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State, where smaller rewards would answer an excellent purpose. As I said, uses for money multiply. I do not want to be extravagant, yet I feel bound to make to you suggestions which I think for the good of the work People would at least be careful of new crimes. 
Christmas has passed without the slightest difficulty being reported, so far. And so far no helpless Freedmen have been reported to me as having been turned out homeless, though I have occasional applications to take charge of such. There may be more at New Years, but the negroes seem generally willing to stay on the old home places and to care for their own helpless among themselves. We shall open no new colonies, unless perhaps one near Huntsville, and we are making some progress in inducing County Commissioners to take these we have.
We get no responses to our applications to benevolent societies at the North for teachers. We have several places where we could place Northern male teachers to advantage, and many more where we could use teachers selected here. 
I am General, 
Very Respectfully
Your Obt Servt

Brvt Maj Gen & Asst Comsr

Office Assistant Commissioner
Bureau of Refugees, Freedman 
and Abandoned Lands
Montgomery, Ala. Jany 2d 1866
Maj Gen O.O. Howard 
Commissioners &c
Washington, D.C.
General;

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I forwarded to you last week, my usual weekly report by mail. 
I then wrote you that Christmas had passed without any apparent disturbance. None has, since been reported, and the same may now be said of New Years Day. There was quite generally a changing of places, a good deal of confusion, and undoubtedly some suffering, but no such consequences as were apprehended on both sides. In Lowndes County, near here, the planters made a strong combination to hire no negro away from home. The freedmen stood it out until the planters gave way and they finally hired at random, at a little higher wages that were generally paid elsewhere. Fewer cases are reported of helpless ones turned out of doors than I anticipated. On the other hand, it is like moving a mountain to get these County Commissioners to do anything towards providing a poor house. As soon as the Legislature meets, I shall again attempt to compel them by law to do it. Such a bill was introduced a few weeks since but was finally laid on the table. Mr H.M. Cruickehank, the Commissioner appointed by the State, has reported and entered upon his duties, going first to Huntsville, whence he will explore South Alabama, and arrange the distribution of supplies to the really needy. He will also have in view and address the other objects of the Bureau. He is an active and apparently an excellent man. His salary and travelling expenses are paid by the State. To be there to be on the safe side, the estimates sent in were finally reduced to thirteen thousand five hundred in all.

I have about given up the hope of receiving any accession of teachers from Northern