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Bureau of Refugees Freedmen and Abandoned Lands,
Head. Quarters Supt. 8th Dist, State of Virginia
Wytheville, Va. March 31st 1867.

Capt. G. Mallery,
A.A.A.G.
Richmond Va.

Capt,

I have the honor to make the following report of Bureau Affairs for Wythe County & the Counties of Carroll Grayson Smythe, Bland, and Tazwell for the month of March, 1867.

The freedpeople in this Sub. Dist. I find have not the independence to demand higher wages than they receive owing to the fact, that they believe they would loose their present situations and be turned off without a home to go to, if they did so, and become entirely destitute. -

The wages for farm hands range from (8) eight to (12) twelve dollars pr month, and for females from (3) three to six dollars.

Taking into consideration the high price of food & clothing in this Sub. District, I do not think that such wages, as above stated are sufficiently remuneration, for the services they have to render.

The freedpeople to some extent feel an unwillingness, to enter into written contracts

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