been worth to this company; but
which had been acquiesced in from month to month because it was
commenced at a time when this road was occupied by the enemy and
afterwards its return to this company was expected from week to
week. |
| It is the same rate, which was paid and
received by this and connecting railroads for the hire of engines of
each other twenty years ago; when the prices of all things were not
one fourth what they are now; & for engines of not half the
capacity of this. Eighteen years ago such engines were hired for a
month at a time on neighboring roads for fifty dollars per diem;
& the least sums which could be allocated to this engine from
the carrying of any travel, which either would have been of
Government freights during the last five months on this road, where
it was greatly needed, could have been from twenty five to forty
dollars for any number of successive days. The smallest of
these is the rate charged in the concluded accounts; and its
reasonableness can scarcely fail to be manifest to you; more
especially in view of the constant and damaging use, to which I am
informed this engine has been subjected in Petersburg, making
extensive and very costly repairs to it at an early day absolutely
necessary. Asking your early attention to this account, which awaits
your action, to close this item of our annual accts: now necessarily
to be speedily made up for our annual report; and also to the early
return of this engine to this road. |
| I am very respectfully |
| Your obt. servant |
| P. V. Daniels, Jr. President {Richmond,
Fredericksburg & Potomac Railroad} |
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