The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-10-21
What the Negro Bureau Cost the Country
Onicial Statement Of Its Expenses.
WAR DEPARTMENT, BUREAU REFUGEES, FREED
MEN AND ABANDONED LANDS,
- MASHINGrnN- ID. C. Sent. 30 lS6Q- |

WAR DEPARTMENT, BUREAU REFUGEES, FREED
MEN AND ABANDONED LANDS,
WASHINGTON, ID. c., Sept. 80, 1865.
Brevst Brgsder Gen. o. Brown, Assistant Commissioner
SU-ln answer TO your communication, | have
the honor to state that there has been expended
from the appropriations made by Congress for the
support Of this bureau since its organization to
January l, ls6s, 81 1877 1854 3S. From the amounts
received from what has been termed refugees'
and freedmen's fund.-" which accrued before and
since the organization of this bureau, from the
rent Of abandoned lands, sales of crops taxes and
tuition, sale Of Confederate States property, and
81 55S 034 10. Total expenditure to January d,
1865, IS, 955, 1888 40.
OF this amount $500 900 was set apart for the
relief of the then pressing restitution in the
Southern States, by act of Congress of March,
1867. Fifty thousand dollars was transferred to
the agricultural bureau for the purpose of furnish
ing seed to INDECENT farmers in the South, without
distinction of color.
All subsistence, medical supplies and quarter
masters stores issued to freedmen prior to July
/, 1866, were not charged to or paid for by this
bureau, but were furnished by the commisssry,
medical and quartermaster departments, and ac-
counted for in the current expenses of those sew
eral departments, and included in the expendi-
lures OF the war department for those years. They
amounted TO 1880, 7SS ".
Since that time oil supplies of that kind have
been furnished and paid for by this bureau from
the congressional appropriation, and are included
The largest portion of the subsistence and med
icsl supplies and clothing furnished since July l,
1866, has been obtained from the commissary, med
ical and quartermaster departments, for which
those departments have been reimbursed from
the appropriation for the support of this bureau.
In estimating the expenses Of the government
this amount is included in the appropriations for
and expenditures by the war department, and in
the exhibit of the total expenses should not be
charged to this bureau, or II charged there should
be deducted from the expenditures of the war de-
partment.
furnished has been issued to the destitute whites
in the Southern States, particularly In South Caro-
lima, Georgia and Alabama, as you will perceive
BY reference TO the statistics il the annual reports
Of the commissioners.
During the present year rations have been issued
only to relieve the pressing necessities Of old,
infirm and sick psupers, whom the local authori.
ties have failed either from neglect or want of
means to provide for. The number has been con-
siderable. In the States of Louisiana, South
Carolina and TO limited extent in Florida and
North Carolina, upon the urgent application of
citizens of all classes representing the restitution
of the people. supplies have been furnished to
white and colored farmers to enable them to cul-
tivate their lands. Payment for these advances
has been secured by taking lien upon the crops
No gratuitous issue has been made, except TO
paupers or destitute sick In hospital, and the in
mates Of orphan ssylums.
The expenditures from Jan. l, 1865, to Aug l.
1865, were 50 029 1897 80, which makes the total
cost of the bureau from its organization to Aug.
i, ls6s, 81, 935, 25S SO.
By an act of Congress passed in July last the
operations OF this bureau are to be withdrawn
from all the States on the LIST day of January next
am, SIR, very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
F. d. SEwALL. Acting A. A. G.