[undecipherable] Springfield Dec^r 24 [undecipherable] [undecipherable] ur Workmen are dayly coming in we can not imploy them to So much advantage as I Should wish untill w have a pattern to work by, our workmen are not at all pleas^d with their accommodati I hope S^r you will direct M^r Ames our Superintendent to repair the public Building formerly used for a Laboratory which is not used for that purpose now but onley to ho [undecipherable] Publith [undecipherable] I wish it may be [undecipherable] fitted up [undecipherable] workmen and [undecipherable] person or persons [undecipherable] them, it would be a great Saving as the wages given for [undecipherable] men [undecipherable] for them to spend mu[undecipherable] of their [undecipherable] king, S^r I Requested in my former Le[undecipherable] for a house for my family & S^r I now [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] renew it again, I Should '62 be glad to know if I am to Draw Rations as the other workmen I am S^r your most                         obedient Humbel Servt                                         Robert [undecipherable] Maj^r Samuel Hodgdon [Received fr State Nov [undecipherable] S.F.] [(162)] --- [Address leaf:] Dec 24 Maj^r Samuel Hodgdon Esq^r [(162)] Superintendent of Military Stores Philadelphia [undecipherable: probable reading: Rec^d Secretary's Department] [upper right, partially illegible: undecipherable] 30 [undecipherable]