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Abbeville Alabama. November 19" 1868

R.D. Harper, Sup. of Education
B.R. F. & A. L.

[[stamp]] The National Archives of the United States [[/stamp]]

Dear Sir.

Your Circular is received. In the attemp to "make arrangements immediately for the organizing of free public schools" I find there are no School Houses in my county prepared for freedmen, and I am satisfied that none can be had, without aid from abroad. The freedmen here are too poor to do any thing toward School Houses. The white people are also poor, and most of them not disposed to do what they are able to do for that class or race of people. We stand greatly in need of help. What can you, and what will you do for us 1st in the way of securing School Houses, In this Town Sup No 7, Range 28 there are 100 Colored males & 90 Colored females. From 80 to 100 of those will attend school. A House sufficiently lare to accommodate them, cannot be procured here at an expense of less than $400, with land attached, this sum is perhaps the largest that will be required in the County. An estimate of 20 School Houses at the average cost of $200.00 is not extravagant. What can you do for us upon this estimate? I am not able to make any estimate as to monthly salary, as we have not as yet, learned what our dividen from the state fund will be. No licensed Teacher under the new law, consequently no engagments with Teachers.