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[right margin] 78

Aug. 28 66

Rev. Mr. Grimes:

My Dear Sir:
We are struggling to place the cap-stone upon the educational system for the freedmen in this city, by the erection of a handsome and thoroughly appointed High School building. The primary and intermediate schools have already been in successful operation, and are fairly provided with school houses. There are already not less  than 150 colored youth in the city qualified to make the best use of the best advantages, and yet there is no possible provision for them without such a building as I name.

The Bureau will furnish the brick and some lumber for the proposed edifice. The American Freedmen's Union Commission will contribute $5000. The Colored people here are deeply interested, and will contribute liberally according to their means both of money and labor.

With these the proposed building can be erected. But it must have a fence and out-houses, setters for the lecture room and recitation rooms, desks for the school rooms, stoves and funnel, some philosophical apparatus, some maps and charts and a bell of about 400 lbs. weight.