| Engineer Bureau |
| Sept. 4, 1863 |
| |
| Hon. James A. Seddon |
| Secretary of War |
| |
| Sir, |
| I have the honor to
return the enclosed communication from Judge Thomas A. Walker, Presdt.
of the Alabama & Tennessee {River} R.
R. with favorable endorsement from Gen. Jos. E. Johnston & others,
urging upon the Department the extreme military importance of the
proposed Blue Mountain & Rome connection & the propriety of
furnishing iron for its completion. The importance of the proposed
road, second only to that of the Danville & Greensboro connection {the
Piedmont RR} , has been always
acknowledged & repeatedly urged by this Bureau. It was upon an
estimate prepared here that the appropriation was made by Congress for
its construction. But whilst extremely anxious to promote the speedy
completion of the Road proposed, the difficulty of furnishing the iron
necessary, appears to be very great, & the Government has uniformly
refused to bind itself to deliver it. It is inclined therefore that no
assurances can be given in regard to supplying promptly the iron
called for by Judge Walker, especially as the removal of the iron from
the Marion {Cahaba, Marion &
Greensboro RR}, the Gainesville {Mississippi,
Gainesville & Tuscaloosa RR} & the Newbern Branch
{of the Alabama & Mississippi Rivers
RR} Roads has been
suspended for special reasons, by the direction of the War
Department. |
| A letter from Col.
C. F. M. Garnett, commissioner for the removal of Railroad iron etc.
of which I have the honor to enclose herewith a copy, discusses the
possibility of furnishing the necessary iron for the construction of
the Blue Mountain & Rome connection. |
| Very Respectfully |
| Your obdt. Servant |
| A. L. Rives |
| Lt. Col. & actg chf Bur. |
|