I am in receipt of your letter of the twenty-third in reference to furnishing convicts to complete the road between Old Fort and Ridgecrest.

I notice this law leaves the control of the road's location in the hands of the Highway Commission of Old Fort township. That is the only objection that I have to this question. I am in favor of their having convicts, but I am not in favor of them having them to build the road anywhere except where the road ought to be construction, and I am sure that it should be constructed to run via Round Knob and Koont's Gap into Ridgecrest. That is the route that was located by the engineer from the U. S. Office of Public Roads, and was approved by Dr. Joseph Hyde Pratt to the Trustees of the Central Highway.

I am opposed to their having any convicts unless they adopt this route. I am glad to know that Mr. Fred Bradley is in favor of going via Round Knob, because I understand the man that has had control of the Highway Commission in that township heretofore has been Mr. P. H. Mashburn, a gentleman whom I am very fond of, but I am not in favor of his route up the mountain through a dark hollow. I am going to write Mr. Brawley and see what he says about it.

I trust you are well and happy and that you are resting easier since the Legislature has adjourned.