I am just in receipt of the following telegram from William Breese, dated this morning:

"I need authority or proxy to represent states interest in South Atlantic and Western Railroad in order secure definite and positive statement from Mayer impossible to get him down to facts without this and wish you would see Craig and wire me said authority need same for our protection in convict matter wire immediately".

I hope you will see your way clear to give Mr. Breese this authority. I am sure he will prudently and safely exercise it. He, like myself, is deeply concerned for the welfare and protection of the state, as well as of the Railroad Company. While I do not know the particular circumstances which makes it necessary in his judgment to have this authority, I am sure he would not ask it if it were not, in his judgment, important; and I am sure that he will not abuse it.

I am told that this morning's Citizen contained a news item to the effect that there was a meeting of the Council yesterday in which this matter was considered along with other railroads having the benefit of convict labor, and that probably further and more decided action would be taken today. I had inferred, from what you told me, and your request to me that the Council would not act until I could make a statement on behalf of the Railroad Co.

I presume you have my letter of yesterday by this time. It gives the situation, as I understand it, and my opinion.

It would be a great pity if, after all the actual money that has been put into this enterprise by private parties, amounting to nearly half a million of dollars, and the labor which I, and others, have expended on it for a number of years, that it should go to pieces now, and if any way can be devised by which this disaster can be averted, even for a short time, I feel confident the State authorities will be glad to aid.