I am sure the Council of State would be glad to hear your delegation at any time that you may designate. I do not expect to be in Raleigh on the 26th or 27th, and will probably not be here before the 28th or 29th.

Every member of the Council of State is very much interested in the Madison County road. We intend to let you have these convicts as soon as they are available.

As I have before written you, I think that the Hickory Nut Gap road is entitled to precedence. That road is a connecting link in the highway between two important sections of North Carolina, and is for that reason more of a state road than is the Madison County road. I do not minimize the importance of your road. I think the people of Madison deserve the highest commendation for their nerve in appropriating $300,000. for road work. I know too, that the road in Madison is an important portion of the Central Highway, and would be the road travelled by the people, not only in that section, but in the cities west of us, but as I have said, I do not think that it is as important as the Hickory Nut Gap Road. For that reason the Council of State gave the Hickory Nut Gap Road precedence, but we are certainly determined that Madison shall be remembered as soon as we can get the convicts.