Daily national Republican., 1863-03-25
new. from soplhsrn Joprnal..
PROSPECTS OF STARVING THE REBELS our
tFrom the Richmond Examiner, March ISL
THE RAILRoADs. 10. .tth

tFrom the Richmond Examiner, March ISL .
THE RAILROADS, ID. ''"
From every quarter whero our armies arc
massed-from Vlcksburg, TullRhoma, Charles
ton and Fredericksburg-wo have the most
gratifying accounts OF the condition Of our
troops and their certain ability 10 cope with
any force that the enemy may hUrl against
them. The only point upon which there Is
room for apprehension Is that our forces NAV
be forced, by want of food for men and horses,
TO relinquish the strongholds from which the
enemy could never dlslodge them, and that
this is grave and pressing danger we have
many fears for believing. III .'... ....
1t Is fact, as well knownto tho euomy as 10
ourselves, that all the country IN he vicinity Of
our armies has long been stripped Of Us rovfsiorS
and forage, AID that these armies depend, for
their eristence and maintenance Of their present
positions, upon uf rdilroGds. These being facts
which none, we think, will venture to gainsay,
II behooves the Government TO keep posted as
TO the condition Of these roads, and provide
that they be kept In state OF the utmost eff.
cheney. II Is useless to pass laws putting men
Into the army and returning them to Il when
they run away, ifmeasures are not at the same
time taken TO support the army when Il Is got
ten together. The Government should not be
content even to keep the railroads In the con-
dltlon In which the war found them; II should
endeavoT, and the effort would be successful. TO
roads, the better supplied would our armies bo,
and consequently the more certain in the re-
sistance TO the extraordinary efforts of our sub
| jugation, which the enemy proposes TO make
during the coming campaign.
The railroads Of hiS State are on he point of
giving out. They have decreased their speed to
ten miles an hour as a maximum rate, and are
carrying twenty-five TO fifty per cent. less ton
mage than formerly. This change In their rate
OF speed and quantity Of freight has been made
through necessity. The woodwork Of the road
has rotted and the machinery has worn out,
and owing 10 the stringent enforcement of tho
conscnption law as 10 railroad employees, the
companies have not been able, with all their
efforts, to supply either the one or the other.
We are not informed OF the actual condition of
the railroads in the moro Southern States, but
conceive that they are little better of than our
own, except, perhaps, in the matter of negro
labor. The slaves along their routes may not
have the same facilities for escaping 10 the
enemy as In this State.
We have ventured TO call attention 10 this
subject because of Its vital importance, and
from knowledge that, owing TO the great
measures Of finance, impressment, &C., now
weighing upon the Government, II has been over
looked. II is net necessary for the Govern
ment 10 take possession of the roads. But II
should supply them abundantly with tho noces-
Sary labor and iron, and then insist on their
being kept In first-rate order, and being worked
efficiently. To this end the Government should
appoint an inspector of railroads. Railroads
are a part, and an indispensable part, of our
military systemj and II they are allowed to fall
through from any causes, Government and
people may prepare for the retreat of our
armies, and the surrender Of much of the yalu-
able country now In our possession.