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Board of Supervisors Hancock County, Ms0
Gentlemen:
In 3773 a youthful naturalist	William	Tartram	spent	four years journeying
through the south making	voluminus	notes.	Partram	was a	great admirer of the
American Indians and this undoubtedly was one of the purposes which brought him through our territory,,
In his writings he talks of Native Magnolia, Azalea, Yellow Jessamine and cool fleeting streams? Ho traveled with a companion and recorded his travels?
The tracing of tirails of the past will play nr. important part in preserving naturalresources* There was En art to TRAILING and to bccome adept in this art it required years of	practice.	Almost	all the	Indians were proficient in this.
Some of the best records	of American Travel in the	early	days contained the words
of those who ti uvoled in America from the time of its first permrnet occupation until before the Revolution of 177^o The extended journeys were on foot, it id the uselessness of horses was predominant except near settlements or on beaten paths,, The Indian trails were the corner-stone of land travel in	America,	The
trails were from twelve to eithteen inches in width and sometimes	they led
through regions where the native travel was heavy and long, the trais were	worn
a foot deep, in a ore instances, by generations of soft moccasin,,
The forest road of the natives were not the only contribution ma^e by the red iiinn, from them also was the earliest form of water craft as the canoes were used hy the Indians, and their trails led from stream to stream,,
William Bartrammoldoubt traveled here in our county, the trails which he and others traveled are visual reminders of our history, the trails through the lands that were covered with almost unbroken fores^ and the paths through thousand of miles of wilderness?
The tracing of ti'ails of the past will plev an important part in preserving natural resources, utilizing historic areas which otherwise will be lost or destroyed. Thif: was Bartrams Trail which we not only should talk about but must preserve here where it is still possible to establish this Historic Route0
The Hancock County Historical Society encourages this Board of Supervisors to support this cffert for a great economic benefit, the preservation of the physical environment for cultural education, recreation, and travel for all persons who are either permanent residents of our county or those who travel here using our Historic trail0
Rospectfully ,
21st February .1978 LF: tnmg
PH +wq
Louis Fernandez, President