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I had occasion in my last report as well as the preceeding one, to urge the necessity of the Bureau making some provision, for the issue of fuel during the coming Winter.  This article is almost as essential as food, a small issue to families, who are sick, and unable to purchase, would be an act of charity, and enable them to pass the severity of the Winter without suffering.  The application for "Rations is considerably on the increase.  Care is taken in the majority of cases, to have the certificate of the Bureau Doctor before issue, and in no case, is assistance afforded unless to the truly worthy.  Several of the Tobacco Factories have stopped working, and consequently a number of Freedmen are without employment.

Other description of work for the past few weeks has been difficult to procure, hence the increased application for rations is attributable.

I am firmly of the opinion from my own personal observation, that if employment was abundant, no application for rations would be made, but under the circumstances