| Macon Ga. February 21st 1863 |
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Col. Wm M Wadley, A. A. Genl. |
| in charge of R. R. transportation |
| Raleigh, N. C. (or Richmond Va.) |
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| Colonel, |
| I have the honor to lay before you the
following facts with regard to the transportation by R R. of the
building materials which are essential to the prosecution of the works
under my charge, and to ask your assistance in regard to this matter. |
| After repeatedly recurring and still
accumulating difficulties and repeated and earnest efforts on my part to
overcome them I find myself now with extensive works almost brought to a
stop by the impossibility of procuring transportation over the
railroads. My most pressing difficulty is the want of wood for
burning brick, without which brick making (which is conducted directly
upon Government account will become impossible. Lumber also is of great
importance. |
| I learn that there are now in Georgia and
on the railroads immediately connecting with those of Ga. a considerable
number of cars belonging to railroads now in the hands of the enemy or
cut off from railroad connection with this State, such roads as the
Louisville & Nashville, other Kentucky & Tennessee roads, the
Mississippi Central, the New Orleans & Jackson &c. These cars are
practically without owners for the present, or at least cannot be used
by their owners. |
| I would respectfully request that a few of
these, say 7 or 8, be placed in charge of some one of the railroad
companies whose roads run into Macon, say the Macon & Western, and used
by such company on condition of their transporting the materials and
stores necessary for the prosecution of the government works under my
charge in preference to other work. This they can and will do if the
facility in question be afforded them. I enclose a copy of an order from
the President of the Miss. Central R. R., authorizing the Macon &
Brunswick R. R. Co. then to take charge of all their cars in this
region, but this order, I am informed, it has not been as yet possible
to put practically in force. |
| I respectfully invoke your aid in behalf
of the Government as regards this matter, which is one effecting vitally
the progress of important Ordnance works. The arrangement proposed would
work beneficially to all parties. The Ky, Tenn., Miss., &c R. R.
companies would of course prefer to have their cars regularly in charge
of a single R. R. company here rather than run about at random and in
charge of no one in particular, the government transportation in general
would not be injuriously affected by the withdrawal of these cars from
other roads, as the S. W. and Macon & Western R. Rs. are already called
upon to transport much more corn &c for government than they have cars
for, and a few cars subject to my order could be used for other Govt.
freight when not employed for mine, and lastly the work of this
establishment can go on as materials can then be procured. |
| Respectfully and earnestly requesting your
attention at as early a moment as possible to this matter. |
| I have the honor to be, Colonel, |
| Very respectfully |
| Your Obt. Servt. |
| J W Mallet Capt. &c. |
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