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War Department, Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, Washington, December 4th 1867 Circular Letter General With a view of relieving the destitution in the large cities within your district in the most economical manner, the Commissioner directs me to invite your attention to the establishment of "Soup-Houses." Two of these houses have been put in operation in Virginia, at Richmond and Alexandria, and from the report of the Assistant Commissioner of that State it would appear that all destitutes (except those sick in hospitals &c) can be fed in this way at about one third of the expense attending the usual plan of issuing rations. The Commissary General of Subsistence