Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1855-12-29
THIRD ANNUAL REPORT.

In presenting the Third Annual Report Of tho
Refugee Home Society, the Executive Committee
would acknowledge the goodness Of God, for the
measure # which has attended their abors-
for the social, moral, and physical improvement Of
the people for whose benefit the Society exists. %
The families who have avaed them selves of the
benefits proiered by the society were most Of them
destitute of everything but existpnce--many of
them being direct from the land of unpaid
toin v
In going upon their new home, they had there
FORE every necessary to Iroyide for thcmselves.-
Their provisions to be bought, their houses To
be erected and their lands to be cearedall by the
dnt of personal toll.
The first settere are now reaping the fruits OF
these hardshps, and priyatons,in the possessuniof
improved homes, pleasant gardens growing orchards
and increasing stock. They send forth their little
ones to drink at the fountain of knowledge, and
worship under their own vine, and none to make
them afraid 'aHT H
! The amount Of land owned BY the Society is two
thousand one hundred and eghtysix acres. These
lands are located in tie Townships cf Sandwich.
and Maidstone, LAYING near the Great Western
Railroad )" distant from Detroit from seven to
eighteen miles These lands are divided into
eghty-eigGt farms, about one half of which are in
various stages OF improvement. The Society are
also negotiating for other lands contiguous to these.
for which, deeds will be secured as soon as they
shall be surveyed.
The number of names on the catalogue of solc-
tiers nearly equals the number of farms now in
the Scccty's possession.
As the price of land in Canada is constantly in
creasng and families are constantly arriving
from slavery, it is of the first Importance that the
Society should make large additions to theiranded
possessions At an early date. But this can be done
only ly an increase of funds for which the Soci-
ETY. dependent on the muntce nee Of the hu-
name and the benevolent.
Many families have been delayed from settling
upon their farms by reason of the heavy rains Of
the past season others in consequence of extreme
poverty. s
So much improvement has been made Ly the
first settlers, that most of them viii be able to sup
port their families in future from he fruits grown
upon their new homes. With few exceptions. the
people have characterized themselves commen-
cable fir industry, spbriety, and morality. f
large and successful school has been kept in q
fourshing condition during most Of the year.
The Society were happy in obtaining the services
of the matronly and worthy teacher, Mrs LauraS
llaveland, nearly two years ago, wEo has been our
principal teacher up to recent date,
The Society have also commodious schoohouse
nearly completed on the Puce River. And they
will need to erect another on the Bell River, the
coming summer.
Besides attending to the educational interest ot
the settlers Agent has assisted in the support
of several schools not the Societies lands, and
therefore not under their immediate control. lie
has also distributed large quantity OF garments.
and other comforts, forwarded by the benevolent
from various parts of the country which has
prevented and alleviated much suffering among
the newly arrived and needy refugees.
Another years experience has fully demonstrated
the feasibility and excellence Of our enterprise
and furnishes reasonable encouragement for its
continued prosecution