Early Governors' Papers

would be promoted by pursueing [sic] from Knoxville the nearest and best route leading in the direction for Neworleans so as to make (if possible) this route the nearest and best for the construction of the road. Whereby it would be most likely to obtain the preference over the other two routes, with which it must be held in view, we are now in competition, at the same time I believe not entirely without some prospect of success. To effect this object to the utmost extent that was practicable in the very expostitious examination the enginiers [sic] are instructed at this time to make I found it necessary to call to my aid Maj. Thos Brown of Kingston who had an entire knowledge of the country not only along the route we view^d, but also that leading through the Tennessee and Wills town Valleys, and whose information in this respect was of considerable importance to us. He Joind [sic] us at Campbells Station, and continu^d with us a small distance after we cross^d the Highuassee River, where we were furnish^d by Col^o Montgomery the agent ^with an interpreter and guide through the cherokee nation, I continu^d on with the engineers untill [sic] we cross^d the Southern boundary of our state into that part of the Territory of Georgia inhabited by the cherokees on the head waters of the chickamaggy near the South Eastern part of the Lookout Mountain from, which place

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