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18

at any time last month. The contracting for this year is mostly for a share of the crop. The employers find everything except provisions and give the laborers half of the crop. When they find the provisions the laborers get one third of the crop. The number of contracts written and approved during the past month at this Office has not been large. Twenty eight includes the whole number. Large numbers come in for advice about making contracts, who do not afterwards come to have them approved."

Jno L. Fowler Supt for Wayne Co. thus reports "The feelings of citizens toward Freedmen and the Bureau not as favorable as heretofore."

Wm. Lowry, Supt Warren Co. reports Feby 11th 1867. "The state of affairs of the Freedmen are not very flattering concerning schools and churches. There being none in operation at this time owing to the scarcity of money and hardness of times. The Freedmen are now entering into contracts for another year independent of my approval feeling themselves free to act. I give them my council when called upon by them.

They have wound up their last years contracts with but very little litigation.

I have informed them of their chance of