| Saltville, Va. |
| October 28, 1862 |
| |
| Governor Shorter |
| |
| My Dear Sir, |
| I have yet been unable to ship any salt.
I have offered it for shipment each day for a week. There is the
greatest partiality shown by the authorities of the Virginia
& Tennessee
road. They ship each day eight car-loads for Stuart, Buchanan &
Co., and have not shipped a sack for Georgia in two weeks, and not
one at all for Alabama. I have made appeal after appeal to the railroad men, stating the
pressing necessity and immediate [need] of our people for salt; that
in many portions of the State they were suffering for it even now,
but they said they had instructions to transport eight car-loads per
diem for Stuart, Buchanan & Co., and that the locomotive could
carry no more on the heavy grades of this branch road. I am anxious
to get all possible away from this place as fast as made, as the
winter's cold causes land-slides on the branch road, and blockades
the road for weeks during midwinter. The prospect of getting our
salt from here is gloomy enough, with no signs of improvement. Their
means of transportation they have as yet furnished for this branch
road is inadequate for carrying more than one-third of the salt now
produced here. They carry now only 100 sacks per car-load, and carry
each day 800 sacks, or 2,400 bushels, and at least three times that
amount, or 7,200 bushels, is produced here each day; and if they
carry only that small amount now in good open weather, with road in
fine condition, they must expect with same cars, &c., to be able
to carry less very soon, for we have already had a snow from four to
six inches deep. I have stated plainly my difficulties here. Messrs.
McClurg & Jaques are ready to deliver salt to us each day to the
amount of water furnished them, and it is increasing so in their
sheds as greatly to inconvenience them. We have several hundred
sacks now piled up in their sheds. I have no doubt the Secretary of
War would order a change in the management of things here, so that
Alabama
could get her rights and justice, but I will await your counsel and
instructions. I have stated to the railroad men the importance of
Alabama's getting her salt now, so that her people can pack their
pork during the first weather suitable, as it is often the case (as
it was last winter) that we do not have weather suitable more than
once during the winter season. The people of
Virginia
can kill their pork safely any week from now until the last of
March. I await your orders as to what I shall do to expedite the
shipment of salt to the citizens of our State, and shall anxiously
await your reply, as I do not feel authorized to act without further
instructions. |
| I have the honor to be, Your Excellency's most
obedient servant, |
| Joseph H. Speed |
| Assistant Quartermaster of Alabama |
|