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Engineer Office, Department of SC, Ga & Fla
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Charleston Nov 11th 1863 |
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| Col. A. L. Rives |
| Actg Chf Engr Bureau |
| Richmond Va |
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| Col., |
| I have the honor to enclose Mr
Jas Taphill State Auditor letter relative to the cost of the connection
between the Charleston & Savannah {RR} and
So Ca Rail Road. Exclusive of the iron the cost is $46,392 58/100 of
which the State has disbursed $35,979 40/100 balance on outstanding
debt. The iron was applied for by the president of the C&S RRoad and an
order issued from Head Quarters of this department, to turn it over to
the Road, ??? ??? for, no agreement having been entered into by this
department concerning the construction whatever and I believe not by any
department of the government. The president of the C&S Road informs me
that the government has also furnished some iron from Savannah, and
doubtless more has been furnished here from some government source, as
it was on hand lying around, and but little to be had otherwise. |
| A lot of apparently old used U
rails, very light, was also purchased I understand for the purpose &
laid in the street through the city. I do not know what charge was made
for these. That furnished by this department was very heavy good T
rails, but mostly was reweighed 305 rails, ???,???.66 lbs, the price was
averaged by me from information derived from inquiring at the different
roads what such iron was worth, at $250 a ton. |
| I suggested to the president
of the C&S RRoad, the idea of his purchasing the iron & paying the debt
of the connection, that the government would pay him for the use of it.
He did not appreciate the suggestion, he said that it was seldom used &
was no particular benefit to them, besides, they had not the funds to
spare. Aside from the military necessity, it is to such an advantage to
the road as to secure their stock in case of the road being in the hands
of the enemy. |
| The Charleston Bridge Company
requires payment of toll for all the freight brought over on the
government bridge, on the ground of their right of way -- if this is a
military work has not the government a right to build it, and use it? |
| The work of this connection
seems to have originated from the following extract, which I find in the
annual report of the presdt & Directors of the C&S RRoad for 1863, from
a report of the Chief of the deptmt of Justice & police (Hon. J W Hayne)
to the Governor & Executive Council, relating to the C&S RRoad & to the
Ashley River Bridge, Sept 1862. |
| "about the same
{many lines are smeared and blurred} If the
road should get into possession of the enemy the rolling stock must inevitably be
lost. But the connection proposed is of the utmost importance after a
great deal of negotiation ????? failure of many efforts on the part of
the government & council, the following resolution to be adopted, to
wit: |
| Resolved That the Chief of the department
of Justice & police be authorized to make all the necessary measures to
have the connection completed between the Chs & Savh rail road & the So
Ca & No Eastern Rail Roads provided, in his judgment it can be effected
for any thing within the sum of Thirty five Thousand Dollars, Genl
Pemberton having pronounced the road a military necessity." |
| I have the honor to be |
| Respy |
| Yr obt svt |
| W H Echols |
| Major & Chf Engr S. C. |
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