| Office of the Raleigh & Gaston Rail Road
Co. |
| April 15, 1863 |
| |
| Maj. Chas. S. Carrington, Quarter Master |
| |
| Dear Major, |
| Yours in regard to the
movement of Freight through from this point to Petersburg, received. I
will take from Raleigh weekly 1200 bushels of Corn {4
car loads -- according to a letter of April 20, 1863 from Maj.
Carrington, that number should be 12,000 bushels, which would require
about 390 car loads -- about 32 trains, or 4 to 5 trains per day}, and what may be purchased on the line of my road,
through to Petersburg, if the Government will pay the transportation
on both roads to my Company, settling with the Petersburg Rail Road
for the use of their roadway outside of this arrangement. I hope to be
able to move all Commissary and Quarter Master's stores that may be
delivered to me at Raleigh by the trains of the North Carolina
Railroad, through on the same terms and conditions. In December last,
a new schedule of prices was agreed upon by the various Railroads of
the Confederacy, assembled in Convention at Augusta. Claims have been
presented made up according to that schedule to the Department and
payment refused. If the roads are to be sustained, the Government must
be liberal towards them. At this time, the old schedule will not pay
expenses of transportation. I am willing to abide by the new schedule
in part as follows: To receive for the transportation of Troops 2 1/2
cents per mile, officers and government agents paying local rates. |
| On things, first class, as
per report at said meeting (a printed copy of which is herewith
enclosed). Second and third class as per report; 4th to be same as
second and third; fifth as per report. |
| The rate of special trains
shall be 25 and 50 cents instead of 10 and 15, as per report. Trains
of other roads carrying freight shall receive the Government rate or
full transportation with troops, 1/4 of the amount paid for the same.
The Road bed on freight should receive, in addition, on half the
Government rate. I have had for some time two (2) trains on the
Petersburg Rail Road, and shall continue them, there until some
arrangement can be made. Hoping, under assurances from you, to receive
full rate on Government. I beg leave to say that private freight moved
over connecting roads pay three times as much as Government freight at
this proposed increased rate. |
| I am, with great respect, yours, |
| W. J. Hawkins, Pres't |
|