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104 195 Hd qrs B R F & A L. State of Texas Galveston July 1. 1867 Howard Maj. Gen. O.O. Commissioner &c. Washington D.C. 182/197 General I have the honor to submit the following brief report of the operations of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands, in the State of Texas, for the quarter ending [[strikethrough]] the [[/strikethrough]] May the 31st 1867. On relieving Bvt Major-Genl Kiddoo January 24th 1867, I found on duty as Sub-asst Commissioners fourteen (14) officers and fifteen (15) civilians. These were all (with one exception) on duty in the southern part of the State, the farthest being on an air line, not more than one hundred and eighty (180) miles from the Gulf Coast. This had arisen (notwithstanding the most energetic efforts on the part of the former Asst Commissioner) from the fact that all Troops not on or near the Indian or Mexican frontiers were stationed near the Coast and the Agents of the Bureau were powerless unless in the vicinity of troops. The Bureau had hardly a third of area of the State and barely half the population of the State under its supervision. Reports poured in unremittingly from the remote parts of the State, of wanton outrages, robbery and murder. As soon as the troops were so distributed as to extend protection to every part of the State, the whole was divided into Sub Districts. Under an order from Head Quarters District of Texas all Post Commanders were ordered to report to me for duty as Sub-asst Commissioners of the Sub Districts in which their respective Posts were situated, and on the 31st day of May 1867 there were 57 Sub Districts, in charge of which were 69 Agents 38 of whom were officers and 31 Civilians, in a manner extending extending protection and redress to the most remote parts of the State. The majority of the Freedmen find employment in the great raising Counties in the Southern part of the State between the Neches and Guadalupe Rivers and on Red River in the North Eastern part of the State – about one third are 105 scattered over the grain raising counties in the East, Centre and North. Owing to the fact that most of the freedmen were without means to rent land and plant on their own account they were compelled either, I to work for their monthly wages as Farm laborers, or II to work for a portion of the crops. generally one third (1/3) the planter furnishing horses, tools, provisions etc. In the cotton planting portion of the State, nearly one half (1/2) the freedmen are working for a portion of the crop: the planters preferring to hire them in this way, to payment of flat stated wages - the incentive to care and industry being greater As they accumulate property, this system will be replaced by the direct renting of land, which is much preferable but is still above the means of the mass of the Freedmen. The numbers renting and farming lands on their own account are largely in excess of those of last year, and are constantly increasing. The reports show their farms to be as well managed, and successful as those of their white neighbors. In the grainraising, lumber and grazing bounties the freedmen are mostly employed as laborers at stated monthly wages. The average monthly wages for males is nearly ($14.00 Fourteen dollars in specie: of adult females $10.00 Ten dollars in specie.) The system of land relations to contracts for labor adopted by the last Legislature of the State is most vicious, and in violation of every principle of sound sense and justice. These laws permit the employer to himself fine his laborers, and to deduct the fine from their wages. Fines can be imposed for neglect, disobedience, loss of time, impertinence, injuries to property, feigned sickness &c. They further provide that in case the laborer refuses to work, he may be sent to jail and compelled to work on the public Roads, until he is willing to return to his employer, and his work. And if the laborer should leave his employer, no one else is allowed to employ him under penalty of a received fine.
