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Bureau Refugees, Freedmen and and Abandoned Lands,
OFFICE SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION,
FOR THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI.
Vicksburg, Miss., Dec 23 1868.

Wm M. Colby
Supt of Education
Little Rock

Dear Sir

Your favor of the 12th is received. Gen. C.H. Howard (brother of Gen. O.O. Howard) has been appointed Western Secretary of A.M.A. in place of Mr. Shipherd, & will be here on a tour of inspection. Some time next week, where I will lay the matter presented in your letter before him.
 
We are making an effort to establish a Manual Labor Normal School in this State. Our plan is to purchase somewhere from two to five thousand acres of land & form a colony of colored people, and have pupils work a part of the time, & in that way, meet a part of their expenses- Would not such a plan work better in Ark, than to invest so much money in the purchase of a School lot?

Yours Truly
J.P. Bardwell 
Agt A.M.A.