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0935

families, with uninterrupted good health, get nothing more than a scanty subsistence.

6th.  The condition of the School at Harrisonburg is excellent, and the proficiency as rapid as can be expected.  At Woodstock, Mount Jackson, [[strikethrough]] and [[/strikethrough]] New Market and Edinburgh schools are required - At the first two places houses are provided, but the people are so impoverished they are unable to pay teachers - Efforts will be made to obtain colored persons, who may be competent for the work at those places -

4th Division - Augusta & Highland Counties

1st  the general condition of the people in this division does not perceptibly improve - As is other places, they are the dupes of heartless land owners, who with smooth words and pretended friendship, bind the freedmen by Contracts which robs him of his summers work and when winter approaches, with the diligence of his summers labors he hoped to have a competence for his family wants, but on settlement of accounts with his employer he finds himself not only without money, but actually in debt - As a sample of the way in which this is done I enclose a copy of a contract between William Hamilton (white), and Harry Miller (col'd) under which Miller worked the present year - On taking the Contract to Mr Jackson, Agent at Staunton, a short time   

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---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-11-06 12:15:57 ---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-11-06 12:28:53