In requiring a bond of the Statesville Air Line to complete the road to a certain point within a specified time, your company was accorded by the Council of State the same treatment as all other companies similarly situated.

The state lends its aid to these projected railroads with a view to giving transportation facilities to remote sections. The bond guaranteeing this accomplishment is required in my opinion by good business economy and by the interest of the people that the state desires to help.

The Elkin and Alleghany has given the bond. The people who were asking convicts for the Watauga road stated to the Council of State that in their opinion the requirement of this bond was reasonable. They did not object. The Transcontinental will not, in my opinion give the bond, and I think that the convicts will be withdrawn from that road.

This requirement of the bond was not based upon Mr. Mann's report. As I say, all of these roads were treated alike in this respect.

You may rest assured that I am intensely interested in the welfare and in the development of Iredell and Yadkin Counties, as well as the other counties through which the Statesville Air Line will pass.