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Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands, 
Headquarters Assistant Commissioner State of North Carolina, 
Raleigh, North Caroline, July 24th, 1866.

Circular, 
No. 8. 

In order to provide homes and employment for such families of freed-persons, now living in or near camps under control of this Bureau, as are likely to become dependent upon the Government during the ensuing winter- the following course will be pursued. 
Superintendents of Districts, immediately on receipt of this Circular, will, both personally and by their Assistants, make a thorough inspection of every house occupied by freedman in or near their camps, ascertain the resources of each family, and endeavor to satisfy themselves as to the ability of each family to maintain itself next winter. A register will be made of all families which in the opinion of the Inspecting Officer are likely to become a charge upon the Government, and forwarded to these Headquarters. 
Every means will also be take to notify planters in counties adjoining the camps that such a number of laborers, as show by the Registers, can be procured at fair prices, naming the camps where there can be found, and that any laborer hired at the camps will be transported, without expense to the employer, to the railroad station or steamboat landing nearest his plantation. Care will be taken to have contracts made in duplicate for each laborer or sett of laborers before they leave the camps, one copy of each contract to be filed with the officer of the Bureau nearest the employer's farm. 
Whenever, under the provisions of this Circular, work is offered any freed-person of family of freed-persons likely to become dependent upon the United States authorities, by suitable and responsible persons and at fair prices, the freed-persons to whom work is offered will be induces, if possible, to accept the situation proposed. In case they refuse to work, they will be told that under no circumstances will further assistance be given them by the Government,