Viewing page 68 of 286

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

Joshua Cobb, Supt Montgomery Co, reports Nov 30th 66
The state of feeling on the part of citizens toward freedmen in a general way favorable.
The Bureau is not a favorable "Institution" with the community but becoming much better understood than heretofore.

As the year draws to a close, complaints increase as to the proper understanding or construction of contracts. Many col'd people who worked for a portion of the crop have adopted the idea that as the crop has been housed, there work on the farms for the present year should cease. Notwithstanding they were to work on the farm twelve months under the direction of the person contracted with. Many have not and probably will not have the Tobacco crop ready for market during the present year. And the col'd laborer who is to receive a portion of the crop is overly distressed for means wherewith to obtain the necessaries of life and in many instances dispose of their interest in the crop at a very reduced price. Under this state of things it appears to me that it would be in a general way best for the colored persons to work for wages. There is so much uncertainty in the crop (from drought and other causes) which