Letter from William McBurney to Thomas B. Ferguson concerning operations at Dean Hall Plantation. McBurney writes that he is sending more mill hands that he contracted in a similar condition as previous laborers. He suggests to Ferguson, however, that instead of charging 75¢ for absences he could take some rations away as punishment and, conversely, up the rations for particularly good service. 2p. May 5, 1866.
Second letter of May 5, 1866, from William McBurney to Thomas B. Ferguson. McBurney asks Ferguson to finish the tax returns on Dean Hall and sends him a mill worker. The laborer has agreed to the $15 per month salary with rations "consisting of one peck corn, or ten quarts of meal and three lbs of bacon pr week and one quart of Salt and one quart of molasses pr month." 2p.
Third letter of May 5, 1866, from William McBurney to Thomas B. Ferguson. McBurney discusses the ongoing struggle to obtain a saw blade of the correct dimensions claiming the company he ordered it from cannot forge one because the proper sized plate "is on board the colera (sic) ship and cannot be had until she is permitted to discharge cargo." 2p.
