Since seeing you at Asheville, I have learned that a few parties at Andrews, N.C., connected with a project of one Mr. Buell¹, are opposing the convicts being furnished to the H-V. Ry. CO.

I understand Mr. D. S. Russell and Mr. J. Q. Barker have been to Asheville with Mr. Buell to obstruct the state in furnishing the convicts. Let me say, Mr. Russell appeared before our board of Directors at its meeting on June 4th last, and made a strong speech advocating the construction of the six mile line to Murphy and also our application for the convicts to help construct said line.

Now, these men want us to bond the road for steel and turn it over to Mr. Buell to operate; which of course means nothing more than a logging road which would haul out our products and manufacture them at Andrews, and shipped out over the Southern alone would certainly be a discrimination against us and our people who own large tracts of land.

Buell is now trying to secure the lands in this, Clay county, and in Towns County, Ga, but our people are opposed to turning their lands over to him under any circumstances.

If you care to take the trouble to look Mr. Buell up, you will find he is fresh from a deal in Eastern N.C. where he wrecked and wiped up a business and railroad proposition.

Now I have it on good authority that Mr. Russell and Mr. Barker are both, now and have been, on Buell's pay-roll. You remember Mr. Barker was on our board of directors, as its first President and that we had to appeal to the legislature to eliminate him, because of his extravegance and waste of funds over and against the protest of all the directors. I wil remark here that he asked only $6,000 per annum as salary, which I believe is more than the state of N.C. pays Your Excellency. I will say further that I have served without salary and have devoted nearly all my time as president, and that not a dollar has been wasted, and every foot of the road has been built under and during my term. Now, Gov. here is the trouble with that Andrews crowd, they want the lions share.; they have learned that a Pulp Mill will go up at Murphy if this connection is made, which will bring perhaps a Million dollars to Murphy from another state and manufacture the forest products of Clay county, N.C. and of Towns county, Ga. Now who could object to this but Mr. Buell and his crowd.

You will remember that when I saw you in Asheville I called your attention the fact that by making this connection at Murphy we could make a saving $3,00 per ton on steel and the sum of $18,000 in freights, to verify this statement I enclose to you the proposition from the L. & N. CO. which you will please treat as confidential and when you have examined please return to me in the enclosed envelope.

You know the Railroad people do not want these matters made public, and I am sorry to say some of those people at Andrews have endeavored to get something for this purpose, thereby to cripple our enterprise. Mr. Haigler and myself were both in the conference with the L. & N. officals and we were designated the Committee therein addressed.

At the very time we were in negotiations with Mr. Mapother, 1st Vice Pres. Mr. Barker was corresponding with Milton M. Smith Pres. L & N. Ry. CO and he received a very flat and curt reply refusing to open up any correspondence because he believed it to be for sinister purposes.

Now, Gov. believing you understand the importance of this matter to us, the State, and all concerned, of this Murphy connection, we do earnestly beseech you to do all in your power to secure to us those convicts.

Murphy is voting a bond issue of $25,000, and confidently relying on your frienliness to the proposition, as expressed to Dr. Wells and myself; then feel assured by the promises of the Prison Board, and every member of your council- and it would blight the hopes of our people to permit such mercenary influences as those refered to to block this whole system- which connects us at the termini of The L. & N. Ry, and the Southern at Murphy.