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[[-ian]] employment. 
For the present I have abstained from any extension of the Agency system, until a definite basis should be furnished by Legislation and the adjustment of military forces. The foreshadowings of both these I have studied with much care, to be ready to meet them when they shall occur.
During the month past considerable proceedings have been had under the Executive Order of 11th Novr last. The Selma Iron Works presented a claim to Maj Gen Thomas for part of the property sold at that place by the Treasury Agent, of which mention is made in my last report. Gen Thomas directed Gen Woods to restrain the delivery of the property in dispute. Gen Woods knowing nothing of the particulars restrained the whole. He was absent immediately after, but measures have been taken to have the discrepancy corrected, and the claim decided on. I have preferred referring all such claims to him to deciding them myself, as I desire to keep the Bureau from all property entanglements, indeed I only regard this kind of revenue as a [[?]] resort.
Bvt Lt Col E. Wright Paymaster, Disbursing officer was sent out early in the month to visit and dispose of the Briarfield Iron Works, touching which I have received some instructions from you. On the   inst, he sold the works at pubic[[public]] sale, to F.S. Lyon and associates, for forty five thousand dollars ($45,000). This price was in some

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respects low, yet it was about five thousand dollars more than I thought the works would bring. No  money was exacted at the time of sale, which is not altogether satisfactory, but the conditions of the whole matter made this the best that could be done. I append a copy of Col Wright's report. A communication received yesterday from Mr Lyon states that he has the purchase money nearly all ready, and from the high character of the parties I presume we shall in a day or two be in receipt of it. It was ordered by Col Wright, with my sanction, that all the property sold by the Treasury Dept should be regularly accounted for to the Collector at Mobile, leaving that officer to settle with his own Agents and pay over the sale proceeds to the Bureau. But the Briarfield fund, a single large item, we thought best to secure without deduction leaving the attendant expenses to be paid by the Collector, by whose order they were incurred.
Upon receipt of the order which kindly secured to us the three vessels known at the "Blockade runners" I directed Capt Kerr to proceed to Mobile receive and dispose of them under the advice of the Genl Comt. Dept. The vessels and some other property have been received and advertised. Here also we encountered a claim to one of them which I referred to the Comt. Genl for adjudication. Gen Woods is also kind enough to procure a naval appraisement so that we shall now before the sale what they are worth.