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Romney, Hamps. Co. West Va.
August 30th 1867.

John Kimball Esqr.

Dr. Sir.

In compliance with your request, I write to inform you, that the Board of Education of this (Romney) township, appropriated [[underlined]] 50$ [[/underlined]] to the purchase of a lot, on which to build the colored peoples public school house. On account of a disagreement, & sharp altercation, between the Colored blacksmith (Fisher) & his farther, respecting the lot we were to have, the blacksmith objecting that the school would border too closely on his own lot, we failed to get it, & also another in lieu of it. To day, however, I have the promise of the same lot, conditionally, that is, provided we cannot get a suitable one, after a longer trial.

In the mean time, while we are settling this matter, I think it would expedite the business, if you would send on your plan of a school-house, & thus allow us time to receive bids, & close a contract for the building, by the time the lot is ready.

Yours truly & respectfully,
[[signature]] O. P. Wirgman. [[/signature]]

P.S. We purchased the dilapidated brick church building, for the public school house, for white children, & have commenced already some repairing. It is at the opposite end of the town from the colored peoples lot, & southerly, up the hill & street, from the public-house, a hotel, where you boarded.
O.P.W.