Your attorney, Mr. Pless, is in Raleigh opposing the passage of the bill for the establishment of a state park on Mitchell's Peak. I have no control over this bill whatever. It was introduced in the Senate by Senator Weaver, and in the House by Representative Deaton of Yancey County. I feel very much interested in the bill and earnestly hope that it will become a law.

I take the liberty of writing you this letter for the purpose of making a suggestion, and hope that you will not consider this as any unwarranted interference. In my opinion this mountain should be owned by the people of North Carolina- this mountain beyond all others, as it is the highest land east of the Mississippi and the most noted mountain in the eastern part of the North American Continent. It should be protected by the state, and forever be a place to which the people of the state are at liberty to go. It is not only the highest mountain east of the Mississippi, but it has an historic interest, and many interesting associations. After talking with Mr. Pless, I realize fully that you greatly value the summit of this mountain, and would reluctantly see it taken by condemnation proceedings over to the state.

I now take the liberty of making my suggestion that you donate the summit of this mountain to the state. In this way, if you will pardon me for saying it, you can realize to the fullest extent the sentiment that you along with all North Carolinians must have in connection with our most famous mountain. The people of the state would accept this gift with gratitude, and it would be a perpetuation of your memory to your descendants, and to all the citizens of North Carolina. The gratitude of the people would be suitably expressed, and your memory preserved upon a monument that will be erected on the summit to Dr. Mitchell, the explorer of the mountain, and our pioneer scientist. The fact of your generous and patriotic donation would appear by suitable inscription.

I feel that this mountain is a place that ought to be sacred to North Carolina, and to all people. It should be dedicated for a public purpose, and I feel that you too, as a citizen of North Carolina sympathize in this sentiment. The destruction of the mountain would be a public calamity. The only way to preserve it for ourselves and for future generations is for the state to own it. It seems to me that for the legislature to fail to pass the bill that is now pending would be a public calamity and an irretrievable loss and discredit to the state. The failure to pass this bill would result in destruction by axe and fire of the finest work of nature that we have, and in the place of the magnificent slopes now luxuriant with the finest growth, there would be a vast desolation of blackened ruin.

Of course the legislature would not consider the passage of this bill unless the bill carries with it the prospective possession of the summit, and the value of the summit would be impaired if not destroyed by the destruction of all the surrounding territory. I do not think that those who are interested in the passage of this bill consider that it would effect your possession at Stepp Spring. The bill carries an appropriation of only twenty thousand dollars, and this twenty thousand dollars would be insufficient for the purchase of a sufficient amount of territory to include Stepp Spring.

If Mr. Pless should succeed in writing into this bill a clause excepting the summit from its operation, that would defeat the bill. I feel sure that you would regret the defeating of this bill measure as a patriotic North Carolinian, and so would we all who are acquainted with this situation, and who prize this magnificent possession of the state.

I would appreciate an expression from you, and if you will favorably consider the suggestion that I have made, the prospect for the perpetual preservation of Mitchell's Peak will be assured.