| Virginia & Tennessee Railroad Co. |
| Lynchburg, Va., March 24, 1863
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| Maj. Bigham, Prest. Planters' Salt Mfg. Co. |
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| Dear Sir,
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| In reply to your application through Mr.
Cox, and the application of M. S. Temple & Co., and of Judge
Wikle, making inquiry on what terms this Company would permit trains
belonging to roads in the State of Georgia to run over this road
between Bristol and Saltville, I would state that my judgment and
past experience has convinced me that it is injudicious and
inexpedient, as well as dangerous and embarrassing, to the
operations on the salt works branch to allow the trains from other
roads (under the control of their respective employees who are not
familiar with the peculiarities of this road, or with the rules or
regulations of the road, and not responsible to the officers of this
road) to be run over it, consequently we have determined to refuse
all applications for that purpose. At the same time, being desirous
of facilitating the transportation of salt, and believing that we
have not a sufficient supply of motive power or cars, we are
disposed to make such arrangements as will effect the object without
the danger and inconvenience attending the running of strange trains
over the roads, I therefore propose, if the State of Georgia has a
surplus stock of engines and cars, that they shall furnish to this
company one or more locomotives, and a sufficient number of freight
cars, to be supplied with good brakes (on each car) to be used with
the engine or engines, they to be run and managed entirely by the
employees of this company, under the control of, and to be
responsible to the officers of this company, and to be used in the
transportation of salt for the State of Georgia, wood and other
supplies necessary to the manufacture of salt for that State. I
propose that this company shall pay to the proprietors or owners of
said engines and cars a reasonable rate of compensation for the use
of them, to be hereafter named, and that after the salt required to
be transported for the State of Georgia, wood supplies shall have
been transported, then this company to have the privilege of using
said locomotives and cars for the transportation of salt or wood
supplies, etc., for other parties, provided they shall not be used
on any part of the road except between Bristol and Saltville, and
only so to be used for the purpose of keeping the said locomotives
and cars, and the hands in charge of same employed. This company
propose, in consideration of the use of said locomotives and cars,
to pay for each locomotive the sum of ($10) ten dollars per day,
furnishing engineman and fireman, oil, waste, fuel, etc., and to do
the small ordinary repairs necessary to keep the engine in running
condition; but not to perform any large or important repairs. The
consideration proposed for the use of the cars, is that this company
shall pay 2 cents per mile run by each car; an accurate account to
be kept of the same, and to furnish oil and grease for the purpose
of keeping the axles properly lubricated; the same conditions as to
repair as proposed for the engines. It is further to be understood
that the size of the engine or engines to be furnished shall be such
as may be approved by me; in consequence of the heavy grades over
which they are compelled to work, the heaviest class engine in use
on the roads in the State of Georgia, where the grades are light,
will be required. I would further state that if the companies
furnishing the engines prefer to send their own engineermen and
firemen for the time being, to be in the employment of this company,
and paid by them, and subject in all respects to be governed as
employees of this company, I have no objections.
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| Yours very respectfully,
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| Thos. Dodamead {Superintendent,
Virginia & Tennessee RR}
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