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[[preprinted]] 460 [[/preprinted]] [[Footnote 1]] progress, and being desirous of becoming good citizens, showing that the labor spent on us was not thrown away. Therefore be it, and it is hereby resolved that we form ourselves into a society to purchase homes by joint stock, and for other purposes to be hereafter stated. Be it further resolved that we raise Ten thousand ($10,000) for the purchase of homesteads, and that the said sum be raised by the first of January 1865. And be it resolved, that this society shall be composed of the best and most reliable Freedmen in Lenoir County. And it is further proposed to raise the required amount in the following manner; namely two hundred and fifty men will compose the society, each to be assessed the sum of forty eight ($48.00) per annum, to be paid in monthly in statements of four dollars ($4.00) each. Signed Anthony Blunt James Hargate Ezekiel Blunt Committee. I am also endeavouring to purchase or rent for a long period the lands upon which houses have been erected by freedmen so that they may not lose what has been expended. The most important local interest of this kind is the Trent river settlement. The village was carefully laid out by Capt. James and now contains a population of near three thousand, all but about three hundred self-supporting. Although says Capt. James - "in interest a part of the city of New Berne it lies outside of the corporate limits and therefore came under no municipal regulations. I therefore issued an order erecting it into a separate municipality. I imposed a small tax upon the trades and occupations of the people, and a very moderate ground-rent upon the lots to raise a fund for meeting the necessary expenses of maintaining the settlement. They pay these sums with pleasure deeming them an evidence of citizenship. From the fund thus raised the Supt. Asst. Supt. a clerk, six nurses in hospital and some fifteen mechanics and laborers employed about the settlement are all paid. A good market is now nearly completed the stalls in which have been taken up before hand at high rates. It needs only the power to sell these people their lots of land to induce them to put more permanent improvements on them. The settlement as such is by all confessed to be well ordered, quiet, healthy and better regulated than the city proper." Education The quarter has been one of vacation rather than active work in this department. Still some progress has been made, and much done to prepare for the coming Autumn and Winter. Rev. F.A. Fiske a Mass. Teacher has been appointed Supt. of Education and has devoted himself [[Footnote 1]] Howard [[end page]] [[start page]] [[preprinted]] 461 [[/preprinted]] [[Footnote 1]] with energy to his duties. From his report it will be seen that the whole number of schools, during the whole or any part of the quarter is sixty three (63) the number of teachers eight five (85) and the number of scholars five thousand six hundred and twenty four (5624). A few of the schools are self supporting and taught by colored teachers. But a majority are sustained by Northern Societies; and Northern teachers. The officers of the Bureau, have, as far as practicable assigned buildings for their use and assisted in making then suitable. But the time is nearly past when such facilities can be given. The Societies will be obliged hereafter to pay rent for school rooms and for teacher's homes. The teachers are engaged in a noble and self-[[?ing]] work. The report a surprising thirst for knowledge among the colored people; children giving earnest attention and learning rapidly; and adults after the days work is done devoting the evenings to study. In this connection it may be mentioned, as a result of moral instruction, that five hundred and twelve (512) marriages have been reported and registered and forty two (42) orphans provided with good homes. Finances. The financial condition of the Bureau is clearly presented in the reports of Capt. James, who in addition to his duties as Supt of the Eastern District, has acted as Financial Agent, with the assistance of Capt. Seely A.Q.M. The duties of this department have been very great and have been faithfully discharged by these officers. In July, Col. Heston Agent of the U.S. Treasury turned over to the Bureau a large amount of real estate in Wilmington, New Berne, and adjoining counties, which had been leased for times varying from one month to one year. The collection of rents from several hundred lessees of tenements and farms has been a laborious work. But the examination and adjustment of claims for this property and the restoration of it in accordance with the President's Amnesty Proclamation has been more trying and perplexing. Nearly all however is now out of our hands, and unless a reexamination of these claims is forced upon us by application for rents on the ground that the property was not "Abandoned", we shall be able hereafter to devote all our time to our appropriate work. The following summary of operations presents the leading facts of the foregoing report. Receipts for the Quarter $44913.24 Current Expenses $4350.34 For Soldiers families from bounty fund $7977.25 Remitted to Treasury $215,584.17 [[subtotal]] $33911.74 Balance Credited October 1st $11001.48 [[Footnote 1]] Howard
