GENERAL ORDERS, ADJT. AND INSP. GENERAL’S OFFICE, April 6, 1864

GENERAL ORDERS, ADJT. AND INSP. GENERAL’S OFFICE,

April 6, 1864.

No. 41. Richmond, April 6, 1864.

I. The following schedules of prices for articles named therein, adopted by commissioners appointed pursuant to law, for the State of Virginia, are announced for the information of all concerned; and the special attention of officers and agents of the Government is directed thereto:

RiIcHMOND, March 31, 1864. Hon. JAmres A. SEDDON:

Sir: In reviewing the schedules of prices for April we invited the co-operation and aid of Mr. William B. Harrison, and it is just to add that the schedules received the unanimous approval of the commissioners.

We respectfully offer the accompanying schedules, A and B, with the understanding that the prices are to remain for ‘the month of April, unless in the interval it should be deemed necessary to modify them.

The SONORA prices are to be the maximum rates to be paid for the articles impressed, in all cities and in usual places of sale, and when impressed on the farms or elsewhere the same prices are to be paid.

Under existing circumstances we have deemed it not only just, but most likely to favor increased production, that producers in future should not be required to transport their surplus productions when impressed, but that the agents of the Government should employ or impress the neighborhood or county wagons and teams to haul all such articles, and so divide the work between the owners of wagons and teams as to be least prejudicial to those successfully engaged in agriculture.

Articles. Quality. Description. Quantity. Price. DU WW DOAtsacuicanpiseis eleniainr Prime.vsvcins White or red ……. Per bushel of 60 pounds. $5.00 POUL se ecnenoesemaewe aes Good) sassenees Lp @n codsencaninnooc: Per barrel of 196 pounds. 22.00 Sane CO yenws coceseseicne stew eiseoOOsterbe cn PUPCLUNE)- accn cacicete een-00 seas deqeieniacias cial!) 20.00 L woiete OG eacceer caer cca nen versa OOisenies ec! Extra Superfine ssc. pease Ont CeGipeesti gts 26. 50 naond GUS BoRAEOBeee es be coactiane CD oamnbocd Wirth, ckcssenpcganrc pebecl Oaercosncapepacepace 4as(hy) BRC ONIN sae lateteinciatcteieielalei= == Prim6)<…– habits or yellow…. Per busied of 56 pounds. 4.00 4] Unshelled corn …-..–. ..-.- Oiseanapms lessee OO lncmeecacicass es) tiene (Onc eer anne manttee =a 3.95 5 Corn-meal …-.-.–.—. GQO0d a asc ccann eewencasece=acnarescen Per een of 50 pounds. 4. 20 GRY Greeeweenecseaeear eet PPiM©) cnc 2iciss -newine vesancicncesic snc Per bushel of 56 pounds. 3. 20 7 Cieancl Oats tisescee-2 8/8. Gl Zeeesane bono snasesonecroossaas Per bushel of 32 pounds. 2.50 8 Wheat bran .-..-….— GOOd eae wa daen casielsewslenicisvaciccllel= a's Per bushel of 17 pounds. -50 SUS ROLES eecereem aes erestetel rte = OO Arena Bar Ranneso Enoneeresconos Per bushel of 22 pounds. -70 10: Brown stalls. -e-<–eer –— a6 GO aA eor coe ecccionacoscebone ceoe Per bushel of 28 pounds. -90 Ship statis 2-1 ).tc sasmrtete ete to Oba eereiale sma ctcieniniemteisaeaiatsloiare Per bushel of 37 pounds. 1.40 PO BACON oem aaincincisieeeian mae .Ovameissae'e Hog round……..-. Per et fgete a enlaia/a{eja(aialais 3. 00 PSo OSalb POLK piejars)slrcioem estar oreierals Gi Beason he Codeuocdneeeroacce Ps tvOO se crenian sora wes picle'e® 2. 60 14 Fresh pork …–..<.–.6 Mat and 200d). se.abaascremin cise etesne Per Dee net weight .. 2. 25 TS eandsesasemec ct elacsastaas (Ox000 Ue See enon laaneaeepacedeaace Baie SROMPOUNG cetnesiciacwcecc ss 3.00 16 Horses and mules ….-.- First class. – eeeillery, & &e – Average pas per head . 500.00 LTB WiOOL meee sete ae asin pe had merino} Washe – Per sta : 3.00 NS sees does. Fein d . Unwashed. —do 2.00 oa Per bushe 4.00 edO za acc 4.00 –do. 4. 00 BE Osos ceaieie'sioaisislarsisie= ee 5. 00 Ucn bossosaneupore: deo nasae OOjseeaeciaee sie alee an 5. 00 Dene aeeiseaae secwe Gino aae wtepsitn sine wes 8.00 Wmnpecledies ccsecases (rns. Om eres sscrsinasean: 4, 50 Dried. ade ae BSE osoepeccs: Hor Sener Gin cee seacroceeol sed 5.00 27 Hey, ba Timothy or clover .. Per 100 pounds ………. 3.90 DN setts Optdarta nica cidelesace Orchard or herd }….. GOS Rp onode adecen aos 3.90

Articles. Quality. Description. Quantity. Price. 30 Sheaf oats, baled ….-.. GOOE Jo.seesoull eee bree ees ns canines yes Per 100 pounds . $4. 40 31 Sheaf oats, unbaled….. ….. QO oists -aisinis eaiesinitae eaten nie «seine ie ins d ne 3. 50 32 Blade fodder, baled …-. ….- CS BABS ead Epscoceesgssnsaocno sl bao 3.90 33 Blade fodder, unbaled .. ….- (Py Soe A on Se Se Od a ie a eee eee 3.00 34 Shucks, baled ……….j..00. AOiseececes pees ccrasseeneeseessen seaee 2. 60 85 Shucks, unbaled..-….-. …-.- CD eacoscod brancnnccsaneceeronensa eas2 1.70 36 Wheat straw, baled ..-. ….. CONES COREE Snicccude COO ECR P ECA ioe 2.20 37 Wheat straw, unbaled.. ….. Ge cacaeee lea setcscosccesccaacaos asian do 1.30 38 Pasturage …..—-..+– -.-.- dole secs s- Interior /:2:2.–<<-. Per head per month….. 3.00 8 sees WO eases maasisisess == Superior…… ..-.. (Diese eae cepa bese Cea ApS ania ae 4.00 Onl Baer! Gy pdsaccarsansescoace First rate….. ….. GN ee aseeema pencil baosd GA a tS Se csc 5.00 WN aes doyesosss sess cmernes (Goodtwesess=. Near cities….-…2-]..2.. 0 ONS SOL OCP oon Ceo 5. 00 74 eee GN eB anesonsanocecnce Superior ..-.– ..-.- (i ee aceececose rAd UDR PSS SBS SOS 55 a5 6. 00 Soi ero Oe ater cesna stance First rate…..].-..- MO earns com cecisiccl sctsem O/csesteelscecsee cere 7.00 AL Salt@eesessacos asses sees (Goodisacosanaceeae eee eeaoe oe eae Per bushel of 50 pounds. 5.00 454 (SOP acces deste as acetcowielctetese CD Boots Aer bocAre Rn aneabe Sees Por pound. ss sepsass ees 1.00 4G (Cand lebanese cceies nee aase a4 stele CG edsbaces allow. Wesisse ce vis se eeses Otaconteinse coneeoees 3.00 Aa VATOS Aten eetdetas cle ste slate ieeisioe G recoopece Cider 5.2 2cscaaeeeee Per gallons. -eeeecee es 2.00 AS WIS Kayne ce cstaln=(nera telat (ier oaeg Tradespeccetee eases once Oleeeaeasinate seats 10. 00 AOue Sa @aretcmsceic setse~ cnie== clelsie 1 Moises

a Pro rata as to greater or less width or weight. b On the above enumerated cotton cloths, pro rata as to greater or less width or weight.

In assessing the average value of first-class artillery and wagon horses and mules at $500, we designed that the term should be accepted and acted upon according to its obvious common-sense import. In other words, that they should be selected and then impressed accordingly as their working qualities and adaptation to army service, together with their intrinsic value, would warrant a judicious purchaser in considering them as coming within the contemplation of the commissioners when they assessed the average value of such horses as the Government needed at $500. But cases might arise, however, when the public exigencies would be so urgent as to demand that all horses at hand should be

CONFEDERATE AUTHORITIES. aCe

impressed. Yet under ordinary circumstances, when family or extra-blooded horses or brood mares of admitted high value are impressed, we respectfully suggest to the Secretary of War to have instructions forwarded to the impressing officers to propose and allow the owners to substitute in their stead such strong, sound, and serviceable horses or mules as shall be considered and valued by competent and disinterested parties as first-class artillery horses or first-class wagon mules,

The term ” average value per head” isin contradistinction to a fixed and uniform price for each horse or mule. Wesupposed that in impressing a number of horses or mules, whether owned by several persons or one individual, that some might be estimated at $300 and others at different advanced rates, according to their worth, up as high as $700—thus making an average value or price for a number of good, sound, and efficient horses or mules $500 each.

In illustration of our views, we will add, that a horse with only one eye sound might, in all other respects, be classed as a first-class artillery horse, yet the loss of one eye would justly and considerably curtail his value. Soa horse from ten to eighteen years of age might be deemed in all other particulars as a first-class artillery horse, but of course, however efficient or able to render good service for a year or so, yet his advanced age would justly and materially impair his value. Any horse, however he may approximate the standard of a first-class artillery horse, must, according to deficiencies, fall below the maximum price; and as few comparatively come up to the standard, and therefore are entitled to the maximum price, so of course in all other instances the price should be proportionately reduced, as imperfections place them below the standard of first class, &c.

SCHEDULE B.—Hire of labor, teams, wagons, and drivers.

Labor. Quantity and time. Price. AUPE alin oom otOragemeatsee alee ae see oten «ce nelslaiesisialocianlemisatsccre sa Per 100 pounds ..-..– $0. 90 2 Shelling and bagging corn; sacks furnished by Government ..-.. Per 56 pounds …..-.. 05 Gh. ] A SEU ie cede Semmens ace OBOE GES noon noon ODOOaeTAdoa ABEORanooee Per cwt. per mile….. – 08 Aa \Llau hin oyorai ne scec nase orl steer aie saci onesies ete isteiee minis

Upon further consideration we have concluded to value sheaf oats, hay, and blade fodder east of the Blue Ridge Mountains, when baled, at $5.40 per 100 pounds, and unbaled at $4.50 per 100 pounds, and shucks baled at $3.90 per 100 pounds, and $3 unbaled.

Since the adoption of our last schedules for the months of February and March the financial bills passed by Congress, taxing the currency, have seriously impaired the value of the old issues of Confederate Treasury notes. At this juncture large numbers of horses and mules were impressed and paid for in a currency which was in a few days thereafter to be taxed 33} per cent. ‘

The Board of State Commissioners having adjourned, and one of its members being out of the State, it could not be convened in time to review our schedules of prices. Under this state of facts we have re-examined and rearranged our tariff of prices, so far as we have been advised of recent impressments, proposing, in this mode, to remedy any diminution of valuation which may have resulted

18 R R—SERIES IV, VOL III

from the action of Congress upon the currency. Therefore we assess the average value of artillery or wagon horses or mules, impressed since the passage of the currency bill of the 17th of February last, at $600. This award will entitle each person to receive higher compensation accordingly as each horse or mule recently impressed may be considered as being a first, second, or third class artillery or wagon horse or mule, whether the parties appeal to our Board or not; and the impressing agents and officers should forthwith call on all of those persons of whom they impressed horses or mules and propose a settlement upon the foregoing basis, but allowing to each person only such prices as first, second, and third class artillery or wagon horses or mules may be estimated at, assuming our average appraisement of $600 as a fair medium valuation. This, then, would allow a maximum price of $800, and a minimum price of $400, making $600 the average price—thus allowing more for first-class horses or mules and proportionately less for the inferior, as they may fall below the grade of first class. Payment of whatever amount may be awarded to be made in the old issue of Treasury notes as circulated before the ist of April, or else in the new issue, but with a deduction in such cases of 33+ per cent. from the additional sum allowed

in each case. E. W. HUBARD, ROBERT GIBBONEY, WM. B. HARRISON, Commissioners for Virginia. By order: S. COOPER, Adjutant and Inspector General.

All appeals and communications for the Board of Commissioners

should be addressed to D. S. Chilton, clerk of the Board of Commissioners of the State of Virginia, Richmond, Va.