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T. W. Conway -

Presents to Genl E. R. S. Canby the final report of "Bureau of Free Labor" prior to its transfer to this Bureau.

Commenced without funds & could procure nothing except by cash purchase for the thousands of destitute Freedmen who were for'd by the Mil'y Comdrs for care &c. Secured & stocked at cost of $30,000 four House Colonies but does not say how he us'd them except "Sparks House"

"Colony" was worked by its proprietor, for some months, but being unable to work it further he turned it into my 'hands.'" Total No. of Freedmen & acres
No. of acres Total  9650
No. of Well dependents 1293
No. of sick Dp -  1902

Estimated value of crops $175,000
as the labor on these was forced, & none exempt except those physically unable, & no pay for it, it decreased the no. of vagrants. Considers the "Colonies" successful
Has had at no time over 400 vagrants.
Freedmen persecuted by Police but this trouble promptly checked by Dept Comdr.
The newspapers heralded the system of labor as a failure
  

  

Transcription Notes:
Unsure on price for 'estimated value of crops' (it is 175,000)