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10

[[underline]] Brooks' Hollow, or Oakes Furnace. [[/underline]]

I have sought repeatedly, and in vain, to get something from the Board of Education in Malden Township for the several school houses needed there. At Brooks' Hollow the freedmen are willing and determined to unite with the Bureau in building a house for themselves immediately. It can be built for about six hundred dollars. They have now subscribed $ 130., and have on hand for the purpose in cash $ 40. or $ 50, and will raise the ballance of $ 200. in two weeks, and another hundred by a festival in the house as soon as it is built. This makes three hundred dollars they are willing to give. They are able to do  this, as many of them get good wages in furnace & coal mine. I shall get $ 200. in cash from them in two or three weeks.  I have promised them $ 300. from the Bureau, in case you approve of the [[strikethrough]] plan [[strikethrough]] project; of which I had little doubt. The freedmen have a deed for a plot of ground on which to place the house. As no time should be lost, I shall contract for the house this week probably. The plan of the Bureau will be followed in building the school house. In your last instructions to me concerning this