Early Governors' Papers

believing I could render the engineers very little service in regar^d to the selection of a route the course they were pursueing. I return^d home

From Knoxville the route we have examin^d pursues the Western Stage road to Campbells Station 15 miles the three first miles broken Hilly ground though the Hills can be pass^d by an ascent of 4 degrees, without Lengthening the road much the remaining distance rolling and Gen^l direction W^t S^o W^t the soil red Clay and sandy in places Timber oak and Hickory and no bridges are deem^d necessary over the small streams that is cross^d in that distance

From Campbells station to New Philadelphia 20 & ^1/2 miles the road crosses three small creeks neither require =ing [sic] Bridges and the Tennessee river at Blairs Ferry below the mouth of Holstein requireing [sic] a Bridge of 400 yards the face of the country gently rolling two Hills only requireing [sic] the ascent of 4 Deg^e the soil sand and red Clay in a few places considerable gravel mix^d with it firm and excellent for the construction of a road. Timber oak pine and Hickory some chesnut in places. rise of the Tennessee river from 20 to 25 feet. The Genl direction So W^t From New Philadelphia to Calhoun on the Highwassee 33 & 1/2 miles crossing sweet water and mouse creeks the face of the country Level or very slightly rolling the road direct and Gen^l direction So W^t soil [Molatts?]

good 2^nd rate timber oak and Hickory and the Last 18 miles mix^d with pine of Large size the ground generally firm and compact and mix^d with gravel in places forming an excellent foundation for a road From Calhoun to Wm Robisons in the Cherokee nation on Cottiwak creek 26 miles crossing Highwassee river which rises 20 feet and requires a Bridge 130 yards long firm rock bottom crossing mouse town creek Candys Creek & Cottiwak passing John Walkers the fan of the country generally level. soil 2nd rate Timber oak pine and Hickory firm soil mix^d with flint gravel in the most rolling parts. Gen^l direction So W^t

From Robisons to the southern boundary of our state 6 miles level ground soil inferior 2nd rate Timber oak pine and Hickory Gen^l direction So W^t crossing two small forks of the chickammoggy

From ^there to Rich^d Taylors on the Georgia road six miles same direction and level, timber and soil nearly the same also

Pursueing [sic] the same course M^r Taylor inform^d us the way would ^be level and firm by a vally [sic] passing though the S^o Eastern point of the Lookout mountain leaving it on the right and strikeing [sic]the head waters of Canoe Creek they intend leaveing [sic] the Town of Cahawba on