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Office Supt. B.R.F.&A.L.
Mobile Ala Jan'y 16th 1866

Bvt. Col. C. Cadle Jr
A.A. General &c
Colonel

I would respectfully request of the Gen'l that an order be issued by him establishing a uniform ration for the Freedmen in this State to be furnished by the employers.

The employers instead of furnishing a common table for their laborers, give them a certain allowance per week each.

This allowance varies with different men, but is nearly as follows,

One peck of Corn Meal (12 to 14 lbs) 3 1/2 to 5 lbs of meat and one pint of molasses per week. This ration is not sufficient.

The planters generally keep a stock of goods and provisions on hand for sale. Upon these they make a large profit and in many cases they will bring the negro in debt to them at the end of the year, because the Negro must buy something to supply the deficiency in the ration.