Viewing page 13 of 89

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

I was relieved from the Bureau on the first of Dec by Genl Foster  as you are aware of, I, and others, regard it, as unfortunate  Col Sprague will likely replace me on his return has been absent some 3 weeks to St Augustine on a visit to his family as he informed me. Any one in my place would fail to effect the desired object. I still hold my place in the State have all the Schools under my care have  at present over fifty teachers and yet have never realized one dollar from the state fund  I have been paying off my teachers for the poor and indigent and half tuition up to Oct in the warrents on the Common School fund raised by taxing of the Freedmen from 21 to 55, this tax has been poorly collected and very uncertain when it will be, so I've no active resources yet a dollar for my own support and traveling expenses Yet, I am still carrying on my schools this year making them self supporting and my teachers have a "mind to work"; the freedmen took up the idea that as the state paid a part they could withhold with impunity & I believe they will appreciate it more when they pay for it

We need the assistance of the Bureau in helping us finish off houses - getting stoves - transportation for teachers as well the Supt's; for could I get transportation I might go out and get 40 teachers more and put them on plantations without any other additional expence 
for the little expended in education in Florida by the Bureau as there is no place giving such results

Yrs Verry truly
E B Duncan Supt
Ed Com Schools - fr'dn

[[notation]] D 8. R.F. & A.L. Vol 9, 67, [[/notation]]