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supply those that were distitute. But such has been the loss of hogs either by the colored or hog thieves that the county generally is more destitute of meat now than last year. Man can live on Bread, but its a poor living. The fall of the price of cotton will render it exceedingly difficult for even a great many planters to get their meat.

The negros generally have secured homes. In fact I know of none able to work that has not engaged for the year.

My opinion as to how this distribution should be rationed is that it ought to be done with mony & not with the distribution of rations.  When rations are sent here it is utterly impossible to distribute them as they ought to be.  Every widow, because she is a widow, whether she has corn or meat or not will say that she is as much entitled to them as her neighbor widow, & even sworn it.  And the agent will let her have the consequence is that those who could do without it get equally with those who are entirely destitute.

Another reason why mony & not rations shd relieve the people is [[strikethrough]] because, [[/strikethrough]] because the county is so much in debt for provisions bought for the poor in 1865 that it cant pay the freight on rations from Demopolis up. And people will not advance it & look to the county for it.

$4000, in cash judiciously & prudently