Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1863-03-30


From tho Richmond Examiner, March lsth.1
THE RAILROADS.
From every quarter where our ar
uics are massed-from Vicksbn'g, Tnll.
,homa, Charleston and Fredericksburg
we have the most gratifying accounts
IF the condition OF our troops, aud Their
certain ability to cope with any force
that the enemy may burl against them.
The only point upon which there IS
room for apprehension is that our .forfes
may be forced By ,rant 81 food tor men
and horses to reHnquish the strongholds
from ,chich the enemy could nerer d's-
lodge them, and that this is grave AND
pressing danger we have many tears Tor
believing.
II Is \ fact as we'll known to the ene-
my as 10 ourselves, that all the country
IN lie r4ciaity of our armies has long
been stripped Of its provisions and for
oQe, and that these armies depend for
their existence and maintenance OF thdr
present position upon tie railroads.
These beiog facts which iene, We
,hink, will venture 10 gs'esss, u he.
hooves the go,ernuer, - sevp .es;si
IS 10 The condition 81 .scse 'e.a., al
provide this, they Ia ksas i sssfs :.
ID. utmosl ,,E>eaey. II. 4. - go %
pass s~, i4.lils NEE no .4e 49, ssd
returning thru - \: wsxa ias. ~
asss. ii usasGse. are 80. :. tie 49,
tine taken 10 sarpoI. .as Army ~4sn !;
+ i. rc,.eu t2.ttt cr. les government
should rs. ae conte't ttta d Aeep ne
rstl,oa4. n the condition 10 ~h'ea tie
xar touni them, j; sh3aii ,a4essor,
aud the eff5rt VOC b. successful, 10
improve upon ihs, conlI lon. TIE bet.
,5r Tie roads, the better supp.,ed goall
our armies te, Sd cou~ qaen,ly the
more certain 10 the resistance 10 The e1-
,rsordiuary eiiors Tor the subJuga;lon
which the enemy propose to MAKE du'
IN. the coming campaign.
/ 7he railroads al tbs State are on fh.
uoiat of gie,ng OFT. They have d.
creased their sp cd to ten miles an hour
. as maximum raic, ana are carrying
twenty five to fifty per cent. less Tonnage
than formerly. This change IN ,hei'
rate OF speed and quantity Of freight ha'
been made through necessity. III,
woodwork OF the roads has rot,ed, an
the machinery has WON out, and own.
to the stringent enforcement OF the con
.cription law as TO railroad employees
the companies have not been able, viii
all their ,tf1rts. 10 supply neither TIL
ono nor the other. We are not inform
ed oil the actual condition Of tue railroad
! IN the more Sou,b.rn States, bat oon
eese that ,tey are little better Oft that
our own, eIcep. perhaps 10 the matte
OF negro labor. The slaves a.ong ihel
routes may no, have had the same iacll
lies FOR escaping to the enemy IS il
til. !, ale.
We hare se1tlrei = call a,,ention t
thu sciJec. became OF us VITA impor
lance, and from 3 knovledge ths
owing 10 the great measures Of finance
'mprcssmeui, etc, now weighing upo
The government, it has been overooke,
1t is not necessary for the governmeu
TO take possession of the roads. But
should supply them abundan.ly vii
the necessary labor and iron, and the
insist on their being kept in tirs, rat
order, and being worked efficiently. I
this end the government should appoin
an inspector Of railroads. Railroad
arc apart, and Indispensable pat, of OF
military system ard i. ,Ley are alowe
to fall through from any causes, goper,
pent and people may prep0Se for III
retreat Of or ormics, and tic sur~enat
Of much Of the oaluaJle country an on
possession.