To the Honorable the Senate and House of Representative of the
State of Tennessee

The petition to the Subscribers, Citizens of the Counties lying
on the River Hatchee respectfully represents:-----That since the
settlement of the county they have seen and experienced the
numberless disadvantages resulting from a difficult and
obstructed navigation. The Hatchee River, presenting to the
Citizens of the Counties which Border upon it, conveniences
inferior to no stream in the Western Country, if cleared out, is
at present, from artificial and accidental obstructions nearly
useless, except during a freshet. The plans devised heretofore
for the purpose of raising a fund, to be appropriated to clearing
it out, have been by experience, proved to be wholly inefficient.
Taxation in a moderate degree cannot raise a sufficient sum of
money for that purpose, neither the duration of the present age.
Meanwhile the Commerce of our country languished, emigration is
prevented; and we are forced to expend a large portion of the
price of our produce, in getting it to market.

Under these circumstances your petitioners feel the deepest
anxiety for the adoption of some efficient plan to render their
River useful at all season of the year.

Believing that a Lottery judiciously conducted, would be a mode
of raising a sufficient sum of money in the most speedy way, and
the plan least bothersome both to the citizens ___ now resident
and holders ____. They pray your honorable body that a law may be
passed authorizing a Lottery to be drawn for the purpose of
raising the sum of thirty thousand dollars to be applied to
opening and improving the navigation of the Hatchee River __ And
they would recommend as managers to draft the scheme of
superintend to lottery as well as the application of the fund
Joseph W. McKean, Frances Shoemake, Thomas _ Hardeman, Hiram
Bradford, Jacob Tipton, John L. Brown, and Willie B. Peck.

By prosecution of the plan your petitioners doubt not but their
object will be speedily and easily accomplished, to the great
advantage of their County as well as the benefit of the Public in
general.

V. D. Barry        Palmer Davidson      J. W. McKean      Thomas James
Roger Barton       James K. Sutch (?)   W. Z. Peck        William O. Sutch(?)
___ Outlaw         A. M. Alisher (?)    F. Shoemake       P. A. Smith (?)
D. W. Love         Dan D. Berry         Samuel W. Eshoh   N________
Wm W. Shackelford  J. R. Love           R. S. Neely(?)    Samuel Pettigrew
D. Mims(?)         Wm. A. Hardeman      D. B. Friar (?)   F. F. Colier
E. R. Belcher(?)   E. C. Crisp          D. M. Guinn(?)    Wm. A. Clumn(?)
Wm. A. Atwood

written c 1822-1823