Viewing page 78 of 255

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

I seriously apprehend that a few mouths well show the destitution of this District to be nearly as great as last year, and the means of the planters to go on to make another crop, not nearly as great as they were last year. If this is be so throughout the south, many will be entirely dependent on charity, and government will have to provide for them, and make advances to the planters, to enable them to make another crop. The continuance of the Bureau becomes a necessity as a reliable agency through which these advances and distributions may be made. More provisions have been made in 1867 than in 1866, but not nearly sufficient to afford work animals and laborers sustenance until another crop can be made.) [[strikethrough]] An unusually large rice crop was made in the District but the money necessities of the people have been so great it has principally gone to market. (5,000) Five thousand bushels of corn or its equivalent were gratuitously distributed in this District the past season. According to the best estimates I am able to get ($250,000,) two hundred and fifty thousand dollars were advanced by factors to planters of this District to make this crop, expecting cotton to net the producer, at least, (20) twenty cents per pound, when it doesn't average to net him over (12) twelve cents per pound.

As a consequence probably not over (75) seventy-five per cent of these advances will be paid. A few planters having paid all their crop are offering to surrender their animals and impliment to pay out. [[/strikethrough]]

Under these circumstances it is fair to presume factors will advance to very few next year, and I don't 

Transcription Notes:
REOPENED - Reviewer forgot to use [[strikethrough]]. Large X over the bottom right of the page - THIS MEANS "deleted". Use [[strikethrough]] format. The word 'planters' was repeated several times, I think it says planters but I am not 100% sure.