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

Shelby Iron Works Ala
July 13th

Chief of Freedmen's Bureau
Montgomery Ala

Sir,
As a large number of Freedmen are employed (by the "Iron Company" at this place) and many others by Planters near by, I have opened a Public School for the benefit of those Freedmen who may wish to educate themselves or their children. They are all poor, many with large families, while their wages are small. [[strikethrough]] and [[/strikethrough]] the necessaries of life very high viz Bacon 25 cts per lb. Flour 8 ct. per lbs- Meal $1.25 per Bus. This state of things keep the poor Freedmen from educating their

[[left margin]] Re'd July 31 1868 [[/left margin]] 

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