| Columbia, Feby 3, 1864 |
| |
| Major S. B. French |
| CS |
| Richmond VA |
| |
| Major, |
| I despatched to you this
evening that the bulk of corn here had gone forward & that the remainder
would follow by first train. I notice a material discrepancy between
receipts & deliveries of corn & I apprehend there are some onpple (?)
trains lying over at some of the way stations. I would retrace to find
them out myself, but I deem it more important to follow up the late
heavy shipments & see that they go forward to you. |
| I have however instructed Capt
Armstrong at Macon, Capt Cranston & Capt Witherspoon to investigate this
matter fully & report to me. |
| The Express Company imposes
more transportation than it ought, as you may infer from the following
extract from the report of the Prest. of the Charlotte & S Ca Rd |
|
Earnings from freights |
| From the Confd States |
$336,603.79 |
| From private freight |
270,544.36 |
| From Express Company |
186,281.86 |
|
| The amount paid by the Express
Co being more than half paid by the Govt for all its transportation. I
learn from Capt Sims that at Augusta this Co owns some 20 or 30 cars,
Ought not these and any others they may have be impressed? |
| I leave tomorrow for
Charlotte. |
| Very Respectfully |
| W H Smith |
| Major & CS |
|