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TO WORTHINGTON

Dayton, Ohio August 31st 1811 -

Dear Sir

The mail establishment does not extend as yet to Fayette County which lies between Green County and Chillicothe, nor to Preble which lies West of this place. a new county has lately been erected in the Indiana Territory which has not that convenience. The Country of Preble contained when the census was taken 3304 souls and is increasing rapidly in population. It is expected the County of Wayne I. T. which lies West of it contains as many. The settlement westward for sixty miles have to get their letters at my office (what few they do get) We have been at the expense of surveying & opening a bridle way from the State line to Vincennes which is 200 miles from here 80 of which passes thro' Indian lands. for which we obtained the consent of the Indians thro' Mr Johnson the US agent at Fort Wayne. Mr Jenn- ings the delegate fron Indiana applied for an appropriation to open that road at the last Session of Congress.

The inhabitants of these Counties are circulating petitions which will be laid before Congress early in the ensuing session (they will probably be handed to Mr Morrow before his departure) for opening the aforesaid road and establishing a mail route from Chillicothe thro' the County seats of Fayette, Green, Montgomery, & Preble in Ohio, and Wayne in the Indiana Territory & thence to Vincennes The distance by this route to the Westward will be much shortened and will be of great advantage as well to persons travelling as expediting the transportation of the mails thither The distance from Chillicothe to Vincennes will not exceed 270 miles, and the worst part of the road on the whole route will be between Paint Creek and Xenia The surveyor returns as follows 20 miles from the state line, ground dry waving, or ridgy, thence 23 miles brushy good land timber ash oplar beech hackberry &c thence 20 miles open woods timber as before with some walnut. thence ten miles land second rate timber oak beech poplar &c thence 40 miles to the crossing of White river more ridgy than heretofore land thin & dry soil timber oak beech poplar some ash & chesnut thence 41 miles to Vincennes chiefly level oak barrens

The object of the petitions if effected will be of immediate benefit to the great mass of population of all these counties before mentioned Chillicothe & Vincennes will likewise be benefitted and as a throughfare to the Westward on this side the Ohio it must prove of general public utility. I flatter myself you will not feel averse to the measure and permit me sir to solicit your attention to the business, I think there can be no reasonable ground for preventing the mails going from Chillicothe to the farthest settlement ie Wayne County I.T. and if the appropriation is made and should be laid out by any person near this there is no doubt but every impediment would be removed, settlements made, for stages &c

If congress should think it of advantage to make an establishment on two [?] immediately at the boundaries it might be done for a sinall gratuity in land. Please to drop me a line with your opinion respecting the accomplishment of the objects prayed for Any information that might be deemed as further necessary or any aid that may be wanting and in my power towards carrying the measures into complete effect will be cheerfully given by me at any time hereafter

[Ed. Here the letter is cut off.]

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