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271

Sep. 17 --
Gen. S. C. Armstrong
Agt. 5th Sub Dist:

Sir:

The papers relating to rent of the school buildings at Yorktown have been referred to me with the order endorsed that "after conferring with the officers of the Bureau and agent of the Society" I should 'recommend the amount of rent to be paid.'

I see no ground for differing with you, in your judgment that "Fifteen percent of proper expenditure would be a reasonable rent." Proper expenditure, however, within a fair rendering of the Bureau Act, could only relate to the buildings used for the purpose of instruction, and a lot sufficient for & play ground, say two or three acres. The 13th sec. of the Bureau Act provides that "The Commissioner shall hire or provide by [[strikethrough]] provide by [[/strikethrough]] bare buildings for the purposes of education whenever such Association shall, without cost to the government, provide suitable teachers" &c. The usage, without exception, so far as I know, at these head quarters, has been to pay rent on