Page:Annual report of the superintendent of Negro Affairs in North Carolina, 1864.djvu/33

Rh be gleaned in part from the statements already made. If by success is meant complete self-support, the question must be answered in the negative. Its insular and isolated position, far removed from any centre of population, the necessity of clearing the lots assigned, which were all wild land, the smallness of the garrison, furnishing but little employment to the people as laun-dresses, cooks, and servants, the partial failure of the shad fisheries, and above all, the transfer into the army of most of the laboring men, have made it necessary to feed the larger portion of the colonists at the expense of the Government. But this is done in obedience to military orders in the case of all wives and children of negro troops, and is to be considered a part of their compensation. In every other aspect except that of "rations," the colony has met and exceeded expectation. It has proved a safe and undisturbed retreat for the families of soldiers, who were nobly defending our flag at Petersburg, Charleston, and Wilmington. It has instructed many hundreds of children and adults to read and spell, and to value knowledge as the means of elevating them and their race, and assuring to them the blessings of freedom forever. It has made three or four thousand human beings useless as "chattels," by breathing into them new hopes and aspirations, and fitting them to go forth from this Patmos, where they have been inspired with the spirit of liberty, and teach the same divine apocalypse to their brethren, now in "Confederate" bonds. It has helped to develope the resources of a somewhat remarkable island. Here landed, in 1585 and 1587, two colonies of Englishmen, sent out by Sir Walter Raleigh, which became utterly extinct in the short period of two years, leaving only some rude fortifications now overgrown with trees, by which to recognize this first attempt to settle America from our fatherland. The Freedmen's colony has done better than Sir Walter's. Within a period of about twelve months, the settlers have built five hundred and ninety-one (591) houses, which, with the improvements made upon their lots, are estimated to be worth $75.00 a piece. One of them was recently sold for $150.00. Adopting the lower figure, here is a money value of forty-four