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cotton. This is especially the case with the colored race, and more particularly in those parts of the State where the largest colored population is found - the cotton growing region. Children who otherwise might be in school are found in the cotton fields. From my personal observation I am inclined to believe these remarks are true to a greater extent for the season just closed than for any former year since I have been in this State.

I have stated these matters fully as an explanation of what might otherwise appear in dimunition of the educational interest among the colored people of this State. Yet on comparison with the corresponding months of last year - the decrease will be seen to be less than might have been expected.

Table showing Inspection of Schools in the State of Alabama for the six months ending Dec 31st 1869

[[29 columned table]]

| No. Day Schools | No. Night Schools | Months 1869 | No. Schools Sustained by Freedmen | No. Schools sust'd in part by Freedmen | No. Teachers transported by Bureau | No. School Buildings owned by Freedmen | No. School Buildings furnished by Bureau | Teachers Whole Number | Teachers White | Teachers Colored | Pupils enrolled both Day & Night Schools Male | Pupils enrolled both Day & Night Schools Female | Pupils enrolled both Day & Night Schools Total | Average Attendance | No. Pupils paying Tuition | No. Always Present | No. Always Punctual | No. over 16 years of age | No. in Alphabet | No. Spell & Read Easy Lessons | No. Advanced Readers | No. Geography | No. Arithmetic | No. Higher Branches | No. Writing | No. Free before the War | No. Sabbath Schools | No. Pupils in Sabbath Schools |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|

| 29 |   | July | 1 | 4 |   | 1 | 28 | 37 | 26 | 11 | 653 | 866 | 1519 | 1110 | 450 | 721 | 663 | 106 | 213 | 850 | 316 | 138 | 318 | 48 | 319 | 12 | 12 | 1291 |

| 29 |   | August |   | 29 |   |   | 28 | 32 | 24 | 6 | 614 | 803 | 1417 | 1184 | 565 | 845 | 896 | 43 | 255 | 694 | 313 | 105 | 237 | 24 | 393 |   | 6 | 694 |

| 19 |   | September | 2 | 2 |   |   | 14 | 20 | 17 | 3 | 398 | 511 | 909 | 684 | 348 | 513 | 530 | 93 | 17 | 578 | 284 | 95 | 202 | 14 | 295 | 6 | 8 | 1068 |

| 15 |   | October |   | 2 |   |   | 10 | 27 | 25 | 2 | 464 | 619 | 1083 | 801 | 161 | 469 | 407 | 107 | 119 | 442 | 468 | 363 | 236 | 176 | 314 | 7 | 2 | 438 |

| 23 |   | November | 2 |   |   |   | 17 | 57 | 47 | 10 | 901 | 1209 | 2110 | 1663 | 362 | 732 | 578 | 162 | 351 | 849 | 901 | 865 | 978 | 76 | 750 | 14 | 13 | 1393 |

| 30 |   | December* |   | 5 |   |   | 10 | 60 | 50 | 10 | 1000 | 1500 | 2500 | 1800 | 400 | 800 | 700 | 200 | 400 | 900 | 1000 | 900 | 1000 | 100 | 900 | 20 | 10 | 1200 |

[[/29 columned table]]

Whole amount of Tuition paid by Freedmen during the six months $957.00

Whole amount of expenses for above schools by the Bureau during the six months $1155.90

Grand Total of Expenses for the six months for support of above schools by all parties $2112.90

* Estimated

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Our efforts for the last six months as far as the months preceeding have been mainly directed to securing school buildings for the future. For my reasons for this course I have only to refer to my last semi-annual report. The course therein described of applying rent to building school houses has been partially continued. As a result of that course not stated in my former communication Sixteen houses have in this manner been built in one county within the last year. The whole amount of the cost of these buildings was not paid by rents but a material post was, and I have the assurance that without such application of rents the houses, or the most of them, could not have been secured. This alone if evidence were wanting, has satisfied me of the correctness of my proceeding.

Since my last semi-annual report twenty three applications have been forwarded by me to the Commissioner for assistance in building or repairing school houses. Twenty of these application have been approved and work on each of them has been commenced. Eight of these have been completed and are now ready for schools. A number more will be ready in a short time. In two or three cases when application for assistance has been approved we may fail for want of sufficient title to land on which to build. In all cases where such assistance has been given I have endeavored to scrutinize closely the title to the land before commencing the work.

We have continued, as heretofore, to pay rent for school houses; but [[strikethrough]]am[[/strikethrough]] the amount of funds allowed so far the year ending June 30th 1870 will not be sufficient to meet all our wants- I have endeavored to confine payments of rent to places of greatest need. I have satisfactory evidence that in one county four schools were kept in operation for a number of months which would have been abandoned but for the small amount of rent received from us. A little money judiciously employed in this manner often accomplishes a great deal of good.

Since the 1st day of July each claims have been forwarded by me to General Balloch Chief D.O. for payment, as follows

For construction and repair of school buildings $16780.87
For Rent of School Buildings 2366.50
For all other claims 3412.57

Total $22559.88

Some of these claims existed prior to June 30th.

It was supposed by those favorable to educating the colored children that ample provisions had been made to secure them in all rights growing out of our school house. Experience showed that this was a mistake. The State Superintendent

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3-8-2021: Transcribed per guidelines (complete word break of last word of transcription) and marking for review