|
{From the minutes of the
Directors' Meeting of the Selma & Meridian RR, January 18, 1865} |
| |
| Office Selma & Meridian RRd Co |
| Demopolis January 18th 1865 |
| In a meeting of the Board of Directors
held this day |
| Present Jas L. Price President and
directors W P Bocock Jno W Lipsley W S Knox H W Reese Richd H Adams and
L F Whitehead |
| ***** |
| M Meriwether Lt Col Engineers laid before
the board his proposition in relation to furnishing iron to build the
new track from Demopolis to a point on the {Tom}Bigbee
river opposite to McDowells Landing -- when Mr Bocock offered the
following: |
| Col M. Meriwether of the Engineer Corps
having submitted to the Board a proposition on behalf of the Confederate
States to sell us iron & spikes for the laying our new track at
Demopolis, such iron & spikes to be taken up by us from the Newbern
branch {North Western RR of Alabama} after
the same is impressed by Government see his letter to the Superintendent
marked "II" |
| Resolved That this board is unwilling to
become responsible for said iron & rails before being taken up by
Government |
| Resolved further that other suggestions
having been made as to laying our new track which might save the
necessity of taking up the Newbern branch, and this board not being able
at this time to decide with satisfaction on the relative merits or
availability of different plans; the whole matter is therefore referred
to the President who is authorised to make such contracts and
arrangements in the premises as with the advice of the Chief Engineer of
the Company he shall judge best, and this board will only express a
preference for some arrangement to compromise with the Company owning
the Newbern branch, if the same be practicable, in case their track has
to be taken up. |
| ***** |
| On Motion of Mr Lapsley it was resolved |
| That there be a Committee of three members
of the board of whom the President shall be one, and two to be appointed
by him, to memorialize the Government of the Confederate States in the
proper department, setting forth the necessity for an increase in the
rolling stock of the road beyond the Companys capacity to purchase and
setting forth the facts, and to urge upon the Government the importance
of the establishment of a rail road bureau in this state with a
competent head clothed with proper authority to act on behalf of the
Government in matters pertaining to the rail roads and transportation
for the government. And further that the Committee set forth in said
memorial the great detriment under which the Company has been and is
laboring for want of funds to defray current operations for the reason
that the reimbursements of the road for government transportation have
been withheld from them and ??? upon the government a proper department
the importance of providing for prompt and regular payments. |
| The following was offered by Mr Lapsley
and adopted |
| Whereas it is a represented by the
President that the rail road is in want of various articles
indispensable in the repair of the machinery and for other purposes
indispensable in the business of the Company which cannot be procured in
the Confederacy. |
| Resolved That the President take
such steps as he may deem proper to procure authority from the
Government to send Cotton through the enemys lines and to purchase the
needed supplies in return and that he be authorised to procure the
necessary quantity of Cotton and tobacco not exceeding in cost Fifty
thousand dollars and employ such number of competent and trusty agents
as he may deem necessary to carry into effect the proposed measure in
obtaining the required authority from the government. |
| On Motion of Mr Knox it was Resolved |
| That the President be and he is hereby
requested forthwith to employ a competent machinist for the purpose of
making a thorough and searching examination of all the Engines and Box &
passenger Cars hired by this road from the Memphis & Charleston Company
and other rail road Companies and that he be further instructed to cause
all Engines and Cars which may be found to be useless for use and unfit
(except at too great cost) to be repaired, to be immediately returned to
their proper owners, Provided they can be returned under the terms of
our Contract and that the President be further requested to have made
out a complete list of the number of Engines, passenger and freight cars
owned by this Company and in a condition for use, also the number of
each owned by this Company and now in use and the number unfit for use
upon which rent is being paid. |
| On Motion of Mr Lapsey it was Resolved |
| That the President and Superintendent be
authorised to Contract for or purchase such number of Cars as may be
required by the business of the Company, with new cars or old which may
be advantageously repaired: also such locomotives and other machinery as
may be needed, after being first examined and reported on by a competent
Machinist. |
| ***** |
| Whereas this Company has been transporting
the Mail since the function of the existing government without having
received any compensation whatever for the service, although repeated
application for compensation has been made to the Post Office Department |
| On Motion of Mr Lapsley it was Resolved |
| That the President notify the Post Master
General that the Company will cease to transport the mail from and after
the first day of May next unless before that date due compensation be
made for past services: and an arrangement agreed on for compensation
for services after the same date. |