copy Ellsworth, Maine, March 19, 1924. Hon. George Tharton Pepper, United States Senate, Washington, D. C. Dear Senator Pepper:- I am very much obliged to you for your letter of the 17th, which, I think, helps clear up the situation. As I said before, we have the same object in view, to wit, the best interest of the public at large, and the only question is as to the best way of achieving it. I am sorry that you think the road around the Sargent-Jordan Mountain tract, a mistake. If it is a mistake it was made about two years ago when the road was laid out un- der the direct supervision of the National Park Service and the work has progressed too far and too much money has been spent on it now, in my opinion, to make it feasible to abandon it and I think that you will finally agree with me in that proposition, especially in view of the fact, which I tried to emphasize before, that this road's completion is so bound up with the completion of the automobile roads that we are so anxious for that we can't drop one without dropping both. I do not think it would be feasible, and certainly not just to the people of Maine so greatly interested in this matter, to now at this late day leave the question as to whether the partly finished road should be completed to any outside body appointed by the Secretary or otherwise. The location of this road in the western section was examined and approved by the officials of the Park Service who came down here in person and went over the route, suggested some changes, and the road was built, or is being built, exectly as laid out by them The plan, comprehending these two road systems, was also approved and supported in writing by Senator Hale and Fernald and Representative Nelson in 1922. I take it the only object in referring it to another body would be to inform the Secretary as to the desirability or otherwise of completing the road, which is just what this hearing next Wednesday is to be for and, as I understand it, there will be present at the hearing everybody competent to advise the Secretary and supply him with a complete source of information on every subject bearing upon the matter. The Secretary can really get more information from the people who will be present at that meeting than he could possibly get from any commission he might appoint. Besides, that, of course, it is highly important that the matter be settled now.