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120 342 Personal. Ketchum Bvt. Lt. Col. A.P. May 2nd, 1867. A.A.A. General, --\ Dear Colonel, In reply to your communication of the 1st inst. I have the honor to submit the following report- On December 28th 1866, Geo. Dixon addressed a communication to General Schofield in which he stated that he had made arrangements for the rent of the ground on which the Danville School buildings are located, and awaits for information as to the price at which the buildings can be purchased for by his Society from the Bureau. This communication was referred to Bvt. Col. Geo. B. Carse for report as to whether these buildings were required for any other purpose by the Bureau, and their probable value. Colonel Carse returned this communication with the following endorsement, viz: "Danville, Va. - January 7th 1867 - Respectfully returned - "The within named buildings, are not required for Bureau purposes, except the one used as an office by the Doctor. From the best information I can obtain, I believe the buildings in question would bring at public sale at least $1000.00 and probably $1500.00".- (Signed) Geo. B Carse Bvt. Col. and Asst Superintendent This communication was then forwarded to Major General O.O. Howard recommending that the property be sold to this Society at $500.00. General Howard returned it on Jan. 22nd 1867, with authority to dispose of this property under the Bureau Law, and on the 30th of Jan. Maj. White was instructed to turn over the buildings to the parties at the price named ($500.00). Mr Yardley Warner, the agent of the Friends Society was informed that if he so desired "he" could have free use of the buildings so long as the Bureau is continued, but that when discontinued the property might have to be turned over to the State Gov. School purposes as provided by Section of the Bureau Bill" - In reply to this communication the following telegram was received. "Please send to Col. Carse at Danville an order to lease the buildings to Geo. Dixon according to act of Congress &c as sent to me" - (Signed) Yardley Warner - for Friends Freedmen Association. It appearing from this telegram that the Society did not choose to purchase the property, Capt. Lacey was instructed to allow the Society to continue the use of the buildings free of rent. - Mr. Warner was promptly notified of these instructions. Subsequently, Col. Carse in a personal letter informed me 121 that Mr. Dixon wished to "purchase the buildings for his own profit," and that the freedmen wished to buy them. I informed him in a personal note that "in that case I would prefer that the Freedmen should purchase the buildings themselves," not intending to take them from the Friends Association so long as the Bureau should continue. - Col. Carse it seems acted immediately, on this personal note and on the 22d inst telegraphed me that he "had sold the buildings to the Freedmen"- I at once replied by telegraph that he would not consumate the trade until approved by me - and ordered the Rev. R.M. Manly, State Supt of Schools, to proceed to Danville and investigate the whole matter- On receiving the report of Mr. Manly (Copy herewith enclosed) I sent the following instructions to Col. Carse "The Government buildings at Danville will not be sold at present, the Friends Freedmen's Association will be allowed to continue their occupation as heretofore". I believe the best disposition to be made of the buildings, is to allow the Friends Society to occupy them as long as the Bureau exists, without rent. In closing up the affairs of the Bureau it can be determined, better than at present, what final disposition of them will be of the most benefit to the Freedmen. Col. Carse has given me trouble before by mixing up personal with official matters, but his untiring goal in the performance of his duties, and his usual good judgement in mannaging the affairs of the Bureau, make it on the whole desirable that he should be retained. The Freedmen of Danville are almost unanimously in favor of retaining him there; if you agree with me to allow the matter to rest where it now is, I trust no further trouble will arise. I am, dear Colonel Yours respectfully (Sgd.) O. Brown. Bvt. Brig. Genl. Vols Asst. Comr. Official Garrick Mallery A.A.A. Genl. 343. Telegram. May 3d 1867. Remington Maj. J. H. Bureau R.F. and A.L. Norfolk Va. 119/128 See Mr. Turner and get his lowest terms for furnishing one thousand bushels of white corn during the next fourty days - Ascertain also for how many pound per bushel he will grind the same. - answer by telegraph. (Sgd.) O. Brown Bvt. Brig. Genl. Vols. Official Garrick Mallery A.A.A. Genl.
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