The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1865-09-05
Operations Or the rrcedmon,s B.rsa-.. : {.

Operations of the Frceslmsn,s Bureau,
The Freedmen's Bureau has ne.
ceived an official report from Col.
samuel Thomas, Of the operations of
tho office of the Assistant Commis-
sloner OF Freedmen for Mississippi, at
vscksburg, for the month of july.
According to this report, improve
ments are rapidly being made in Mis-
slssippi. The railroads are being re-
bulit, ro9ds and bridges repaired,
telegraph lines extended to the cities
and towns of the interior, and in
q short time communication will be
easier and much more rapid.
A tabular statement ACCOMMODATING
the report, shows that during the
month 11O, ITO rations were furnished
to treedmen, and 9,495 to refugees.
A calculation based upon the last Con-
tederate tax returns, and from esti-
mates placed on the number in the
several counties of: the State by Of
tcers and citizens, show the present
number of freedmen to be about 1OO.- :
O0O less than in 1861, or at the begin
ming of the war. Present number of
freedmen in State, 436, 600. Desti-
tute and in hospital, 84,649. It is
expected that 16, $40 will reimburse
the GoKernment for rations.
Col. Thomas, in speaking of the is
suing of rations, says:
''Meat and. meal captured from the
Confederates, have been the principal
articles thus issued, and are not the
regular rations prescribed by the War
Department. The amount of rations
issued to the whites is about the same
as that issued to the freedmen. Tie
issue to both classes will be rapidly
reduced during August and Septem-
Der, but it may have to be enlarged
again, during the winter months to
prevent suffering. No more rations
will be issued to people cutting wood,
and the wood-yaras will be clesed
during this month. More people are
engaged in this business than ever
before, but they can support them
selves. Not less than 5000 people
are cutting wood for the steamers on
the Mississippi River"
There are three orphan asylums
under charge of Col. Thomas, In re-
ference to which he remarks: 'sThey
are in good condition, and have as
many Inmates d can be accommo-
dated with the present buildings.
The people of the State refuse to
receive orphan children on the present
form of indenture, as it calls for six
months schooling. They are not will
ling to give more than three months,
and as general thing refuse to agree
to give any,"
The colonies of freedmen working
lands assigned them are all doing we'll
Col. Thomas says:
"Their crops are maturing fast. AS
harvest time approaches, reduce the
number OF rations issued, and compel
them to rely on their own resources.
At least ten thousand bales of cotton
will be raised by the people who are
conducting cotton crops on their own
account: Besides this cotton, they
have fine gardens and corn enough to
furnish bread for their families and
food for fheirq stock till harvest time
returns.
The Treasury Department has turn
ed over to the Commissioner all the
lands, houses and tenements heldk.by
them. This included houses in the
cities of Vicksburg and Natchez, which
were being rented from month to
month, and the plantations leased ia
nuary 1st, 1865. In this connection
Col. Thomas says:
Claimants are making great ex-
ertions to have their property returned
where it is leased, but not used for the
benefit of refugees and freedmen.
They agree that the Presidents pro-
clamation secures to them the proper
ty. and implies that all the property
held by the Government should be re-
stored. find it difficult to take pos
session OF any more property in the
State, as all the citizens have taken
the amnesty oath, with but few excep-
tions, who have applied for special
pardons. X X,