Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-12-12

ington and Baltimore. A responsible comp
ny, With q charter from the State of Mary
land, have proposed to do this upon condi-
| tion that tie Government will fndorse II
bonds; they binding themselves to set
annually sufficient sum for their rede'
tion at maturity, and thus eventually relea
the Governments from any liability whateS
er, and to charge, for transportation, Rates
in no case to exceed four cents q ton pr
mile for freight, and three cents per mile for
passengers. During the continuance of the
war, however, their charge Is not to exceed
two cents per mile. The charge for The trans
portalion of passengers between the two
cities is at present 50 cents per mile, and for
freight, the rates per ton will average from
five to eight cents per mile. The large say
ing to the Government 10 cost Of transpor-
tation, would amply compensate for all liza
bility, and give to the citizens Of all the 10y
al States greatly improved facilities for
reaching the national Capital, and at much
less rates than they are now compelled to paw
To the citizens of the District it would cheap
en- the cost of supplies, and prove of immense
value In every respect.
/ recommend that railway be constructed
through this city from the Navy Yard. by the
capitol, to Georgetown, forming connee lions
with the existing railroad depots, and using
the aqueduct bridge for the purpose CT cross
ing the river at Georgetown. By junction
OF this proposed railway with the Orange and
Alexandria railroad, not only would In.
communication with our troops in Virgiai.
be greatly improved, but an easy access be
obtAined to the Baltimore and Ohio railroad
near Harper's Ferry, by means of the Loudon
and Hampshire railroad. To its importanct.
as affording facilities for moving troops and
supplies Ia time of war, may be added the
future benefits it would confer upon the Di-
trict of Columbia. The outlay required,
would be saved in a few months BY enabIiuc
the Government to dispense with The exDen
siVe ferry at Georgetown, and by greatly
decreasing the costly wagon transportation OF
the army through this city. - = 1901
The Injuries to railroads, instigated By the
rebel authorities of Baltimore, in order To
embarrass communication with the North and
West, UiG Harrisburg, and with the East. ria
Philadelphia. have been repaired by the dill
ferent companies that own them. That Dor
ton of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad west
of Harper's Ferry which was SO rnthlessly
destroyed by the rebels, has not yet been re.
stored. The great interests of trade require
that this road should be re opened as speedily
as possible by 'hC company, for the transpor-
tation of the immense surplus of the agri-
cultural productions of the West. To ait
this object the Department has rendered tc
the company a sufficient force for its protec
ton during the progress of the work, and
will render such facilities as 1t may be able
to provide, in connection with its other i'm
portant public duties.
For the purpose of facilitating the trans.
portation of supplies to Alexandria and to
points beyond, it has been found necessary
to rebuild portions of the Orange and Alex
andria and the Loudon aud Hampshire rail-
roads, and to lay track from the railroad
depot to point on the Potomac river. in thi
city.
Under an appropriation granted for that
purpose at the last session of Congress, O
Bureau was established, and has
been found Of the greatest service in our
military operations. Eight hundred and fifty
seven miles of Geographic line have been
already built and put in operation, with an
efficient corps Of operators, and large ex
tension is now in process of construction.
Congress, at its late session. made an ap-
preparation for the reconstruction of the
Long Bridge across the Potomac, which, in
its then dilapidated coIdilion, was unsafe
for military purposes. The work, which has
been carried on without interruption 10, trade
or travel. israpidly approaching completion,
aud, when finished, will be a substantial
structure.
On the first of the present month Lieuten.
ant General WINFIELD Scott voluntarily re-
liDquished his high command, as general-in-
fully and calamity served bis country for
upwards of half century, and the glory OF
his achievements has given additional lustre
to the briehtes pa eS Of our national annals
The affections of q grateful people followed
him in bis retirement. The President imme-
diately conferred the command of the army
upon the officer next in rank. Fortunately
for the country, Major General Mcclellan had
proved himself equal to every situation in
which his great talents had been called into
exercise. His brilliant achievements in
Western Virginia, the untiripg energy and
ability he hasa displayed in the
organizeI ion and discipline of an entirely
new army, have justly won for him the con-
idence and applause OF the troops and OF
he nation.
Extraordinary labor, energy and talent
nave been required of the various Bureaus
Of this Department to provide for the wants
Of our immense army. While errors may
have been occasionally committed by subor-
mates, and while extravagant prices have
in some cases, controlled By
taste and the pressure of rapid events, beet y
paid for supplies, it is with great gratifica-
ion that l refer to the economical admins
ration of affairs displayed in the various
branches of the service. Our forces had not
,nly to be armed, clothed and fed, but had
% be suddenly provided with means of
to an extent heretofore un.
,aralleled. While believe that there Ia no
srmy in the world better provided for in ev-
Try respect than our regulars and volun-
eers, I candidly think that no force SO large,
md so well equipped, was ever put in the
leld in so short space OF time at 80 small
IN expense. 49,, 54---s-~-7
While it is my intention to preserve the T
Eictest economy and accountability, Il
hink the last. dollar shanld -l,o ayaanda6 and =