I have just been apprized of the fact that some parties at Andrews, N.C. have been interfering and meddlimg in the matter of the Prison Board furnishing our company, The Hiawasse-Valley Ry. CO., the convicts to complete our road.

I want to say to you that each of our directors, twenty in number, voted to ask for the these convicts to complete our road; the six miles yet unbuilt being the most important part of the line, and infact the key to the whole situation. As this connection at Murphy assures us of reasonable treatment in the matter of the operating lease, and all other benefits arising from the fact that it is the terminus of the two great systems of the South.

These parties interfering are doing so for the sole purpose of forcing our company to turn our line over to a lumbering concern, and one that does not own a foot of land in Clay county, and to whom, the owners of timber, declare they will never sell a foot.

These parties, especially Mr. D. S. Russell and Mr. J. Q. Barker are in the employ of said lumber company.

I am sure that you feel an interest in the welfare of the people of Clay county, as well as, all the people of the state, and will appreciate the fact that we have spent $150,000 and have a road practically completed from Hayesville to Andrews and that without the other six miles, which we are not able to build without help, we would be left absolutely at the mercy of a soulless corporation; whereas with the additional six miles we will have one of the most profitable little roads in all the state.

Whatever reasons may have been given against the use of the convicts, I feel confident, have been purely from a mercenary as well as a prejudiced standpoint.

Hoping you will excuse me for taking this much of your valuable time, I beg you in behalf of all our people that you stand by us in this (to us) all important matter.