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districts it might possibly be less, but in all the larger towns & cities nothing less than this would be a fair compensation.

8  At many of the central points named where schools should be established suitable buildings for school purposes can be rented. At other points school buildings must be erected. It is estimated that 66 school buildings will be required by the first of October.

9  In answer to the question, By what means can new schools be organized & set in operation throughout the State? The answer the answer of the Sub asst Comrs is, By renting or erecting Suitable buildings, by employing and paying qualified teachers, & by sending into each county or district, a superintendent of education who shall canvass the field in person, converse with the people on the subject of Education, deliver public lectures & in every possible way excite an increased interest in the great work to be accomplished.

10th  There are but four Associations at present operating in the State of Ala viz The Am Miss Assoc. at Mobile, Selma Marion Talladega, Montgomery Athens [[Orrville?]], Tuskaloosa, Eufaula, Demopolis and Huntsville, The Freedmen's Aid Society of M E Church at Huntsville & Decatur. The W Chester Pa F Aid Society at Huntsville and the F A Commission of Eastern Ohio & West Pa. at Stevenson, & Florence.

The foregoing report embraces all the information which I have been able to collect with regard to the present condition and wants of the freedmen in the matter of education.

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In the present impoverished condition of the state, without any funds in the public treasury for the establishment of public schools, but little can be done during the present year toward the establishment of free schools throughout the state. The colored people are so poor and their agricultural & laborious interests so unsettled that they are utterly unable to help themselves. To secure to them the advantages of freedom and to fit them for useful citizens of the state every effort must be made to deliver them speedily from the slavery of ignorance. Had the work of education been more generally and thoroughly commenced at the close of the war, on the principle that through education only can permanent elevation be secured, the race might now be left to itself with safety to all concerned. Regrets however are useless. All that can be done now is to put [[strikethrough]] colored people [[/strikethrough]] into active operation every means for the education & elevation of the colored people of Ala. We ask therefore on behalf of these uneducated thousands the largest possible aid from the Bureau consistent with the claims of other states. We trust also that the plan of cooperation adopted by the State Board of Education & herewith submitted will meet your cordial approval.

With Great regard
Your obedient Servt
R D Harper
Supt Education
Montgomery Ala Aug.11, 1868

Alvord Rev. J. W.
144.
Chief Sup'. of Schools &c

Dear Sir,
(Copy of preceeding letter to Genl. O. O. Howard)
With great regard
Your obt. servt. R. D. Harper 
Supt. of Education