1t Igfe6 
 
 Duke University Libraries 
 
 Governor's mess 
 Conf Pam 12mo #227 
 
 DTTD7DS37/ 
 
GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE 
 
 ! 
 
 AND 
 
 .ICCOJIPJ^TIJSG DOCUJIE^'TS 
 
 IN KKLATION TO THE 
 
 SUPPLY OF SALT 
 
 yOR THE 
 
 ST-A-TE! OIF' C3-:3E30I?.a-I.i^.. 
 
 f_St3i54 ^ 
 
 BOUGHTON, NISr.ET & BARNES, Statk Piukterx 
 
 IMILLEPOEVILLE, GA. 
 
 1S63. 
 
 -11— k 
 
PERKINS LIBRARY 
 
 Uuke University 
 
 Kare Dooks 
 
 ["ibr^i 
 
[Ordered 200 copies for the House.} 
 MESSAGE. 
 
 EXECUTIVE dp:partment, ) 
 
 MiLLEDGEViLi.E, Geor«!;ia, April iid, 18(53.5 
 
 To the House of Representatives : 
 
 I coinmunicate herewith a copy of the contract made 
 through the agency of lion. John W. Lewis with Maj. M. 
 S. TempUi, for the niannfactnre of salt ut Saltville, Virgio- 
 ia, together with a correspondt-nce between Major Temple 
 and myself, upon the subject of increased compensation for 
 the manufacture of salt. I am also })erniitted by the kind- 
 7iess of Hon. B. H. Bigham, of the House, to copy a letter 
 from the Superintendent of the Virginia and Tennessee R. 
 R. Co., upon the subject of the transportation of salt from 
 ^Saltville to Bristol, and of wood to the Georgia works at 
 Saltville. These documents will, I trust, be found to con- 
 tain the information required by the resolution of the 
 House. 
 
 It may not be iinproper for irie to remark, that wliile as 
 a general rule, I oppose the payment of additional compen- 
 jsation to those who have undertaken to perform any service 
 for the State for a sum agreed upon by the parties, I am of 
 opinion that the interest of the State would be advanced by 
 a departure from the rule in this case. The outlay of mo- 
 ney in the manufacture of salt, with the pn'sent difficulties 
 in procuring wood, and at the present high prices of labor 
 • a!id provisions, is so much greater than it was at the time 
 the contract was made, that it is not now possible for the 
 contractor to make the salt at the price agreed upon. 
 As the contract is a large one, running through the war, 
 the result must be the bankruptcy of the contractor, and 
 the suspension of the work. 1 therefore recommend such 
 change in the contract as will enable the contractor to press 
 forward with the work, upon cunditlon that he enlarge his 
 ■works, if not already sufficient, so as to supply to the State 
 the full quantity of five hundred bushels per day, while he 
 receives the additional compensation. 
 
 By reference to the letter of Mr. Dodamead, it will be 
 flcen that our trains will not be permitted to run over hia 
 
 r? r^ ^ri #-x a r^ 
 
road U) Saltvill<* to tiannport oijr fwlt. to this Statr. Tliu« 
 wottles the (jiiestioii, tliat it in impossible lor iis to do our 
 own carrying, jw \vl* can have no rontri)! over the rojids bc- 
 vond the limits of this State. We are therefore at the 
 mercy of the Uailroatls, and will be obliged to submit to 
 mch terms as they Miay impose. 
 
 While the compensation oIVitimI by the Virginia and Ten- 
 nessee Ivoad for the use of engines and ears whieh wo ur.xy 
 furnish to the Superintendent of that Uoad, to be used l>y 
 him in the trausportation of wood and salt lor this Statt* 
 and luT people, is much less than the actual \ aliU! of the 
 liire of the trains, 1 recommend that his proposition be ac- 
 cepted, and that two trains be furnished by tlu' State for 
 tiie purpose of supply inj; all the Georgia works with wood, 
 and bringing out the Georgia salt to IJristol. To aceom- 
 plish this object, it will be lUM-essary that 1 be authori/.cd to 
 purchase? or impress the trains liom some of the Coir.pany 
 roads of this State, as the resolutions of tlie last session do 
 not, in my opinion, contemplate a permanent impressnjcnt, 
 but only a temporary seizure of trains to run from tl»:.> 
 State to Saltville. The State lload cannot furnish the 
 trains, as we have already lost about two hundred cars and 
 several of our most valuable engines, wiiich v.erc carried 
 to other sections of the Confederacy in military service, and 
 never returned to tlu? Road. Th«« press of business, espe- 
 cially for the Confederate (Jovernment, is very heavy upon 
 the iioad, and I am obliged to continue to run the corn 
 train to Southwestern (Jeorgia during most of this spring 
 and summer, to supply bread to the people in the destitute 
 sections of the State. It will Ix'come necessary for the 
 State and lier companies to build a warehouse at IJristol, 
 and store the salt as fast as it is brought fro:n Saltvllle- 
 AVe shall then b(; dependent upon the Kast Tenriessei! and 
 Virginia and the Kast 'J'eimessee and Georgia Uoads to bring 
 it to Dalton. Whil<; I anticipate difliculty in getting it 
 through from liristol to Dalton, I trust arrangements luny 
 be consummated by which it can be done within the year. 
 Trovision should be nuid*.- for furnishing additional rolling 
 stock on these roails to carry it, if we can do uo better, 
 Kvery ctVort in our power should be made to secure a suj*- 
 ply of salt for the .State as soon as po^^isible, that v»e nn\y 
 avoid the panic and high prices which may result iVoui 
 scarcity next fall. 
 
 JOSEPH K. liUOWiN. 
 
5 
 
 SALT CONTRACT. 
 
 Whercns, n contract was made and ontoroJ into on tho 
 :mtli (lay of Man^h, J 8(52, between Stewart, Buchauan A 
 Co., of tlie first part, and John W. Lewis, agent of the Estate 
 of Georgia, under ))ower of attorney from the. Governor of 
 8;ji<) State, of th(! othiM* part, the terms and eonsidorations 
 ■'>f which is as follows, to-wit : 
 
 STATR OF VIRGINIA, ) 
 Smythe County, May .'{Oth, 1S02. > 
 
 Articles of agreeniont made and enrdred into between 
 Stewart, liuthanan ^t Co., of the first part, and John W. 
 Lewis,, agent of the State of Georgia under power of attor- 
 ney from the Governor of said iState, of the other part, 
 vvitnesseth, that the Kaid party of the first part agrees to 
 furnish and raise sufficiently high to riui to the salt kettles 
 at the 1 jcatioa sdected in the moadov.f j)elow the Preston 
 1uritaf:e,.at the salt works known as tlie Prc^stoii and King 
 Salt Works, in the county and State aforesaid, a sufliciency 
 td .Slit water to make as mucli as five liundrcd 
 i^uskels per <lay of wdt (if that uuich can be made by the 
 party of thefirrt part), for which the party of the second 
 part is to pay at the rate of fifty cents per bushel of fifty 
 }»ounds, on every bushel of salt manufactured from said wa- 
 ter .so raised: — payment for the same to be made every week. 
 The party of tltc second part is to incur every expense con- 
 Hiccied with the manufacture of said salt, except furnishing 
 the water raised as above stated, and have liberty connected 
 Avith tJie grounds adjacent to the location above described, 
 1o put lij) the uecessar}'^ kettles, shelters, hauling wood, 
 Kalt, <kc. 
 
 The party of the second part has the liberty of extend- 
 ing this contract until the end of the present war, and until 
 three months thereafter. The party of the second part 
 does not obligate himself to fnake any given quantity per 
 day, but will, after getting kettles, shelters, &c., make, if 
 he can, oOO bushels per day. Ji it becomes necessary to 
 oiocreasethe stationary inotive power, or otherwise increase 
 the power of elevating the salt water, tlie party of the sec- 
 "nid part can have it done, and return pa)'^ for the same otit 
 <<»f the salt rent. In the event of a failure of an ample sup- 
 ply of salt water of good strengtii, the said Stew'art, Buch- 
 anan <t Co. are to be liable for no damaffcs on account there- 
 of. And the said .Tohn W. Lewis, agent, is not to mterfere 
 with the said Stewart, Buchanan & Co. in <jetting wood 
 Isaulcd upon the Railroad, and unless both parties can have 
 enotigh hauled lor their j)urposes, said Stewart, Buchanaa 
 *\ Co., for their furnaces now in operation, sliall have the 
 
preference so far as the Ijaulinir of the \'irgiuia and Tennes- 
 Kce Railroad is cotiieriu'd. And the said Le^vis, agent, 
 atrrees to dis|>ose of the salt inunuliicturt'd bv him to the 
 citizens of the .State of Georgia, for therr consunjption. 
 Signed in (hijdicate. Witness the foUowing siirnatiires : 
 (Sinned) STKWAKT, lU'CHANAN & CO., 
 
 (Signed) JOHN W. LKWIS, 
 
 Ag't under jxjwi'T td ait'x' Irnui the State of (la. 
 
 Now, in order to the fnll execution of the ahove reeited 
 <ontraet, th<' said John W. I^i'wis, anent, agrees witli M. S. 
 Temple, of tlu' eonnly (d (Jreen and Stat(! of 'rmnessee, as 
 lollows : The said M. S. Temple assumes tin; carrying into 
 clfect in good faith the above recited contract on the part 
 and in the stead of the said John \V. Lewis, agent. 
 
 The said Lewi45 turns over to the sai<l Temjde forty-one 
 kettles, now at the place, 2,500 feet oi plank, 1 1,050 brick. 
 now at the place, one and a half barrels ot nails, two iron 
 ladles, 'l small iron bevy cliisi-ls, pointed for cleaning ket- 
 tles, J -J bar.-i ot old railroad iion, and ;j axes. These arti- 
 cles are to go without sjiecial charge, but ionn a consi(*era- 
 tion in the general contract. The said Lewis is to have 
 furnished at the salt W(nks to the said Temple, ready made, 
 sacks to hold t!i<' srdt. and twine to sew th(; same, as much 
 as five hundred bnsliels oi" salt per day. unavoidable acci- 
 dents in breakage, leakage and things not Vvithin his power 
 to control, excepted , 
 
 The said Tem[)le (d)ligaring himself, his heirs, executors 
 and administrators to furni>li that nmch salt delivered in 
 tlie bags, as above, on the cars, provided the cars are furn- 
 ished at the salt, works, and is to receive one dollar and fifty 
 c<;nts per bushel, of fifty pounds to the bushel, fur the sann\ 
 payable weekly in bankable currency; and is to continue 
 to deliver that much until the end of the present war, and 
 until three months afterwards. 
 
 The said Temple is to put uji the kettles as soon as pos- 
 )*ible — thos(! now on hand — and to have enough in opera- 
 lion to jnake as much as five hiin(li(>d bushels jxu' dav, as 
 soon as it is possible to do it. W the ])re«ent war should 
 terminate before the amount of sixty thousand bushels is 
 made, the mid Lewis, agent, is to take that much on the 
 above terms, at any rate. In c;isc the public enemy should 
 take and j)ossess the said salt works, then, as a matter of 
 course, none of the parties to these contracts are bound by 
 them, while so possessed by the enemy. The said Temple 
 
is to pay for the water out of the funds received for the 
 
 salt. 
 
 \Vitucss our hands and seals this 17th day of June, 186S 
 (Signed) JOHN W. LEWIS, (l. s.) 
 
 (Signed) M. S. TEMPLE, (l. s.) 
 
 Witness : 
 
 W. E. RECTOR. 
 
 • Wo guarantee to John W. Lewis, agent, the .full and 
 
 faithful performance of the ahove contract on the part of 
 
 M. S. Temple. 
 
 Witness our hands and seals. 
 
 . (Signed) SAMUEL McGAUGHY, security, (l. s.) 
 
 . STATE OF GEORGIA, } 
 ('obb County, July 3rd, 1862. J 
 
 AVhcreas, it is not convenient for Hon. John W. Lewis, 
 agent of the State of Georgia in the capacity mentioned in 
 the foregoing copy contracts, to remain at the salt works, 
 to see in person to the carrying out of the said contracts, 
 and to attend to nil the business incident to the same, I 
 hereby appoint and »>onstitute Jesse R. Wikle, of the coun' 
 ty of liartow in this State, agent to remain at the sal^ 
 works, to do and perform all necessary acts Knd things t** 
 be done on the part of the State of Georgia in carrying 
 out said contracts, but not giving him power, unless spec*" 
 all}' authorized hereafter, to change or alter said contract**' 
 nor revoking hereby any powers heretofore given to 8ai<^ 
 John W. Lewi.>i. "^ 
 
 (Signed) JOSEPH E. BROWN, 
 
 Governor 0/ Georgia. 
 
 LETTER OE M. S TEMPLE TO GOV. BROWN. 
 
 Saltville, Va., Feb. Ist, 1863. 
 
 Ho7i. Joseph K. Brouni, * 
 
 Governor of tht State of Georg'a : 
 
 Dkau Sir: — I hope you will not be deterred from giving 
 this communication a careful perusal on account of its great 
 length. 
 
 The vital interest I have in the subject embraced and the 
 deep solicitude manifested by your Excellency for its suc- 
 cess, justifies the expectation and belief that you will give 
 it a patient and impartial consideration, and pass such judg- 
 ment on the merits of the question embraced between the 
 
8 
 
 piartieB in interest, as the diaractfr ol th«' Ciisc uudor .ill 
 the circumstances may seem to justify. 
 
 I refer, of course, to the subject of nmkint^ .«///, with all 
 its attendinir jierplexitips, aiiiioyiiMc«»s anddinicnltirs. Thc!?«' 
 things atteiuh'd my early ctrorls at preparation tor salt m,v- 
 king in a most remarkable manner, and have, I regrot to Ray, 
 more than kept pace with every snbse^pient movement up 
 to the present liour. Dillictiltirs without number or pai;- 
 allcl have been met tliat were not ntiti(i)>ated, and of cour'^e 
 not provided lor. My present purpose i>; to bring to your 
 notice the question of the propriety and justire of allow- 
 ing increased compensation for the production of salt for 
 the people of (Jeor ia. I have no le^al claim to present. 
 I ofter none. I ask. however, tlio )»i*ivileire to refer to some 
 of the circumstances by which I was surroimded at the 
 time of makiniT said tsalt contract, and which had their in- 
 iiucnce in causing me to engage in making salt, as distin- 
 guished from those that now surround n»e. 
 
 In the first place, I was negotiating at tl»e t.iiuf 1 met 
 "with Dr. J. W. Lewi>^, wiiii Messrs. Stewart, IWichanan Sc 
 Co., ibr a salt water privilege on my own private account, 
 and on terms that would have made uie a large fortune. 
 Dr. Lewis at.once urged mc in an earnest and pressing man- 
 ner to undertake to carry out his contract, am! to lose sight 
 of all idea of speculation, lie more than once remarked 
 to me that it was all wrong for an}' man to speculate on 
 the necessities of a suHering j>eople, and that the voice of 
 public sentiment would overwhelm uuy man in such an un- 
 dertaking. 
 
 To the representations and entreaties ot our ntutual friend. 
 Dr. Lewis, I am to-day indebted lor my connection witli 
 your State, believing as I theij did, and as things then were, 
 I could perform a patriotic act for a noble and public spir- 
 ited people, and at the same time make a reasonable com- 
 pensation for my fiimily. The result of our frequent inter- 
 views was the contract you have on file in your oflice. 
 
 1 have spared neither money nor effort to carry it into 
 tuccessful execution. J am sorry it has not been in my 
 power to make mon; salt #n(l thereby enable you to realisi' 
 your highest ex[)cctations on this injportant subjei',t. At 
 the time I made my contract, no other St.ite, nor do I re- 
 -momber of any individual having niade salt contracts with 
 The proprietors, conse(juently no competition in the various 
 articles of supplies for making salt on the part of States, 
 communities, counties, and individuals to an almost indeft- 
 ■!»ito extent, could have entered into the cost of making salt 
 '»t the time. 
 
 At that time then; was a very flattering prospect for the 
 
growing crops of all this country — no i<ign of u Ifuuine or 
 famine prices for farm products, l^abor was coniparativelr 
 plenty .iful cheap. Mos^t sup])lies could be ha«i in ab\inil- 
 i:n€c and at moderate rates. No excess was perceptible in 
 the volume of the currency of the country at that time. 
 No c«uiscript law had been p.-jssed and put into force. Ko 
 <lenioustrution had been nuido by military an«l other author- 
 ities to seize and iujpress and appropriate property r<\irard- 
 tess of ownership or circumstances. There was then no 
 fears (d' an almost total failure of the Uailroads to haul 
 Vv'ood, nor could we anti«:ipate such unheard of charges for 
 Transportation of wood and oflier sujiplies. 1 certainly liad 
 a right to expect the privilege of shipping to tl;is place for 
 iuy own consumption, the production of iny own larm, but 
 even that has bctn denied me, until consumed by degrees 
 by the military authorities, unlil but little remains for ship- 
 ment. .Since I con.iuenced work, here, the military of lh(^ 
 C. 8. and the Lincoln troops, when in view at the bridges, 
 have taken corn .vud iiay and appropriated the san:c without 
 one dime of compensation, to the value of between four 
 and fire thousand dollars. Every article that enters into 
 the production of salt has rose from one htiudrcd t«one 
 thousand per cc?it. in the past seven months. The people 
 of the entire country have become excited, I may say gone 
 wild with the spirit of speculation. Promises to-day are 
 disregarded and brokefi to-morrow by nirjeteea out of twen- 
 ty of tlie community, ])rovided they can make money by 
 the operation. These are son.e of tkjc circumstances that 
 suiroun<l rue to-da}', in trying to Uiakc salt for your ]ieople. 
 They are th.e result of causes beyond ny power to loresee. 
 or control. 'J'he cost to-day of making salt is more than I 
 am receiving from the .State. 
 
 For convenience ol" comparison, I a]>pend a list of pres- 
 ent and past prices for some leading aiticles of consum}i- 
 tion. 
 
 I have no idea of repudiatijig the contract, r»or of relax- 
 ing my energies in any particular, but candor couipels mo 
 to say, that shotdd the war continue for a great length of 
 time, and supplies remain at [uesent }>rices, it is uncertain 
 how long I may be able to carry on the business. 
 
 I have spent at this plac^-^ a large share of the earnings of 
 a very active life for 2'3 years, in preparation and supplies 
 for ntaking salt, hoping for a reasonable rev,'ard from our 
 contract, but at present I am fully of the opinion 1 am tfv 
 be greatly disappointed unless you see j)roper to alter* the 
 contract to correspond with the vrry remarkable and un- 
 precedented change that has taken place \u the value of 
 *vcrv article connected with the business. 
 
10 
 
 Tlu' agoiilN lor inakinij salt for tlie State of Tennessee aitd 
 Alalmina, are, as I am iiiforimvl, rcceiviiiff net for each bush- 
 el of salt made tnyi dnllan, w irh an additional privilege of 
 raising salt in jiKytnent of all supplies from the first begin- 
 ning, wliii-li riiablfd tliem to buy, at very low ratfs all ar- 
 ticles lo carry on tln'ir works. Tlit'se paymoMls have had 
 jirccedence over the deliveries to the ^States for eonsump- 
 tion. Our contract was the hrst one made, in the absence 
 of, and not i'xpccting comjx'tition, consecpienlly lessgnar- 
 ded.and at much lower nilo than any contract since mudo 
 by any [)arty. 
 
 I respecttullv ask of your Kxcellency a careful survey of 
 all the facts, and circumstances of the trade, and decide the 
 (piestion that I now propose (viz:) So to change the eon- 
 tract as to allow mo the sauie the Tennessee and Alabama 
 agents are receiving, lu\) dolldi:^ pv htis/tr! instead ot one u-h 
 per the present agreement. 
 
 The change proposed if made, cannot be very injuriou-* 
 to a whole State, and yet may savt; an individual and his 
 family from baukrn[)tcy and ruin, and who had certainly 
 liO[>ed for very dilleient results. In this comiectio:i I will 
 remark, that last fall 1 made a private contract for salt 
 water privileges to a small extent, but had to agree to givo 
 }rfdd co'ni in payment at high rates. On this contract I was 
 able to nsake only a small a:nountof salt, and the amount 
 made was mainly a[>[)roprialed to aid in «'arryiiig on your 
 ccmtract in shape of payments for supplies, itc. 
 
 T would be glad to hear from yon at your earliest conve- 
 nience. 1 have sent to Dr. John W. Lewis a c«ipy of this 
 communication, as he is »;uite I'ainiliar with all the circnni- 
 Ktances,*and being the. agent to make the contract. We 
 have on hand betv/een 2i) and oO car loads of salt, and ma- 
 king as fast as we can when we get wood. My wood for- 
 ces in Tennessee are progressing finely up to latest accounts. 
 
 Yours lespectfullv, 
 
 M. S.'TKMPLK. 
 
 dan. IStiti. Jan. 18G3. 
 
 Corn per bnshel M.OO S4.()0 
 
 Hay per cwt 75 4.01) 
 
 Iron per pound (> 'i^ 
 
 Tallow ]ier pound. ... 2-3 ^•'i 
 
 Beans per bushel 1 .00 5.00 
 
 Nails [»(!r pound. 10 T'J 
 
 domestics 4i '20 So 
 
 Jeans per vard 1.50 5.00 to 8.00 
 
 Shoes....'. 4.00 ■ 10.00 to 15.00 
 
 Irish potatoes per bush. 1.00 5.00 
 
11 
 
 ^ Jan. 1S62. Jan. 1803. 
 
 Bacon per pouijJ 20 CO 
 
 Cord wood per con! . . Q.OO-i/r/ircrrd 30.00 to Sa.O^^ 
 
 Do in woods standing- . 40 to 1 .00 2.00 to 4.00 
 
 ^lechanics per day 2.00 to o.OO G.OO to lO.OO 
 
 Cutting cord wood 1.00 3.00 to 4.00- 
 
 I raiding cord wood. . . 2.00 ! 0.00 
 
 Horse.'*, nudes, wagons &c., &c., &c., in like propor- 
 tion. 
 
 LETTER OF LlnV. lUtOWN TO M. «, TEMPLE. 
 
 EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, { 
 MiLLEOGEvn.LK. Feb. J2, ISG3. y, 
 
 3////. M. iS. T(:7ni>Ic : 
 
 Dear Sii;— I have to acknowledgo tiic roeci}»t of voht- 
 letter in reference to extra compensation for making salt, 
 under the contract made between yon and this State, acting 
 through Dr. Lewis as agent. The contract has been repor- 
 ted to the Legislature, and apj)roved by tliem, and I do not. 
 teel at liberty to cliaiige it and allow more coinpensattos} 
 without the concurrence of that authoritv. 
 
 Col. Bigliam, who i.s also engiiged in manufacturing salt 
 at Saltville, and knows the cost of inaking it, is a promi- 
 nent mend)er of the (Jeneral AsjX'mbly. When the Legis- 
 lature meets again ii! April, I will confer with him and oth-" 
 ers, who have had experience, and will advise such action, 
 as may be considered just and right. 
 
 The fact that you have not delivered, up to this time, or 
 to tlie time your wood failed, near as much per day as the- 
 contract called for, may be a circumstance not favorable to- 
 your application. I would suggest that you deliver al! it!-; 
 your power till the Legi:<hiture meets. 
 
 Col. Whitaker will place funds in the i'ands of Mr.. 
 "SVykle to pay for it. 
 
 Very respectfully &e., 
 (Signed) JOt^EPH E. B■RO^Y.N. 
 
 LETTER OEM. vS. TEMPLE TO GOV. BROWN 
 
 Saltville, Va., 20t.h March, 1SG3. 
 
 Hon. Jostith E. Brown, (Governor of (tcorg'ia': 
 
 . Deak SiK — Your favor of the 12th February last, in re- 
 ply to- my npplicatiou for increased compensation for man- 
 
^■•factiiriiic: salt lor your State, was tluly received. 1 bi"^ 
 ieavt! resju'ctlully to reply to that ])art of your lotter, "m 
 ^whicli you refer to the fact, that previous to the Imrning in 
 !thc bridges on the Hue of the V.. 'l\ &. Va. K. R., ou the iiKU 
 Oeccniber, I had not delivered to your agout as much salt 
 per day as the contract recpiired. 
 
 i will briefly (state the circuinstanees and allow you to 
 arrive at your own couelusious. I e<riutueui'<Ml building salt 
 ■furuaces the last days iu .June. IJy the L'Uth of August 1 
 \taA one furnace completed, and at onee eoininenee*! niakin*^ 
 salt, at the rate of about two hundred bushels per <lay, bn- 
 six <ia3's in Llie week. By tin' :2'J<1 of (Jct(d)er 1 had a suHi- 
 -•i'"!;t. ijunibcr «»f kettles in successful operation, t) make live 
 ■Mjdred bushels of salt per day. The balance of that n)onth, 
 :uid all the month of November, we succeeded finely. Thf 
 ;r.<l days of December, our business was mainly suspended. 
 The ijreat dennind for salt by the Confederate States, and the 
 State cf Virginia, was such, that nearly all the available 
 ^ruisportatum on tin' Va. Tenn. K. 1'. was appropriate<l 
 to the benefit of those interests', in hauling wood and salt, 
 thc3^ demanding the preference in every instance, over all 
 other States. 'J'hus matters stood, at that importiiut season 
 far jnaking salt tor your State. Seeing }io other remedy, 1 
 .lej't the, works and called on your Excelhiucy in person, at 
 Milledgeville, for an engine and cars to aid nie in carryini; 
 on the business, equal to my own wishes and your just ex- 
 pectations. 
 
 Your j)at:riotic desire to ai'complish every thing possible, 
 for the good of the peo[ile of (.Jeorgia, prompteil you with- 
 out a moment's hesitation, to give me an order for an engine 
 -ojd cars, but nntbrtunately, our common enemy burned 
 'iwe bridges on the E. T. & Va. Road before I had time to 
 receive the train. Memor.-nida n)ail«! at the time by mv 
 
 • i;Ierk, shows that our furnaces were idl«; for the want of 
 wood hauled by the trains in the month of J)«'c»'ml)er, six- 
 teen days atone time, to say nothing of j)revions stopages 
 .it«!»ort intervals, from the same cause. Sin«'e the first of 
 Januajy, the transportation for wood :ntd salt has been 
 mainly for the Confederate Slates and the State of Virginia, 
 of course but a small amount of salt has been made by the 
 ij^ents of other States. 1 have sent from thi^ plai-e to Briv 
 trol, since the first of January oidy 8 car-loads of salt. The 
 combined effort of your agent Mr. Wykle and myself have 
 becii unable! to ac<-omj)lish more. 
 
 •My principal dilliculty at present is, transportation. Oar 
 «xpcnses arc vtyy heavy and must go on day and night, 
 Tkvhcthcr we remain idle or make salt. Your agent will 
 .furttisji you with a statement of salt shipped, as well a« 
 
 • Sftltiiow on hand ready for shipment. 
 
13 
 - - - ■ 
 
 I kope I am, iinder the circumstances, excusable for agaia 
 nailing your attention to the propriety of allowing an in- 
 crease in the con'pensation for making salt. I find, in sna- 
 king a careful comparison of the relative value of the lead- 
 ing articles of consumption, that enter into the productiioia 
 «f salt, since the 1st of February, as set forth in my letter 
 to you of that date, vary from 25 to GO per cent of an ia~ 
 crease in value, over the vahie of the same articles, less tltaib 
 sixty days since. I may with piopriety refer to the fact, 
 that quite recently, Charles Scott &; Co., have made a salt 
 c<»ntract with a joint committee of the Legislature of Vir- 
 ginia for 750, 000 bushels of salt at SS.o'J per bushel, reserv- 
 ijig privileges of an important character to those makioj^ 
 the salt. Tiie Conf<Hlcrate States, pay for their salt this 
 year S2.50 per bushel. 
 
 For further and fuller information in regard to the iact» 
 set forth in my correspondence, and the salt ([uestion gener- 
 ally, I respectfnlly refer you to Col. Bigham of the House 
 of Representatives of tlie Legislature of your State. 
 
 Y'ours most respectfully, 
 (Signed) M. S. TEMPLE.. 
 
 J. IL WICKLK'S LETTEii TO.GOV.'jJROWN. 
 
 Saltville, Va., March 27th, lS6lt_ 
 
 lion. JosepJi K. Bioivn : 
 
 Dear Siu — Our friend Maj. Bigham will hand you this. 
 letter, who can inform you on the subject of our salt opfflr- 
 ations. We have about ^JO car-loads salt sacked, with eve- 
 ry prospect of getting all or more than our contract ia tl»e 
 future, provided we can procure transportation for it. That 
 is the great object to be consummated now. Maj. liighaHit 
 will hand you for perusal and consideration a communica- 
 tion and proposition from Mr. Dodamead. You will per- 
 ceive it is in answer to letters from Maj. Bigham, Maj Teiih- 
 ple and myself, on the subject of transportation. He ad- 
 mits that he has not sulhcieut roiling stock and motive pow- 
 er to do the work of the Koad and carry off the salt for us, 
 yet he has determined not to permit foreign trains to run 
 over his road. The acceptance of the proposition which 
 will be submitted you from Mr. Dodamead, is the only means 
 of getting oil" our salt. 1 think it a better plan than to send 
 trains here. It will not require as many engines and cars 
 as to send trains through, and it will not be near so expen- 
 sive to the State. It is true, the compensation proposed 
 is very low, yet it is better than none, and relieves thc- 
 State of the o^pense of engines, firemen, oil, tallow &c., 
 which would have to be incurred by the State, were traint^ 
 
14 
 
 io run throiii;h. 1 think (»ni' eimiiic — large size — and six- 
 <Aieu cars would carry all onr salt to Bristol, if n schedule 
 i« inado to make a trip daily. If a trij» could not be made 
 4:laily, it would probably require more. An enjjine will car- 
 ry eii^ht cars from here to I'ristol. 
 
 Maj. Tenjple will be at Milledireville, on the subject of 
 an increasj! of eoniperisalion for salt. il«; is evidently los- 
 ing m(M)«'y at the pn'sen;. price. 
 
 It will require an engine, and about eii^ht open cars to 
 haul wood for the Geor;^ia furnactes. Should you decide to 
 KPud cnirines and cars to this road, the sooner the better. 
 
 J get a car to load ocrua'hnuiltij. If we depend upon thin 
 road a.s at present uianai(<'d, we will m'.l eoniparativrly lit- 
 tle Rult shipped here. In the nii'antime I shall continue to 
 importune them for cars, and get oil' as much salt as possi- 
 ble. 
 
 If not too much trouble, will you be so kind as to send 
 anc a certificate of my aj>[M)intmerit as salt agent, with the 
 «eal of the 6tate attached. 
 
 • Yours trulv, 
 
 J. K. \VIKLi:. 
 
 €0L. THOS.DODAMKAD, SIJI'T. OF VA. v^ TENX. li. 
 R., TOMA.I. B. II. BIO HAM. 
 
 YlKCINlA AND TeNXRSSKK RaILIIOAO Co. \ 
 
 Lynchburg, Va., March 24,»1SG3. 3 
 Maj. Bifi^hfim, Pirsi. Plantfrs* S<d(. Mtui. Co. : 
 
 Dkafi Sir — In reply to your application through .Mr. Cox, 
 :md the application oi' AI. S. Temple tt Co., and of Judge 
 Wikle, iriaking in(p.iiry on what terms this Company would 
 permit trains belonging lo roads in the .State of Georgia to 
 ,rnn ovi-r this road between P.rlstol ami ."SalLville, I would 
 -'■tate that my judgment and past experience has conviiu;ed 
 me that it is injudicious and inexpedient as well at? <langer- 
 ous and eml)arrassing to the operatioiss on the salt works 
 branch to allow the trains from other roads (under the coii- 
 i(roI of their respective employees who are not familiar with 
 the peculiarilies of this road, or with tin; rules or regula- 
 tions of tlu; road, and not respensibh; to tlm otlicers of this 
 road) to be; run over it, coiiseipiently we have determined 
 lo refuse all applications for that jiurpose. At the same 
 time being desirous of lacilitating the transportation of salt, 
 and believing that we h ve not a sullicient supply of motive 
 power or cars we are disposed to make such arrangiunents 
 as will effect the object without the danger and inconveni- 
 <!nco attending the running of strange trains over the road. 
 1 therefore propose, if the State of Georgia has a surplus 
 
15 
 
 stock of engines and cars, that they sliall furnish to this 
 Company one or more locomotives, and sufficient number of 
 freight cars to be supplied with good brakes (on each car) 
 to be used with the engine or engines, thev to be run and 
 managed entirely by the employees of this company, under 
 the control of, and to be rcsjumsible to, the officers of this 
 company, and to bo used in the transportation of salt for 
 the ;Statc of Georgia, wood and o^her sH[)plies necessary to 
 the manufacture of salt ior that State. J propose that this 
 company shall pay to the proprietors or owner of said ei»- 
 gines and cars a reasonable rate of compensation A)r tlie 
 use of them, to be heicafter named, and that after the salt re- 
 quired to be transportcfl for the State of (Jeorgia, wood sup- 
 plies shall havt! been transported, then this company to have 
 the privilege of using said locomotives and cars for the 
 transportation of salt or wood supplies &c., for other par- 
 ties, j)rovided they shall not he used on any part of the 
 road, (ixcept between ]3ristol and Saltville, and only so to 
 be used for the purpose of keeping the said locomotives and 
 c^rs, and the hands in charge of the same employed. This 
 company propose in consideration of the use of said loco- 
 motives and cars, to pay for each locomotive the sum of 
 ($10) ten dollars per day, furnishing engine-man and fire- 
 man, oil, waste fuel &c., and to do the snuill ordinary re- 
 pairs necessary to keep the engine in running condition ; 
 but not to perform any large or important repairs. The con- 
 sideration proposed for the use of the cars, is that this com- 
 pany shall pay 2 cents per mile run by each car; an accu- 
 rate account to be kept of the same, and to furnish oil and 
 grease for the purpose of keeping the axles properly lubri- 
 cate^] ; the same conditions as to repairs as proposed for the 
 engines. It is further to be understood that the size of the 
 engine or engines to be furnished shall be such as may be 
 approved by me, in consequence of the "heavy grades over 
 which they are compelled to work ; the heaviest class en- 
 gine in use on the roads in the State of Georgia where the 
 grades are light will be required. I would further state tliat 
 if the companies furnishing the engines prefer to send their 
 own engineermen and firemen for the time being, to be in 
 the employment of this company, and paid by them, and 
 subject in all rcppects to be governed as employees of this 
 compa'iy, I have no objections. 
 
 Yours very respectfully, 
 THOS. DODAMEAD. 
 
HoUingcr 
 
 pH8.5 
 
 Mill Run F3.1955