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[[stamp]] THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF THE UNITED STATES [[/stamp]]

LAND AND COLLECTION OFFICE.

[[strikethrough]] MARKUS A. BELL. [[/strikethrough]] V. A. GASKILL. 
[[strikethrough]] BELL & [[/strikethrough]] GASKILL, & Thomas
Attorneys at Law,
AND REAL ESTATE AGENTS,
ATLANTA.....GEORGIA.

WILL GIVE SPECIAL ATTENTION TO 
Conveyancing, Examining Titles to Real Estate,
WRITING CONTRACTS, AND COLLECTING DEBTS.

One of the firm has been a Real Estate Agent in this city for fifteen years, and the other connected with him for several years before the war; and, from their thorough acquaintance with the place they are confident in assuring, by their Agency, decided advantages to persons wishing to Buy, Sell, Rent or Lease, Real Estate in or near Atlanta.

Office up-stairs, first building on Whitehall street, on the left going from the Railroad.

REFERENCES: Mayor and citizens of Atlanta; James Gardner, Augusta; J. W. Fears & Co., C. Nutting, Macon; Austell & Inman, John Livingston, N. York.

Atlanta, Ga., April 21 1866

Gen'l Tillson,
Augusta Ga.

Dear Sir
Yours of 19th inst has been received, denying my application for the building I claim on Peach tree St &c. You write that upon my statement the building is "the property of the U.S. as the successor by conquest of the property of the late Confederate States." The Confederate States never had the house one moment & never invested one cent in it. If giving the use of my land for two years, in consideration of having to account only for material & Govt cost & making transportation clear, if accepting the key since the surrender & giving my promise in writing to account to the State for the construction of the house, is all nothing then I have paid nothing. I consider myself liable to the state in law for that house. I accepted the key - the contract was executed on the part of the State & I have since rented it for 3 month to the U.S. authorities & taken rents. To be sure I have not paid over the money, but the liability has accrued. My interest may blind my eyes & blunt my conscience, but "under these circumstances" it is not "very difficult" for me to see & feel that I have improperly lost a house. I have not been trying to grab a house, without authority & right in my opinion. The war took nearly all comparatively & I have felt keenly & do now this last, needless disaster. (over)