Herewith is forwarded a Plat of the first Twenty Miles of Western road: As this part of the Road lies across several of the Principal ridges of the Alleghany Mountain, there is of course considerable distance lost in getting over them at five degrees, Yet on a Survey and very critical view of the different grounds which present, we feel a confidence, that but little (if any) improvement can be made on the present location. The succeeding section of Twenty Miles will be much Straighter, and, we presume, will gain much more on the present road, than has been lost in this Section.

The departure from the first Horizon, is ascertained, at every angle, by calculation; the perpendicular height of the Mountains, as given on the Plat, may therefore be relied on as being tolerably correct, Yet we are sensible that the inequality of the surface, encumbered, as it is, with Brush and other Obstacles, which prevent a perfect admeasurement, without a great consumption of time, may make some difference, and that when those Obstacles are removed, by making the road, the distance will measure rather less and consequently the elevations in the same proportion

The frequent and abundant falls of rain in the Mountains, an Attack of the Influenza, with which ourselves and nearly all our hands have been visited, and the absence of Our Colleague, who has not yet Joined us (being prevented as we have reason to believe by sickness) have very much retarded the progress of our work, We are now however going on tolerably well and will probably reach the great Youghagany in the course of the present week.

Submitted respectfully, by