| Raleigh & Gaston Rail Road Company |
| Raleigh, December 14, 1864 |
| |
| Col. F. W. Sims |
| Chf Rail Rd Bureau |
| Richmond Va |
| |
| Col., |
| I find it will be impossible to run our
trains at Columbia Schedule. We had on the N. C. R. R.
North Carolina RR} & the P. R. R.
{Petersburg RR} three of our best trains
for the months of November, Spark, Alamance & Saunders, they were kept
closely to their work and the total receipts were $17100, seventeen
thousand one hundred dollars. This you can readily see will not pay, the
same trains paid the No. Ca. R. R. about $25000, twenty five thousand
dollars. We are confined altogether to Government freight, the N. C.
Engines hauling the private freight, during the month we hauled a small
lot of private cotton. The N. C. Road receiving double amount frt on the
same that we did, which makes the difference between 17 & 25 thousand
dollars. If you will allow us I will make a suggestion, which I think
will induce foreign trains to do more work and give better satisfaction. |
| Confine the trains of the Roads altogether
to Govt freight so long as there is any Govt. freight to move, and allow
foreign trains to take three-fourths, one half or one-fourth private
freight as the Govt transportation will admit. Allow them to take it
altogether on one train, or so much on each train, the a/c to be kept by
the Q. M. at point of shipment, the private pays eight times as much as
the Government which holds out a strong inducement to foreign trains,
under the present arrangement there is no inducement for foreign trains
to work, the poorest freight is put off upon them, and if there be any
trouble in wood and water they must take the delay. I would like to see
you and would be able to explain more fully. I cant see why my Road
should not be put upon the same footing as the Va Roads, the taking of
the Petersburg Road by Grant operates as much upon us almost as that
Road and why not allow us the same rates? ten (10) cents per mile for
passengers, forage $175 per carload, camp equipage $135.00 per carload,
ammunition 2.62 1/2 per hundred pounds, and all other freight $1'75 per
hundred lbs. I am not disposed to complain but find it impossible for us
to make both ends meet at our present rates -- Negro hire, Shop Labor,
Subsistence and Clothing for the year 1865 will amount to more than our
total receipts at the present rates. I have heard nothing for a long
time from our train in Georgia. Will you be in Danville, Greensboro or
Raleigh soon? I would like very much to see you and talk over Rail Road
matters and will come to Richmond soon after Christmas to see you. |
| Yours Very truly |
| W. J. Hawkins Prest |
|