Mr. J. S. Mann, Superintendent of Penitentiary, has just returned from a trip of inspection in the western part of the State. He brings a most discouraging report of the work on the Transcontinental Railway. He says that the men are not properly equipped with tools, etc; that the Superintendents who represent the Company have not been paid their salaries; that the work is not progressing and that in any view so small a force of men could make no impression upon such a gigantic enterprise. He says that very little has been accomplished.

I would send you his written report but when Mr. Mann was in the office this morning he had not reduced it to writing and I have to leave tomorrow. I thought it advisable to write you at once. The convicts on this road furnished by the State are worth $1.50 each a day to the State. The Council of State is of opinion that the convicts which have heretofore been placed upon the Transcontinental Railway should be withdrawn. As you know I am intensely interested in the development of that country. The carrying through of this enterprise projected by you and Col. Jones would be of inestimable benefit to Western North Carolina. It seems to me, howevere, that in the present conditions of things the State should not give its convicts to this work where there is so little prospect of accomplishment, when these convicts are so urgently demanded upon other work that would bring at once beneficent results. I would dislike to take any position about this matter or any other matter that did not meet with your approval and I write now so that if you desire you can appear before the Council of State and present any reasons why the convicts should not be removed from the Transcontinental Railway. I am assuming that you desire them to remain. I may be mistaken about this.

The statute places these convicts under the control of the Council of State and the Council will hear you at any time that may suit your convenience.

As I said above I expect to go away early tomorrow morning and am dictating this letter too late to have it written Monday night. I, therefore, cannot read it over.

Please give my regards to Mrs. Davidson and my friends in the office. I hope to be in Asheville sometime during the next month. My health has not been good in Raleigh. I do not know that it is the fault of the climate. I hope the mountains will do me good. They will certainly do me good to look upon.