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122 
Headquarters
Bu. R.F. and A.L.
State of Texas
Galveston Jany 31 1866

177
Howard, Maj. Gen. O.O.
Comr &c&c
Washington D.C.
176./214.

Genl,
I have the honor to report that since the 10th of Decr I have visited the Lower Brazos, Oyster Creek, Old Cancy and Colorado Districts. These lands comprise the most productive and influential cotton and sugar growing portions of the state. They are Bottom lands of inexhaustless fertility and were formerly crowded with slaves.

I found that the planters under the stimulus of high wages were desirous to tilling their fields, and anxious to obtain the labor

The blacks were willing to work asking only that the promises made them by the planters be enforced by the Government.

Under these conditions contracts were made freely with the freedmen and approved by the Bureau on liberal terms. There is a great variety of contracts between them and their employers and much vagueness of terms.

When money wages are paid the rates range from eight to fifteen dollars per month in specie besides for the most part including quarters, food, fuel, Medicines and clothing.

In many instances, instead of wages a portion of the crop ranging from 1/4 to 1/2 according to the Special conditions of each case, is pledged to the laborers, and the instances are not infrequent where in addition to this high percentage of the expected crop, the planter boards and lodges his workmen gratis.

It is believed that the history of modern times cannot furnish a parallel to the high inducements held out to labor in this state. As a result, in the more orderly portions of the state, theft, idleness and vagrancy have almost become things of the past.

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At least 9/10s of the former slave population of this state are under contract for a year, and working steadily and soberly in the fields. Of the remaining portion that still hold aloof from a deep rooted want of confidence in the planter's promises the no is daily dwindling to a handfull in the whole state and out of about 400,000 freedmen only about 67 are now receiving Govt. support.

I am pleased to note in this connection that the power and influence of that class who deny to the black man his rights and liberties and seek to obtain his services without compensation is small and growing less. The immense profits realized, at present prices for cotton and sugar, have caused a competition for labor which in many localities has become a scramble and as the amount and quality of the work to be obtained from the negro depends very much upon the kind of treatment they received, the self interest of the land-owner combined with the higher and more humane motive of the General Govt induces fair and liberal conduct towards him.

Thus the distrust manifested by the negro towards his former master, and the antipathy of the planter towards his former chattel are lessening, and the concord between the labor and the capital growing more complete.

To the attainment of this end all my efforts are directed. From the reports of Agents and landowners and from the statements of the Texas Press, it is evident that during the month of January just closed there has been more agricultural labor performed, and more ample preparation made for a coming harvest than ever before during the same time in the state. This be it remembered happens in the first year of free labor, here. The labor of the state indeed is far inadequate to the demand that from twenty to fifty thousand more laborers could be absorbed at once, all those who are represented in different part of the South to be unemployed and starving could at once find work bread and wages in the rich bottoms