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NARA 346

County poor house, supported at the expense of the County. But our poor fund has been exhausted already, and where the money is to come from to support them the balance of the year I am unable to conjecture. We cannot levy an additional tax, and one-half the people cannot pay that already levied. Our County suffered very severely by the war-Sherman's army having passed through the centre on its way east, and through the northern portion on its return- and the drouth last summer cut the Crop down to less than one-fourth.

Those who are able are doing all they can for the relief of the poor, but they are few, whilst the needy are numerous. Before the war we never had more than five persons in the Poor House at any one time; now there is five hundred that ought to be there, and a great many of them would be there if the County had any means of supporting them. Men who we were rich then, are now beggars.
 
Permit me, through you, to return thanks to the "Southern Aid Society" for their generosity.

A. J. Frantz, Prest
Board of Police of Rankin County, Miss,
and Editor Brandon Republican

Transcription Notes:
---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-03-06 11:49:11