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and as a natural result these families have been compelled to seek the aid and assistance of the Bureau, until the resumption of business which I am credibly informed will be in a very short time.

Twelve (12) out of the Twenty Six (26) Tobacco Factories have just resumed operations, affording employment to a large class of Freedmen, and within the next two (2) weeks, the remaining Fourteen will be at work, thereby relieving the Govt altogether from the necessity of such a large issue of rations, except to the aged and sick, which issue comparatively will be light. 

During the time this increased issue of Rations continued, I have taken every precaution possible to issue to none but those truly worthy, and to these only after minute examination of their circumstances, so as to relieve the Govt as much as possible from this unavoidable