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827

distribute food supplied by the Bureau. It is therefore, without some further action of the Legislature, impossible to make use of the machinery used by the Governor as you wished. There is no doubt however, that the Legislature, which will meet in November next, would favorably consider any proposition on this subject you may make and gladly co-operate with you. There is unfortunately no question as to the destitution in the Northern part of the State. The suffering, already very great, is constantly increasing, and unless aid is extended by the State or United States the Country must be depopulated or the people must Starve. The condition of things is not attributable, as has been stated in the newspapers, to the improvident habits and laziness of the people, but to the severe drought of the past season. Enough Corn was planted, had there been an ordinary season, to have abundantly supplied the wants of the population. Should you deem it better not to wait the action of the Legislature, I can secure the services of the same Agents employed by the Governor, under whose management the business was very successfully accomplished. The corn costing, delivered at different points on the Rail Road from Chattanooga to Atlanta about, 96 cents per bushel, being worth in the market, at the twice at least