Ex-Confederate Colonel Offers Details On Southern Railroad Expansion--1891

Description: MAJOR JOHN BYRNE led the 155th Regiment of New York Volunteers during the Civil War. The 155th fought in the n the Petersburg Campaign (research included). After the war, he became president of the Central New York and Western Railroad. COLONEL CHARLES P. BALL led the Confederate 8th Alabama Cavalry (research included). After the war, he, too, became involved in railroads. Offering a wonderful example of Railroad Americana in this 5 pp, 8 x 10 ½ TLS marked Personal from Ball to Byrne on East & West Railroad of Alabama stationery, April 28, 1891, providing a lengthy explanation of railroad extension to the coal fields, an arrangement that was historic in aiding both In small part, “…This is the last and only chance for any new line to get into Birmingham, without a very large expenditure of money. I even doubt whether it can be accomplished with money, as private property would have to be purchased, streets condemned, which in many instances have already been given up to street railroads…I carried…gentlemen over our line and out to the various coal mines and they expressed themselves as being very much pleased; so much so that they have sent me forms of options and requested me to make an offer to purchase the entire coal interests on the line of our road. Their object in making these purchases is to secure cheap fuel for the manufacture of iron at Tredegar. If they can be induced to carry out their plans, it will simplify matters exceedingly and will insure the investment of a very large sum of money on the line of our road, and it would give us a large daily traffic…The representatives of this mortgage company are largely interested in Kansas City and in Salt Lake City and are very intimate with the parties who own and control the Kansas City Memphis and B’ham road, which is part of the Kansas City and Springfield R.R…If you will take a map and trace out the line from Birmingham to Cartersville, thence from Cartersville to a connection with the Carolina and Georgia R.R. (which is part of the Robinson system) you will see that the building of thirty miles on the west of us and one hundred miles on the east, would give a direct connection through Kansas City to Georgia and the Carolinas and would make this road form an exceedingly valuable link…If an extension is made from Broken Arrow towards Birmingham, the line would run through some very valuable coal property, which I think could be optioned at this point at a price not exceeding ten dollars per acre…” Much more. Toning, folds. Overall very good. Everything we sell is guaranteed authentic forever to the original buyer. We also offer a 30-day return policy. If you discover a problem or are dissatisfied with an item, please contact us immediately. Our goal is to please every customer. We are pleased to be members of The Manuscript Society, Universal Autograph Collectors Club and The Ephemera Society. [AM 181][If you make an offer on an item, please send us a message through the Ebay System letting us know because the Make Offer is not working properly and we don't want to lose your sale.]

Price: 125 USD

Location: Boston, Massachusetts

End Time: 2024-02-17T16:17:52.000Z

Shipping Cost: 10 USD