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and never regarded by freedmen, being useless, of course, so long as they can neither be written nor read by those for whose benefit they are intended. 

It is my believe that, throughout my sub district very few written contracts have been made; although often and urgently recommended by Bureau officers.

Those who were satisfied last year do not care for them, and those who were dissatisfied are equally indifferent.  It is useless to expect better fruit than the mental growth of the freedmen will permit:  in their present condition they do not realize the value of and cannot usually be taught to make contracts.

Farmers complain much of the unsteadiness of labor.  This is, doubtless, to some extent true: but labor is demoralized by low wages - from 50 to 75 cts per day; by uncertainty of payment which keeps freedmen from making monthly or yearly engagements, by constant pressure and aggression of employers upon the laborer's share.  The county Sheriff remarked "The whites cannot pay and the colored people cannot live upon present wages."