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It is with pleasure that I am able to state that the freedmen of this & Polk Co have been self-sustaining with one exception during the entire year. the exception alluded to above was caused by the breaking out amongst them of that terrible scourge small Pox. the mortality in this town was very great. and the citizens of the County & town had to furnish aid to a great extent. I am happy to state the disease has entirely disappeared.
It is with regret that I inform you the crop of cotton of this & Polk Co will prove almost an entire failure the Worm is destroying the Crop in Polk & the incessant rains for the past three weeks in this Co has rotted to a great extent the cotton in the boll. The knowing men of the county put down the yield not to exceed one thousand Bales for the entire county,
   I have conversed with many of the freedmen on the subject of Schools. they all seem of one opinion. they cannot afford to pay for sending their children to school and evince no very great disposition to do so under.