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The Sub district of Jefferson & Berkely Counties in which it is situated has been unfortunate in being changed backward and forward from one jurisdiction of the Bureau to another and also in its unsettled condition respecting the States of Virginia and West Virginia.  The legislature of the latter State which is supposed to be the proper authority over these Counties passed an act establishing a City Corporation at Harper's Ferry, and a Mayor and Council were elected but do not appear to have acted.  In the meanwhile the power of the County Sheriff and justices seems to be at an end.
   
There is really no established local government to be found,  no police exists, and no sanitary regulations are enforced.

There are about 500 freedpeople at this point including Bolivar and living in a [[strikethrough]] great [[/strikethrough]] state of filth, disorder and wretchedness though not much worse than the whites.  Very little can be done to improve the condition of the former until the latter are made to attend to their duties as individuals and citizens.  The fact that the recent Act of Congress does not apply to West Virginia renders the question of interference more embarrassing.  The sanitary condition of the place and of the tenement houses occupied by negroes is as bad as can be described.

The Actg. Asst. Surgeon at the post  Dr. Turner, a gentleman of considerable experience and intelligence, calls it the "Five Points of the South."  I recommend that Surgeon De Lamater, Chief Medical Officer be directed to visit this place as one requiring special inspection.

It is but proper for me to add that the miserable condition

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