Viewing page 247 of 341

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

Bu. R.F and A.L.
Office Sub Asst Comr
Brook Haven Miss
October 31st 1867

1st Lieut Merritt Barber
34th U.S. Infantry. A.A.A. Genl
Bu R.F. and A.L.

Lieut., 
I have the honor to submit the following report of the operations of this Office for the Month of October 1867.

I
The number of Freed people in this Sub Dist, in the Year 1866 was as follows

Copiah County 9.140
Lawrence County  4.093
Part of Franklin 1.500
14.733

II
The freed people of this Sub Dist have generally been working well and they are improving. There are still many complaints for settlement from the labor of last year, and not one has been investigated in this Office, but have been found to have some foundation in injustice to the Complainant. With regard to settlement for this Years work, freedman are universally in debt to their Employers, for advances and many questions arise as the time approaches for a division of the Crop- In the examination of accounts presented in some cases, exorbitant prices have been charged for supplies and advances as high as 1 50/ per Cent  upon the Market Value of supplies

III
A majority of the contracts for this year are for a portion of the crop - Few are for stipulated wages

Transcription Notes:
---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-09-02 11:02:08