Viewing page 78 of 236

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

Office Supt East Capl Barracks 
Washington D.C. June 21, 1867

Maj Vandenburgh. 
Ast. Local Supt. D.C. 

Major: 

In reply to your questions relating to the occupancy of rooms at these barracks by Miss Harris, I will say- Miss Harris proposed at the time we fitted up these barracks, to open an "Industrial School," I gave her the Laundry & Store House, five (5) rooms, also three rooms in Hospital building, in all 8 rooms, she did not succeed in the laundry business & asked for a large hall for a sewing room; I fitted up the hall & exchanged it for the rooms subsequently used by Mr. Sampson for Store - Miss Harris failed to make the "Sewing School" a success, and I asked and received permission of Gen Howard to use the rooms for the accommodation of parties awaiting transportation, there were no other vacant rooms here & those entirely unless as they were. Mr Harris, brother of Miss Harris at the time of my taking the rooms had no employment and volunteered to take charge of the rooms & also of the parties awaiting transportation. 

Material belonging to the Bureau was used for fitting up the rooms, fuel furnished &c 

Things passed off satisfactorily, until Miss Harris Agt. of the "R. F. Freedmans Association claimed the privilage of taking a percentage upon all the parties she sent North - then the Employment Agents made complaint that parties brought here by them, awaiting transportation were influenced by Mr Harris & wife, also Miss Harris -
over

Transcription Notes:
Edited: filled in blanks, also removed underline notations, no longer required brackets indicate uncertainty Written as Mifs, it's Miſs, which is an old way of writing Miss. The third letter is a "long s"