Pittsburg 13^th October 1797 Sir Your letter of the 6^th instant is this moment come to hand with respect to the route of transportation to the North Western posts Viz. on Lake Erie and Waters emptying thereunto. It is my opinion that by way of Pittsburg, Franklin, le Bœuf & Presque Isle is at present the most eligible and my reasons for that opinion are that by this route the means of transportation by Water & Land are tolerably well provided for & established in such a manner that stores are not delay'd on the way from Pittsburg to Detroit provided they come forward in season to reach Presque Isle by the 10^th or 15^th of November after which the Lake is not navigable generally during five succeeding months of winter. And from all the information I have obtained of the route Via Albany &c there are several portages at which delays frequently take place by want of proper means of transportation and also that prices are more expence & frequently injures or [undecipherable] are unceasing [undecipherable] to you. It is possible that the information that I have obtained on this subject may not be correct. It is however certain that the [undecipherable] is of the same opinion with me. You will find this accompanied by a letter addressed to Col. Thomas Forrest of Germantown and which I have left open in order that you may see the purport of it and also that in case Col. Forrest should decline to undertake the business therein presented and that you would be kind enough to perform it for me and therefore I have to request you to take an opportunity of handing the letter to the Col. at as early a day as possible and at same time of intimating that you are acquainted with the purport. N.B. I have been offered 20 dollars per acre for a considerable part of Mingo Bottom. I am with Esteem, Sir Your Obed^t hum^t Servant [C.] Samuel Hodgdon Esquire Philadelphia