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this County.
I attribute this Exedous to the system of labor which has been very unsatisfactory to the Freedmen. They have labored for wages varying from six to seven dollars per month, or have been promised one fourth of the crop raised - in either case they received as a rule no money the mere pittance allowed them being more than swallowed up by the wants of their children and wives I have heard of several instances
of the Freedmen being $30 or $40 - in debt at the end of a years labor. This scarcity of labor is beginning to alarm the Planters; it- is also giving the Freedmen good opportunities to choose whom the best of guarantees that they will in further receive fair treatment.
Planters who last year worked from fifteen to twenty hands have not, and cannot get more than half that number - some who have the name of misusing their laborers are almost destitute of servants - Freedmen who are still unemployed are  
offered ten dollars per month. many earlier in the season contracted for Eight Dollars per hrs. an increase over the prices of last year of four dollars.
The evil of payment for labor in part of the Crops, is still  very general; and until done away with, I do not think the Freedmen can improve materially.
Very Respectfully
Your obt. Servant
Geo T. Cook
1st Lieut V R C & Asst Supt.