Yours of recent date¹ relative to convicts for Hiawassee Valley Ry. came duly to hand. I must say that I was some what surprised and disappointed at it, [illegible] until then I never dreamed that there was any troubles after you had [illegible] recommending that we have the convicts. It may be true that the act of the Legislature authorizing these convicts does not say in direct words that the state Treasurer shall credit the States Prison with cash & neither does the act authorizing convicts for the Elkin & Alleghany RR [illegible] to exceed 100 convicts to the road, yet ti is getting 150. Here is a plain [illegible] violation of the law. The act relative to Hiawassee Valley Ry Co. says the Prison Board shall let us have these convicts upon your recommendation if it can be done and the State Prison be self sustaining. Every one who knows anything about the condition of affairs, knows that the sustaining of the State Prison is not dependent on the hiring of these 50 convicts. There is always a good surplus every year.

The act is very plain, and the Attorney General in his opinion says it is the plain duty of the Board to let us have these convicts if the State's Prison can be self sustaining without them, and take the stock of the road.

Failure now under existing circumstances will work serious damage to this section, and will bring about a condition in the political affairs of the state that will not be to the good of the democratic party.

Every one knows that those convicts could be furnished without impairing the State's Prison. It is singular that the authorities can openly violate the provisions of chapter 159 Private Laws 1907 in favor of the Elkin & Aleghany RR. and yet raise so many questions about letting Hiawassee Valley Ry Co having 50 convicts. I still hope you may be able to let us have these convicts.