Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1874-12-05
SOUTHERN RAILR9A DS.
Their Indebtedness TO she General GOV.
ernment-Fhe Quarfermas;er Gen-
eFaf Wants IL Paid.


From the New York Tribune.
Economical measures, and an en-
deavOr to bring the expenditures within
the appropriations, are the chief features
described in the quartermasteF generals
report. Although Of course somewhat
hampered by the necessary reduction Of
force and wages, the department has
succeeded in managing its affairs eff
ciently. or fifty southern railroads that
bought material from the government
alter the war, sixteen are still in debt,
and it is quite time, the qusrtermaster
suggests, that these claims be pressed.
Here is what he says:
cat the close of the war there were
sold on credit to various railroad cOmpa-
MES, principally in the south, railroad
material to the appraised value of 81, ,556, :
034. There remained due and unpaid,
from certain OF these railroads, June 80,
1873, 81, ,65S. 934 During the fiscal year
ending June 80, 1874, interest has ac-
crued upon this Indebtedness, and ex-
penses have been incurred to the amount
Of SOS, ,979. Payments in cash, in trans
pOrtatiOn and postal earnings have been
made to the amount of S116,791. On the
first of July last there remained an in
debtedness to be collected by the quar-
termasteI's department Of 81, ,S97, ,397,
not includi the sum of S43, 754
due from the Mississippi, GAINESVILLE,
and Tuscaloosa railroad company, which
is bankrupt, nor the amount due from
the East Tennessee and Virginia,
East Tennessee and Georgia, the Nash
vile and Chattanooga, and the Nash
vile and Decatur railroads, which is
81, ,699, 470, and which are comprised un-
der the act of March 3, 1871, for the sum
of 81 ,265, 600, and made payable to the
assistant treasurer of New York. The
actual decrease of the debt during the
year, including payments of accrued in
terest, but excluding the reduction by
compromise under the law, is S2S, 81.
The Alabama and Chattanooga railroad
settled its accounts during the year by
payment in cash and by transportation
and postal service to the amount of the
balance due, S4637. The Alexandrin, |
L0udOn, and Hampshire, the Mobile
and Ohio, and the southwest branch of
the Pacific railroad of Missouri, now part |
Of the Atlantic aud Pacific railroad, |
reduced their Indebtedness respectively |
S23S7, and S3l ,603, and Sl4, lS2, in adj |
dition to paying on account Of interest, |
5000, making the total payments about |
S53, 7S2. The debt OF the Edgefield and |
the M'Minnville and Man
chester, Memphis, Claksville and Louis
vile, Memphis and Little Rock, Nash |
vile and Northwestern, and the Selma, |
Rome and Dalton railroad companies |
has increased SS3, ,269. The total col |
lecti0ns on account of the sale of rail-
road material on credit to these south
ern and southwestern railroads up to |
June 30th last, was s., ,240, 423. Thirty |
four railroads have paid their debt with
interest and expenses in full. Sixteen |
yet remain in debt to theIJnited States. |
Some provision of law for the collection
Of the money due and settlement of the |
debt is desirable. Suits are in progress
against several railroads on account Of
these sales.