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Hdqrs. Sub Dist. of Talladega
Talladega Ala Aug 3d 1867


Col. O.D. Kinsman
Sub Asst. Commsr.
Montgomery Ala

Colonel

I have the honor herewith to transmit a report of the operation of the Bureau R.F. and A.L. Sub Dist Talladega for the month ending the 31st of July 1867.  The working of the labor system is attended with much confusion and misunderstanding, it seems impossible for the employer to realize that the laborer is any other than a slave.  Many freedpeople are laboring for an interest in the crop and it to frequently occurs that a contention arises and desolution follows, in reference to the amount of cultivation [[strikethrough]]of[[/strikethrough]] the crop may require, there being no officer at this Sub District when the employer and employee were contracting for the present year and it is now very evident that many laborers contracted to perform more duty than the circumstances would admit, while the employers as a rule require of the laborer what history has no knowledge of, a class of people dependent only upon their labor for support, to labor for a small compensation, which they receive only in quarterly or yearly payments.  As regards the apprenticing