Viewing page 46 of 245

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

292

Oct 10.

Mr. J. N. Murdock
Wellsville, Nottoway Co.
My Dear Sir:

Your communications to Judge Underwood with petitions from colored citizens have been referred to me by Gen. Brown, Asst. Comm'r to whom the Judge had handed them. I am instructed to correspond with you that you may more fully understand what the Bureau can and cannot do.

1 We are not at liberty, by law to appropriate anything for the support of teachers -- their salaries coming wholly either from charity or from tuitions.

2 The appropriations for single school houses in country places must bear a proper proportion to the means at our control and the whole work to be done. Forty five school-houses have cost the Bureau, on an average $130 each, -- the rest of the expense having been borne by the freedmen or local friends. Our means are becoming very restricted and we could not venture beyond