To IL Donaldson From RH Milroy May 9 1865

              Tullahoma Tenn.  May 9, 1865 
 
 
      Dear General 
 
                                     I desire to call your 
attention to a matter that may be beneficial 
to the Govt.  At Nashville and at the 
various other posts in Tenn.., Ala., 
Ga. and along all the Govt. R.Rs. 
(stricken: South) in these states there is an 
immense quantity of waste iron in the 
way of worn out or damaged R.R. iron – worn 
out & damaged waggon tries & other scraps from 
old waggons – broken tools – horse shoes & scraps 
about blacksmith & repair shops - & all of 
which if collected could be sold as either 
public or private sale so as to realize to the 
Govt from $20 to 40 per ton.  Hundreds of 
tons of this iron is now scattered about 
every where & is rapidly being wasted by being 
carried of by citizens & otherwise wasted. 
Some friends of mine interested in the iron 
business desire me to learn from you 
whether you cannot have this irn collected 
at different points on the R.R. & ask that they