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Tuskegee Ala Dec 21st 1868

B D Smith
Opelika
Ala

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

Dear Sir
The freedmen of this place purchased two acres of land with a building 36 x 36 feet, sufficient to accommodate 400 persons which they have been using as a church & school house, named "Zion"  this is the most convenient point for a school for them in the town & vicinity. I suppose upward of one hundred colored children would attend school at this point. The Trustees of two Townships would unite in establishing a school here for the remaining year, but the freedmen are poor & have failed to pay for the property as per contract with Mr Jesse P. Fetter, the owner. They contracted to give Eight hundred dollars for the property, they have paid one hundred & fifty one dollars have in hand one hundred and twenty five, but will be unable to raise the remainder without assistance-  Cant they be aided with five hundred dollars so as to complete the payments & get a title to the property? which will serve them in the double capacity of church & school priviliges, let me her from you at once.

Jas S Caldwell
Superintendent of Ed. for M.C