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suffering. The "Freedmen" of York Co rely to a great extent for sustenance, upon oystering during the winter season, but, the recent and prolonged severe weather has debarred them from employment and this together with the failure of crops last year, makes me look forward with great anxiety and fear, as to its results upon the colored people. In this connection I am pleased to report that the

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so far as it has progressed displays the fact, that there has been a gradual decrease since last census was taken of the colored population of York Co; for instance the village of Slabtown near this place in May 1864, had a population of nine hundred and sixty (960): by present census five hundred and forty (540). In the village of "Newtown" there has been still a greater decrease; the pressure is beginning to be felt upon them, and not a day passes but one or more families are removed to some neighboring county, a great many are removing of their own accord as they find that greater facilities are offered them elsewhere for obtaining a livelihood. Nearly all the better class are improving the opportunities presented for their removal leaving a class either very indigent and suffering, or 

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Side Margin: [[underlined]] Census [[underlined]] ---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-03-09 21:45:21