| To the Provisional Congress of the
Confederate States |
| I herewith transmit a copy of
a communication from Mr. William S. Ashe, urging the completion of
certain Railroads, as necessary for the proper transportation of
troops and military stores, in the exigencies of the present war. I,
also, transmit a copy of a communication from Mr. E. Fontaine, the
President of the Central Railroad of Virginia, urging the completion
of twenty miles of the Covington & Ohio Rail Road, upon
considerations of military necessity. |
| I communicate to you with
these letters, a series of resolutions adopted at a Convention of
Railroad Presidents, held in Richmond, on the 6th of December, asking
for the assistance of the Confederate Government, in procuring certain
supplies which are indispensable to the maintenance of the Rail Road
system of the country. |
| That certain appropriations,
which otherwise, could not be constitutionally made by the Confederate
Government, come within the range of its powers when absolutely
necessary, for the prosecution of the war, there is no doubt. It is
equally clear that when this military necessity ceases, the right to
make such appropriations no longer exists. To exercise this power when
it exists, and to confine it within the proper limits, is a matter4
for the just discretion of Congress; and to enable it to act upon the
interesting subjects to which they relate, I transmit the
communications and resolutions which accompany this message. |
| I have already recommended
that the Confederate Government should assist in making a Railroad
from Danville, Virginia, to Greensboro', North Carolina {the
Piedmont RR}, upon the
ground of a strong military necessity for completing an interior
through line from Virginia to the Southern Atlantic States. I deemed
this to be necessary not only on account of the superior safety of
such a line from hostile inroads and invasion; but because of the
great additional facilities which its completion would afford for the
transportation of troops and military supplies. The road from Selma,
Alabama, to Meridian, Mississippi, is a link that has claims similar
to the road already recommended to your assistance in a previous
message. Whilst the completion of the twenty miles of the Covington
& Ohio Railroad, as proposed by Mr. Fontaine, might be eminently
useful for military purposes, I cannot in the present condition of the
Treasury recommend that you should contribute by direct appropriation. |
| The resolutions of the
Convention of Railroad Presidents and Superintendents relate to a most
important subject. If the railroads should be generally disabled from
transporting troops and military supplies for the prosecution of the
war, the result would be most disastrous. It is urged that the capital
necessary to construct the establishments required for re-rolling
rails and the manufacture of locomotives, cannot well be had unless
the Confederate Government would make some advance for the purpose.
With the machinery proper for rolling the rails there might be
connected that which is necessary for rolling plates for uses which
are wanted in the naval service. How far it would be proper for
Congress to authorize advances to be made on contracts to furnish
these plates or engines, it will be for that body to consider and
determine. Some such advance might facilitate and secure the
establishment of works which would, at the same time, furnish what is
required by the Government, re-roll the railroad iron and make
locomotives for the use of the Railroads. The exigency is believed to
be such as to require the aid of the Government, and is commended to
your favorable consideration. |
| Jefferson Davis |
| Richmond,
December 17th, 1861 |
| |
| |
| Richmond, 27th
November, 1861 |
| |
| To His Excellency
Jefferson Davis, President: |
| |
| Sir, |
| I submit
the following estimates of the amount of money required to make the
Railroad connections in the cities of Savannah and Augusta. The
distance in Savannah between the depots of the Central {(of
Georgia)} Railroad and
the Savannah{, Albany}
& Gulf Railroad is about 1,400 yards. The line of
connection is straight and little or no grading will be required. I
should suppose eight thousand dollars ($8,000) amply sufficient to
make this connection. In the city of Augusta there already exists a
connection between the South Carolina Railroad and Georgia Railroad,
but none between either of these roads, and the Augusta & Savannah
road. This connection is, in my opinion, very important. The distance
to be run to make it, will not be over 600 yards, and no grading. The
only difficulty will be the removal of some inferior houses belonging
to the Augusta & Savannah road. This road will give the right of
way and charge no damages for injuries to property, and pledges the
road to take the road off the hands of the Confederacy at cost when
the war terminates. Both of these connections can be finished in the
course of the month, if considered advisable. I would respectfully
call your attention to the military necessity of the Railroad leading
from Selma, on the Alabama River via Uniontown and Demopolis to
Meridian, (Suwashee) {the Alabama &
Mississippi Rivers RR}, at that point connecting with the road leading
to Vicksburg. The distance between Selma and Meridian is about 100
miles, but of this distance upwards of 50 miles is completed and now
in operation. Of the balance, one half is graded and ready to receive
superstructure, leaving about 20 miles to be graded. |
| The
Company is at present unable to proceed with the work on account of a
want of funds. The President informs me that if he could now obtain a
loan from the Confederacy, of $150,000, he would be able to complete
it by the 1st May, 1862. The return of the amount of loan to be made
by the performance of services, either by the transportation of the
Confederate mail or the munitions of war. On the completion of this
road, the Government would have command of two continuous lines from
the Mississippi to the Atlantic -- one via Memphis and Chattanooga,
and the other via Atlanta and Augusta. The former leading near the
enemy's borders, and through a disaffected country is liable to
interruption at all times, and makes the completion of the latter
connection very desirable and important to the Confederacy. |
| With respect, |
| W. S. Ashe |
| |
| |
| Richmond, Dec. 13, 1861 |
| |
| President Davis |
| |
| Dear Sir, |
| The heavy accumulation of the
Government freight, both at Memphis and Grand Junction, awaiting
transportation Eastward, induces me to respectfully call your
attention to the necessity of an early completion of the Railroad
running from Selma to Meridian {the Alabama
& Mississippi Rivers RR} and then connecting with the Vicksburg
and Jackson Railroad {the Southern (of
Mississippi) RR}. As the Memphis & Charlotte {should
be "Charleston"} Railroad has
not been able to transport this freight, I have been compelled to
order that from New Orleans, to be sent on by way of Meridian {north
on the New Orleans, Jackson & Great Northern RR, then east on the
Southern (of Mississippi) RR}, thence
across to Mobile {south on the Mobile
& Ohio RR} and up to Montgomery {north
on the Mobile & Great Northern RR and then the Alabama &
Florida (of Alabama) RR}, which is not only a
circuitous, but also, a very inconvenient route. If a gap of
twenty-three miles on the proposed road from Meridian to Selma was
finished, we could have almost an air-line from Vicksburg to Selma on
the Alabama River; from which point steamers ply uninterruptedly to
Montgomery. When opened, this will be the shortest route from New
Orleans to Richmond and entirely removed from any interruption by the
enemy. |
| But
independent of this advantage, I feel satisfied that the single
line of road from Memphis to Chattanooga will not be able to
transport all of the Government freight, unless it ceases entirely to
transport private or individual freights. The President of the Selma
& Meridian Railroad Company, Dr. Griffin, has informed me that if
he could obtain from the Confederate States Government, a loan of one
hundred and fifty thousand dollars he would be able to finish the road
and have it in full operation by the 1st of May next, and that he
would be willing to give ample security for its return in
transportation of troops, provisions and munitions of war. One year's
operation, in my opinion, would enable the Company to discharge the
loan. |
| While
discussing railroad connections, I beg leave to remind you of the
existing disconnections at Savannah and Augusta. The authorities of
these cities have given permission to commence their construction, and
I am assured the cost will not exceed the estimates previously
submitted by me. I respectfully suggest that an order be issued for
the early completion of these important works. |
| Yours, with great
respect, |
| W. S. Ashe |
| |
| |
| Virginia Central
Railroad |
| President's Office |
| Richmond, Va.,
December 2, 1861 |
| |
| His Excellency
Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederate States |
| |
| Dear Sir, |
| I invite
your attention to the condition of the railroad line between the
present western terminus of the Virginia Central Railroad and the
Kanawha Valley, that you may consider whether it is not important in a
military point of view, that Congress shall give aid to bring into
operation an unfinished section, on which there is so large a
proportion of the work done, that the expenditure of a comparatively
small sum would suffice to attain that object. |
| This
line of road consists of ten miles belonging to the Virginia Central
Railroad Company, terminating at Covington, for the completion of
which they ask no assistance, and thence westward to the Covington
& Ohio Railroad, which has been undertaken by the State of
Virginia entirely on State account. The section of the road to which
allusion is now specially made, is twenty miles in length, crossing
the Alleghany mountains, and passing immediately by the Greenbrier,
White Sulphur Springs, on the direct route by which troops, provisions
and munitions of war have been hauled by wagons, to the command of
General Floyd. The work on this section was suspended, because of the
financial difficulties of the present time; but the grading is so far
completed that the track might be made ready for the rails for an
inconsiderable amount compared with the magnitude of its importance as
a military road. As I stated above, this section clears the Alleghany
mountains, and connects at the White Sulphur Springs with the James
River and Kanawha Turnpike, which is a fine road, leading by Lewisburg
directly to the country which has been the theatre of military
operations during the past season. |
| It is
unnecessary to urge on you the value of this line if it was completed,
and will only remark, that in one view alone, viz.: the saving in cost
of transportation, it cannot be too highly estimated, as that would
probably have been equal to the cost of putting the road in operation,
as far as the White Sulphur Springs. |
| I
enclose a map which will better enable you to understand my views as
to the importance of completing this section. I called this morning at
your office to confer with you in person, but found you engaged with
the Cabinet. |
| Very respectfully,
your obedient servant, |
| E. Fontaine |
| President Va. Central
R. R. Co. |
| |
| |
| Resolutions |
| At a
Convention of Railroad Presidents and Superintendents, held in
Richmond on Friday, December 6, 1861, the following preamble and
resolutions were adopted: |
| Whereas,
The existing blockade and the manufacture of munitions of war preclude
the railroad companies of the Confederate States from obtaining the
machinery and materials requisite to the maintenance of their
railroads and means of transportation, now so essential to the
military necessities of the Government, as well as to the business
wants o the people; and, Whereas, without the aid of the Government,
no company or association of companies will be able to procure
essential supplies -- |
| Resolved,
That the Government of the Confederate States be requested to import
such supplies as are needed by the railroad companies during the
existing blockade, to be paid for at their cost, including all expense
of importation by each of the said companies who shall furnish on or
before _____ day _____ a list of such supplies, and give satisfactory
security for the payment of such cost and expenses, on delivery of
such supplies. |
| Resolved,
That in view of the immediate and present wants of certain railroad
companies, now engaged in transporting military supplies for
additional equipment, and of their inability to supply the same
otherwise, application be made to the authorities of the Confederate
States for assistance in the premises, and it is respectfully
suggested, that as a part of the military defences of the country, the
Government should adopt some plan for the construction of locomotives,
the cost of which shall be paid by the railroad companies on delivery. |
| Resolved,
That in view of the want of iron to supply the present deficiency in
amount necessary for repairs upon the different roads, the Chairman of
this Convention be requested to urge upon the Confederate Government
the importance of taking up, and transporting to proper points, for
distribution, all the iron and other material, in such quantity as can
be obtained from the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. |
| Resolved,
That application be made to the Secretary of War for a temporary
detail of the mechanics now serving in the army, to be employed during
the winter upon the repairs of railroad machinery. |
|