Demopolis, June 25, 1862
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| Hon. G. W. Randolph |
| Secretary of War, Richmond, Va. |
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| Sir, |
| Captain Thomson, of the staff of General
Bragg, had an interview here yesterday with the president and
directors of the Alabama & Mississippi Rivers Railroad Company,
and submitted his authority from the general to take military
possession of the road, so as to complete the balance of the work
necessary to make the connection between Selma and Meridian. The
Board adopted a resolution expressing their unqualified assent to
any course the Government or military authorities might deem it best
to take in regard to the completion of the road, with a proviso that
they were not to be understood as thereby making the stockholders
liable for any extra expenditure of money in completing the work,
over and above allowing fair prices for such work as might be useful
to the stockholders after the Government might cease to use and
control the road. A copy of this resolution was furnished to Captain
Thomson. An inquiry was made of the Board by Captain Thomson as to
whether they were under any contract with the Government to finish
the road within any specified time, and within what time they could
finish it for use with the aid of the Congressional appropriation of
$150,000. The reply of the Board was that they had entered into no
contract to finish the road within any specified time, but had bound
themselves faithfully to apply such means as the company had, and
also the $150,000, toward the completion of the road, and to use all
proper diligence and activity to accomplish the object. They
candidly admitted that in the existing state of things they could
not complete the road for use even with the aid of the $150,000.
Agreeing that the road was essential to the military wants of the
Government, they were ready to yield to whatever course the public
authorities might deem best,. The Board say they applied to Congress
for the $150,000 in August, 1861, when railroad iron was low, and
with the aid of this amount they could, as matters then stood, have
finished the road, but that before Congress thought proper to give
the aid railroad iron and materials had nearly doubled in price, and
that now there is none on market. The idea of the Board seems to be
that while they could not purchase iron and materials and obtain the
labor necessary to finish the road at once, the Government could
take such things and pay for them and push the work through without
much delay. There is much public spirit among the people on the
route of the road, and if it is understood to be a work of military
necessity and under military control, negro labor to any reasonable
extent can now be had at fair prices, and iron from the Cahaba and
Marion road and the Pensacola road sufficient to complete the work
could be taken. Since I have been here I have given the road
attention in every way I could, but the company was the ruling
power, and I could only act within the limits they might prescribe.
The work has not progressed as rapidly as I wished, but some
allowances are to be made for the want of better progress. In the
first place, the company have been obliged to use their stock notes
in place of money to obtain laborers. They have, as I now learn, in
their expenditures anticipated about $50,000 of the $150,000
advance. As to this, however, they will inform you.
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| I have under your authority taken for the use
of the road from the Cahaba, Marion & Greensborough road 55,367
pounds spikes, 3,810 pounds bolts and nuts, 17,636 pounds fish bars,
1,276 bars of railroad iron already delivered, and some 300 to 400
more yet to be obtained {all the bars expected
to be taken would have provided about 3 miles of track, both sides}, the weights of all of which will be
furnished so soon as the delivery is completed. These articles, I
take it for granted, will have to be paid for by the Alabama and
Mississippi Rivers Railroad Company out of the advance of the
$150,000. It is for you to decide whether this work is to go on
under the control of the company or whether under absolute military
control. In the event the line via Mobile should fall into
possession of the enemy this route would be obliged to be used for
the support of our army in Mississippi. Our rivers are now, owing to
continued dry weather, almost reduced below the point of navigation.
In my last letter I suggested that if the road was to be finished
under absolute military authority the company ought not to receive
the $150,000. They will, as I now learn, desire at all events to
receive so much of this advance as they have already expended. The
orders from General Bragg to Captain Thomson in regard to the work
have, I learn, been suspended for the present. Please favor me with
your decision upon the question as to whether the road is to be
completed under the orders of General Bragg or by the company, and
with any instructions you may think proper to give for my future
guidance. The company propose to send you by special messenger a
certified copy of the mortgage. I am advised that, according to the
laws of this State, a copy certified is of equal validity with the
original, where the original has been lost, and that the loss of the
note will cause no difficulty, for the reason that the mortgage
itself recites and acknowledges the debt, and this acknowledgment is
evidence sufficient. The grain crops in this part of the country are
very extensive as to acres and were most promising until recently.
The want of rain has injured them.
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| Very respectfully |
| A. S. Gaines |
| Special Agent |
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| [Indorsement] |
| Have received the mortgage but not the
bond conditioned for the faithful application of the money. It
cannot be paid until this comes, and all expenses incurred
heretofore must be paid out of it. There is no other appropriation
out of which the expenses can be paid. You will, therefore, return
the iron unless the company assumes the debt. |
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