Roane_Letter_061_47384

War Department July 9^th1802

Sir

Your favor of the 18^th [illegible] has been duly received and its contents considered The obstacles to opening the road through Davidson and Williamson Counties is to be regretted. __ Whether the troops retained in service will, in addition to the opening the remainder of the road to Natchez and their ordinary duties be able to complete that part of the road which was to pass thro [sic] the aforesaid counties, is doubtful. ___ When the opening the road was first contemplated there was reason to hope the whole would have been completed last autumn and winter. But necessary delays in commencing the business prevented our hopes being realized. It is the Ardent wish of the President of the United States to give every facility in his power to the communication between the citizens of Tennessee and Kentucky and the Atlantic States and to render the trade and navegation of the western States as convenient as possible.

He has it in contemplation to have a road opened from Tennessee to the boatable waters of Georgia.

When your Legislature shall have decided on the most eligible rout [sic] through the counties of Davidson and Williamson, is it not probabl probable some aid will be offered by the State for completing the road? ___ Every aid will be offered chearfully [sic] in the power of the President for carrying into complete effect the original plan for making the road. ___ But we ought by all the means in our power to guard against any unnessary extension of the distance. It ought not to be expected that a great public road made for the purpose of connecting two distant countries, and national purposes should be diverted from the shortest and best route merely to accommodate the Inhabitants of a single county.

I am respectfully your Hum^l Servt (signed) H. Dearborn

Archibald Roane Esq.