We have finished the survey of a boundary of 431 1/2 acres of land, horizontal measurement, and herewith hand you map, showing the location of the boundary surveyed. I fear you will be disappointed in the number of acres which we have taken in this boundary and am herewith submitting the map to you for suggestions. You will observe that we have gone far enough north from the peak to take in the Black Brothers and far enough southwest to include the Step's Spring. We found when we run from the top of the mountain down on the west side that we run into timber that will cut 30,000 feet to the acre. Perley & Crockett are now paying $7.00 per one thousand ft. stumpage for this timber. So you see we cannot get many acres at $210 per acre.

The way we have run this line we included some good timber, but not any large quantities. We will have some fine spruce trees which will cut from eight hundred to one thousand feet to the tree and sufficient in quantity to show the next generation what timber once grew on all that great mountain.

You will observe that we have run 40 poles, horizontal measurement, down on the side of the mountain from its crest on each side. We have taken in that peak which lies just southeast of Mt. Mitchell, as shown on the map, and it was the opinion of the commission that it would not be necessary to go very far down the mountain sides where the timber improved in size and quality, when we could extend the boundary by taking in the crest of the mountain over a greater distance.

If it is your opinion that we ought to take in more acreage then we beg to suggest that we can do so by extending the boundary the same distance from the top of the mountain on the north west side. To do this, however, will be to take in a great deal of the finest kind of timber. At one time we thought it may be best to take in a larger number of acres and allow the timber people to take off the biggest timber but we found out from the engineer who made the survey that where large timber has been taken out, there being such a little moisture and so little earth to support the trees, that when the sunshine is let in it dries out the small amount of the moisture and the remaining trees are dying.

After you have examined the map please make any suggestion you desire and write us at once. We have no idea that we will be able to agree with any of the land owners and we shall have to condemn this land and we want to get about it just as soon as possible. So please write us at your earliest convenience.

With my kindest regards, I am,