House of Representatives
| February 3, 1863 |
| |
| Hon. J. A. Seddon |
| Secretary of War |
| |
| Dear Sir, |
| Inclosed please find the letter of Mr.
Walter Goodman, president of the Mississippi Central Railroad
Company, setting out the present dilapidated condition of that road,
the importance of which in a military point of view cannot well be exaggerated.
The proposition of Mr. G. is to obtain permission of the Government
to export cotton for the purpose of procuring those supplies without
which, he says, the road must be abandoned. The president has a
perfect knowledge of the importance of the road referred to, and has
recently had the opportunity of seeing something of its present
condition. As to the proposition to export cotton, it is one which
has been so frequently made to you, and under so many different
phases, that I presume your views on the subject are well matured,
and I shall therefore offer no suggestions. As I expect to visit
Mississippi in a few days and to meet with Mr. Goodman, you will
oblige me if you can at an early day put me in possession of your
response to the application. Permit me, also, to request that you
will direct an early reply to be made to my letter inclosing one
from General Henry, of Mississippi, relative to the pay of the
troops lately commanded by Col. W. C. Falkner. |
| Very respectfully |
| J. W. Clapp |
| Member of Congress, First District of Mississippi |
| |
| [Inclosure] |
| |
| Office Mississippi Central Railroad Company |
| Grenada, January 23, 1863 |
| |
| Hon. J. A. Seddon |
| Secretary of War, Richmond |
| |
| Dear Sir: I find it almost impossible, and it will
soon be quite so, to keep our road and its equipments in repair and
running order. We are in great need of all materials used in repairs
and construction. One-half of our engines are now useless for the
want of materials to repair them; our cars are in a dilapidated
condition and cannot be repaired from the same cause; a considerable
quantity of the rails on our road have been permanently injured by
our own army and that of the enemy. All of our workshops and many of
our passenger and freight houses have been burned by direction of
our military authorities. Unless we can procure articles necessary
for the repairs of our road and equipments, I do not see how our
road is to be kept in running order for more than six months longer.
I desire to import articles of immediate necessity, and would make
the attempt if I could command the means of payment. I cannot
procure gold or sterling exchange. I desire permission to be granted
to this company to export cotton, an article I can procure to the
amount necessary to pay for the articles that it is necessary for me
to procure, and that such cotton shall have safe conduct through the
Confederate lines. It will require an expenditure of $500,000 to put
our road and its equipments in as good repair as it was one year
ago. |
| I am, with respect, your obedient servant |
| W. Goodman |
| President |
|