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Mayor's Office,
San Antonio, January 26, 1867.
Bv't. Maj. Gen.,

J.B. Kiddoo.
Ass't Com'r Bureau R. F. & A.L.
Galveston, Texas.

The undersigned Mayor and Aldermen of the City of San Antonio, Texas, having seen your advertisement of sale of the "Government Tannery and Steam Saw Mill," near San Antonio, beg leave respectfully to make the following statement. It is believed by the undersigned that the purported sale of the described property to the so called Confederal States Government was a nullity - was without authority of law, without authority of a legal City Council, and against the wishes of a majority of the people of the City at the time. The history of the transaction so far as now understood is this:- Early in 1863, the agent of the C.S. Government proposed the purchase of the described property for manufacturing purposes. It met with much opposition in the Board of Aldermen, but after discussion, a resolution was passed authorizing a sale, providing manufactories were established within two years, otherwise it should revert back to the City. This proposition was not accepted by the agent, a good deal of feeling was manifested by those favoring the project, and many insinuations and threats made against the