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0009
246 22/67

Bureau Ref F'men & Aban'd Land,
Office 4 Div. 9th Sub Dist Va.
Stanton Sept 30/67

Bvt Brig Genl O. Brown
Asst Com'r District of Va.
Richmond (Thru Hd Qr. 9 S. Dist Va)

General, 
In compliance with the requirements of Cir. Order No. 6 Series 1866 (B.R.F&AL) I have the honor to report a condition of Bureau affairs in this Division (Counties of Augusta & Highland) that Freedpeople are peaceable and generally industrious, while employment is readily procured at fair wages. While this is the rule there are of course exceptions- some Freedmen are restless or indolent and many employers are not disposed to treat with entire fairness the laborers they hire. This is becoming more apparent as engagements for the crop season or year come to a close. and disputes arise (now frequent) on the settlement. The system of long open accounts with Freedmen is a door wide open to admit cheating. The laborer cannot get his money from the employer but his family must eat and he takes Bacon, Flour &c for which he is charged store prices, while for Sugar &c or clothing he must accept orders on some storekeeper who charges his own price & quantity and even if these are fairly charged he is not able to keep an account and without knowing it he spends all his earnings - During the past month

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