The improvement of the land that is redeemed and put in good order for the farmers on Eustice Place, including the houses, is worth about three thousand dollars. July 20th, 1894.
At that time we endorsed on this report the following:
August 4th we inspected this work and found all well done, but we found several buildings that Barnwell had begun were not mentioned in his report because they were _not finished_ when he made it. Houses and ditches give evidence of good practical work.
From two plantations on St. Helena's Island Rev. D.E. Washington's report shows 32,331 feet of ditching, two houses built, four repaired. The close of his report has this:
To the Red Cross officers: We, the undersigned sufferers, return a vote of thanks to you for the goodness you have done for us by giving us ditches to save our crops. The value to us is $2000.
D.E. WASHINGTON, _Agent of the Mary Ann Chaplin, Tom Fripp and Village Plantations_.
I find this observation on the back of this report, after a visit to look at his work and to speak to his people:
August 13th, 1894, went over this work in part. The ditches are doing excellent service and have been of great value to the plantations during the wet season. It may be that the width of the ditches is hardly sufficient in all places, but the condition of the people is most gratifying, and the work of Reverend Washington has been markedly unselfish.
On reaching his place we learned for the first time that his own house, a large plantation building of former years, had been burned just before the storm, and he has since been living in his stable. This personal loss he has never mentioned to the Red Cross people, although his duties as committeeman brought him in contact with them every week for nearly a year.
From the mainland Rev. Wade Hampton, in returning his tools, after making nearly one mile of canal and ditches, and 330 feet of causeway, says:
We, the committee on said places (Chaplin, Fripp, Toomer, and Tom Rhodes), return our sincere thanks to you for the rations and the tools to work with, for it was just the same as if you had given us a hundred dollars apiece. This is to the Red Cross, by your committee. Most respectfully,
WADE HAMPTON, _Agent Chaplin Plantation_.