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0449

object of charity comes in- The condition of the Freedmen in the county at large is not so satisfactory as I hoped - The high prices offered for Woodchopping through the Fall and Winter made laborers indisposed to accept such wages as farmers could afford to give and with no forethought many have put up cabins in the woods on verbal permission to live there for two years free of rent and have expanded labor enough to cultivate a small farm on a patch of ground in the woods where they cannot raise this year food for one hog- and then when farmers were willing and anxious to make written contracts for them to cultivate cleared land on shares. Now woodchopping has failed them(and in many cases they cannot get pay for work already performed.) There is much pinching and I regret to say theft is very prevalent, with the certainty that it will assume formidable proposition as crops in the fields ripen. When lands have been rented for money there is hardly an instance, when the first quarters rent due April 1st is paid but there is a commendable degree of forbearance on the part of most lessors.- I respectfully report as the condition of agricultural affairs in my Sub Dist. ascertained by [[?]] personal observation

as individuals and seeing this person of less consideration have ceased threats (never made directly) and I think time will bring its part of good understanding, if not good feeling-if the old political leaders do not seek to use the prejudice which undoubtedly exists, as a means of attaining popularity-The expectation that all the Bureau would be broken up immediately having been disappointed citizens are disposed to act fairly and I feel certain that if the Freedmen can have protection through this year their future is in their own hands.
Respectfully submitted

Yr obt servt
Mr. C. Jackson
Asst Supt

Transcription Notes:
---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-05-10 12:05:25 because NARA was missing and there were more than 2 [?]. Additionally, the original transcriber hit [enter] at the end of each written line, so that needs corrected. ---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-05-13 07:38:39 Thos P. Jackson, not Jns R. Jackson. Several other transcription errors corrected. ---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-05-13 14:52:11