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D 247 encl

Savannah 12th November 1867.

Brvt. Major General R.K. Scott, Ast. Commissioner
Bureau R.F. & A. Lands
Charleston S.C.

General, 
I have several objects in view in contracting to rent my rice plantation to my Freedmen for a specific number of bushels of rice per acre. The first was for my own protection. In 1866 the forty seven Freedmen who contracted with me paid as one third of their whole produce 384 bushels of rice which cost me upward of 130 dollars to have thrashed and sent in mill. By the contract the Freedmen were bound to thrash it but I found it expedient to remove it myself and have it thrashed at my own expense. If each of the 47 contracting freedmen had planted but one acre apiece and cultivated it and if each acre had yielded but 25 bushels my third of the produce would have been greater on a fair division than the amount which I did receive. Many of the contracting Freedmen had wives, sons and daughters making all together I believe over 60 full hands. I have the testimony of neighboring plantation owners and factors that under ordinary cultivation my land produces from 45 to 55 bushels rice per acre

Transcription Notes:
the two unknown words in brackets are the same word-