Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1868-01-15
The Ereedmen'S Bureau.


The annual report of the Commissioner Of
the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Aban-
doned Lands has just been published.
But little valuable property remains in the
possession Of the Bureau. During the year
10 ,624 acres Of farm land and 100 pieces of
town property have been restored to the Tor
mer owners The Bureau retains possession
of $50 pieces Of town property and 2l5,o24
acres of farm land. y great part Of this land
is unimproved, and does not yield any reve-
nue..
From the first of September, 1866, u the
first of September, 1867, the average number
of rations issued per month to refugees and
freedmen was $40, ga 81 ; average number
per day IL ,65S 1910.
In compliance with Joint resolution of
Congress provisions have been distributed in
the different southern states to the value OF
S445 1913 30
The total number of persons receiving re-
lief Is reported to be two hundred and thirty
three thousand three hundred and seventy
two (233 ,372 But as these returns have
been made monthly, the same persons have
been reported three or four successive months
so that the average number for four months
has been about tifty-eight thousand three
hundred and forty-three (58 ,343,) the largest
NUMBER tclnI III -tlSiitN -iNO litNUeiilQ
seven hundred and two (S2,702)
Of the whole number of rations issued.
coo .54S were to refugees, and ,, 504 ,629 to
freedmen.
The Bureau has furnished school-buildings
and transportation, while teachers, books,
&c, have been sent by benevolent associations
in the Northern States. \ more thorough
organization of the work has been effected,
and it - reaches not only the cities bat
the remotest counties of each state lately in
rebellion. The voluntary associations are
working tremendously with the Bureau; the
reports Of state supcrintendents indicate f.
deity, a more thorough knowledge of their
duties. and more earnest devotion TO their
work and the nearly two thousand teachers
at present employed give. with rare cxcep-
tions. gratifying proofs that the freedmen
may, before long, he safely left with such in
structors.
There are officially reported l $50 day and
night schools ; 2,0S7 teachers. and Ill ,422
! pupils; showing an increase since the last
report of $50 schools. 657 teachers. and
and 80 ,444 pupils.
Adding industrial schools and those - with
/ in the knowledge of the superintendent =
the number will be 2,207 schools. :, 442
teachers, and 1870. 1875 pupils; making total
Z increase of 90S schools, 49, teachers, and
40, 222 pupils.
Sunday schools also show much larger
numbers during the past six months the
figures being l26 schools and S0647 pu-
pills and if we add those - not reported,
the whole number of Sunday schools viii be
,46S, with l05, 1856 pupils thus giving an
increase since the last report of ESQ schools
and 80, l76 pupils.
General Howard remarks . OF he above
schools O56 are sustained wholly or in part
by the freedmen, and 39I of the buildings il
which these schools are held are owned by
themselves 600 of the teachers in the day
and night schools are colored and 3Se
white-a small proportionate increase of the
former during the six months % ,06S col
ored pupils have paid tuition the average
amount per month being $l4 ,555, frac
ton over 81 cents per scholar. Only G,9ll
of the pupils were free before the war.
This Bureau has supplied 42S of the schoo
buildings and furnished 975 teachers witt
transportation. The total expenditure fo
all educational purposes by the Bureau Ia.
been 1920, 1913 OIL.
Such progress as is seen under circum
stances, admitted to be unfavorsble the per
manency of the schools, scarcely one failin;
after having been commenced; the rapid in
crease of general intelligence among the col
ored people are matters of constant remark b.
E every observer. The hopes of the warmes
friends of the freedmen have been more thai
fulfilled.
The financial statement is as follows
Balance lon hand, refugees and freed
menS's fund $9i,2o3 3
Balance District of Columbia destitute
lief fund II, TO
Balance retained bounty fund 1892
, Balance school fund o,iSi J
Balance approximation fund .,4l3,06I
| Balance paw bounty and prize money 53l 725
Total balance on hand $s,o99,l5s
General Howard recommends
l. to discontinue the relief afforded by tn
Freedman's Bureau, if possible, when tn
term of the Bureau shall expire by law, eA
cept in the educational work, and in tn
settlement of such claims for back pay an
bounty to colored soldiers may remain {
that time unsettled.
2. To transfer the educational work of tt
, Bureau to the Department of Education,
: to some other permanent United STATE
It agency, which shall have ample power
h sustain and extend the present system, an
: also the transfer to such agency OF all 81
v reau funds unexpended next July.
). 3. To at once transfer the buildings erectt
h for schools for refugees and freedmen upo
}, land purchased by regularly incorporate
e institutions of learning, to the several co
porate bodies having these institutions
charge, upon condition that they shall col
d tinue the work of education therein ar
l. never exclude any person on account OF IA