VHS Mss3R4152b Daniel ltrbk p570

April 15, 1863
 
Col. W. W. Wadley, A. A. G.
 
Sir,
  Enclosed I hand you an account for the use by the Government of this company's locomotive engine "G. P. R. James" on the Government road through Petersburg from the first of December 1862 to the 31st of March inclusive.
  For about seven months prior to the first of those dates it was used by the Government and paid for at the rate of only ten dollars per diem, a rate which bore us no just proportion to either the value of its use to the Government, or to what its use would even then have been worth to this company; but which had been acquiesced in from month to month because it was commenced at a time when this road was occupied by the enemy and afterwards its return to this company was expected from week to week.
  It is the same rate, which was paid and received by this and connecting railroads for the hire of engines of each other twenty years ago; when the prices of all things were not one fourth what they are now; & for engines of not half the capacity of this. Eighteen years ago such engines were hired for a month at a time on neighboring roads for fifty dollars per diem; & the least sums which could be allocated to this engine from the carrying of any travel, which either would have been of Government freights during the last five months on this road, where it was greatly needed, could have been from twenty five to forty dollars for any number of successive days. The smallest of these is the rate charged in the concluded accounts; and its reasonableness can scarcely fail to be manifest to you; more especially in view of the constant and damaging use, to which I am informed this engine has been subjected in Petersburg, making extensive and very costly repairs to it at an early day absolutely necessary. Asking your early attention to this account, which awaits your action, to close this item of our annual accts: now necessarily to be speedily made up for our annual report; and also to the early return of this engine to this road. 
I am very respectfully
Your obt. servant
P. V. Daniels, Jr. President {Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac Railroad}

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