I received your telegram¹ and I am communicating with Mr. Mann.

When these parties came before us we informed them that if they would get a ruling from the Attorney General so that stock from this road could be credited to the State's Prison, and that the State Treasurer would honor it as cash, then if the Council of State would withdraw 50 convicts from the Elkin & Alleghany Railway, that we could send them to Hiawassee.

I am writing Mr. Mann and telling him that I think that if these matters come through that it is his duty to send the convicts to Andrews. I am of the opinion that this project at Andrews is more worthy than any now being aided by the State, with the exception of the Elkin & Alleghany.