April
Twenty-ninth
Nineteen fifteen.

Mr. W. S. Rankin,
Secretary Board of Health,
Raleigh, N.C.

My dear Doctor Rankin:

I have what I take to be reliable information to the effect that the convict camps in the County of Nash are not sanitary; that prisoners are forced to live under such conditions that should not be tolerated in the State of North Carolina.

This is to authorize and direct you as Secretary of the Board of Health to go to the County of Nash and thoroughly investigate the convict camps in said county both as to sanitary conditions, and as to the treatment of prisoners in every respect.

I hope that you will as soon as possible make full report to me of the convicts found by your in such camps.

Yours truly,

Governor.