I have just been up to Hickory Nut Gap to visit the convict camp and inspect the work. I went all over the road with Mr. Stanley and Mr. Hocutt, and took up with them the different thingst that it was necessary to do to bring the road into condition to turn over to the three counties for maintenance. The time that it will take to complete the work will be approximately what Mr. Hocutt and I told you, and Mr. Mann, when you were at the Gap last month, that is, thirty days to finish the road to the top of the mountain, and sixty to ninety days to put the back part of the road in shape. The road to the top of the mountain is finished, and the men are now at work fixing up the road that was built six months to a year ago. I sincerely hope that no attempt will be made to remove the convicts until they have had the opportunity to put the road in the condition it should be before we ask the counties to take it over. The road is looking fine, and as we all know, it is going to be one of the best investments the State ever made. Mr. Stanley is writing fully regarding the work to Mr. Mann.

With best wishes,