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28 39 Montgomery, March 6th 1868 Benton Miss E.L. Tuscaloosa, Ala. Madam Yours of the 29th ult is at hand. You were correct in assuming that the Bureau were assisting in the great work of reconstruction by educating these freed men, but I am sorry to state that our funds for school purposes are running very low for year ending July 1868. Some $60,000 have already been expended by the Govt for educational purposes in this State but I fear not impartially distributed If Mr [[Blain? Blair?]] can obtain a proper building we can pay cash and if the schools are not turned over to a reconstructed state we will try to assist you after July. The fund for teachers salaries is entirely exhausted, very few having been paid for Aug & Sept and until further arrangements are made it will be useless to expect October salary. Should any means be provided to pay them I will gladly notify you. Now Miss Benton do not become discouraged nor allow yourself to think that you may not succeed, for the Almighty must crown with success the efforts that are being made to elevate these poor slavery degraded people. Encourage them to self reliance. More energetic work toward self improvement and self elevation. They must not expect that others are to shoulder & carry them up this high hill of difficulties, but must work themselves up gaining experience and strength at every step they will be the sooner [[crossed out]] be [[/crossed out]] prepared to act their part as citizens. 29 Hoping to hear of your success and the prosperity of the schools. I and Very Respectfully HM Bush Supt of Education 40 Montgomery Ala March 7 1868. Howard O.O. Major Genl. Commissioner I have the honor to transmit herewith tabular Statement of schools of this State for month of January 1868 Very Respectfully Your Obedient Servant H M Bush Supt of Schools 41 Montgomery Ala March 9 1868 Randal Mr. G O Randal Architect Chicago Ills Sir I find pigeon holed in this office several designs for schoolhouses with your name attached, but with out explanation, and write to sign for the expense of altering no 83 which I consider a model house so as to accommodate 300 pupils easily and 350 by crowding some, but preserving the excellent internal arrangements. We are poor very poor are just commencing the educational work in this state and are extreamly anxious to build here a model house but have a small short purse to commence with of 12 000 which we
