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180 Head Quarters Dist of Alabama Montgomery Ala Sept. 1st, 1866 [[Left margin]] Howard 176/188 [[/Left margin]] Major Gen'l. O.O. Commissioner &c Washington D.C. General Since my return, I have been carefully inquiring into the Condition of affairs here, and I find it the prevailing impression that so general is the failure of the cotton crop in this State that the yield will not exceed, two hundred and fifty thousand bales, or not much more than one fourth of the crop of 1860. The corn crop has suffered even more severely, so that then counties which have heretofore been the grainaries of the State will this year have none to spare while the aggregate yield will not supply the State beyond the first of March next. The freedmen share in the general mishap, very many of them having chosen to contract for part of the crop, and others suffering from harsh measures to drive them away before their wages are due. The last Legislature refused to make labor a lien upon the Crop or to except the wages of laborers, either white or black, from the operation of the Stay law, both which, refusals are a severe disadvantage to the laborer, though counteracted to some extent by competition. Sincere apprehension, also on account of the failure of the crops, is felt for the fate of the poor this coming winter. I do not think the number of destitute will be materially measured, for there will in my judgment, be work enough for all the able bodied but there will be a general inability to provide for those who are the proper objects of public care. Another feature is, that very many farmers, having but little money, planted a crop this year much larger than their means would warrant. The fractional crop which these persons are securing will frequently not meet their indebtness, on account of it, leaving them nothing to live on, or to begin again with, unless they sell their homes. It is difficult to see which way they are to turn. A large number of Northern men settled in this State at the beginning of this year. These have met with more than average sucess, though there are instances of total failure, usually from some cause which would have the same effect any where. 181 But a single instance is known to me in which one of them was seriously molested and he returned in a few days to his farm. The quantity of land in market for the remainder of this year is for reasons above given likely to be equal to that at any former time, and the opportunity for planting is in my judgment an excellent one. Educational interests continue to prosper in the State, receiving increased cooperation from Citizens who are well disposed. Opportunities for new schools occur every week or two and they are improved as our circumstances permit. Some of the schools are now closed for vacation, but our rolls show Eight School Districts comprising fifty one (51) teachers, in twenty two (22) different counties, and with an aggregate of three thousand one hundred and thirty (3130) scholars. As cold weather comes on these numbers will probably greatly increase. The plan followed in every instance is to exclude no one, but to collect, a small charge from those who are able to pay. By this means the actual outlaw is greatly reduced, and the schools put in a way to become self supporting. At Evergreen Conecut County a school house was burnt down some time since by an incendiary. The Citizens, at once held a meeting and tendered their cooperation to rebuild it, by which principally it has been affected. The school went on without interruption. Night schools for adults are also becoming quite common, very few of these have any connection with the Bureau. Some time ago, I as inclined to attempt to close up the Hospital Department. But in the entire absence of poor houses or anything to take their place it seems impossible to do so. At the Hospital at this place, for instance, there are Sixteen White and Sixty seven colored persons who have no where else to go. Eight persons of this class have come there within a month, in a moribund condition. Among those treated within the month past have been three Confederate Soldiers, one of whom recovering enlisted in our Army.
