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corn on meal will be sent South for distribution among the Distitulies. It creates pauperism in the rural districts where there should be none and it increases it where it already exists. 
The Freemen are planting to more advantages than last year especially in gardening for themselves. The effort of this office has been to persuade them to do this. 
A great many are entering or desiring to entir Government lands. Giving to the condition of the U.S. Land Office in Mobile it is not believed judicious to advise them to enter land at present. The fee charged is livelue dollars whereas the law explicitly states but four should be paid on making application under the Homestead Act and five more when the patent issues. 
Applicants are put to the function necessity of paying Surveyors fees to the amount of 15 to 25 dollars, and often the surveyors never go to show them their tracts, but issue the cerificates from the maps of unoccupied land in the 
                                              (over)
Government Lands. 

Transcription Notes:
"Government Lands" is written sideways on the left hand side and underlined.