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Bureau R.F. and A. Lands
Head qurs 3d Div 5th Sub Dist Va.
Mathews Ct. Ho. Va Oct 31st 1868

Bvt. Brig. Gen. O. Brown
Asst Comr. Dist of Va

General
In compliance with Cir. No. 10 Series of 1866 I have the honor to submit the following report on the condition of Bureau affairs in this Division for the month ending October 31st 1868

Since my last regular report nothing has occurred in this Division affecting the condition of affairs, The freedpeople are generally engaged in harvesting the Corn, which being the principal staple for sustenance much anxiety has been felt as to quantity, So far as I have been able to learn, there will be a sufficiency for home consumption with little or none for market. The landholder being satisfied to cultivate no more ground than will suffice to produce bread for self family and help, prompted to this measure in the belief that is a poor policy for him to attempt to enhance the value of lands which in the event of the discontinuance of the "Stay Law" is to become the property of an uncompromising [[C?]] or greedy speculator. The freedmen in his desire to become the possessor of land is considerably exercised as to whether the Stay Law is to be continued or not. There are here as elsewhere throughout the State hundreds of acres formerly cultivated now lying out nill and unproductive which if thrown unto market would invite the attention of the Capitalist and by such be purchased, parceled out

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