Page 59 - The Great Famine in Cape Breton, 1845-51

ISSUE : Issue 58

Published by Ronald Caplan on 1991/8/1

tribution of supplies. They would take repayment notes from those re? ceiving aid, which notes would be repayable to county treasurers. Reimbursement was to be in cash or road work, the amount to be de? cided by justices of the sessions. The amount designated proved in? adequate for Cape Breton; in 1847, the House Committee appointed for Relief for Poor Settlers declared that they could give aid only where need was "almost universal." ??600 extra was thus voted for Cape Breton County, ??350 for Inverness, and ??300 for Richmond. It was intended that this money would be repaid by road work, but it was still inadequate. The magistrates of Cape Breton County met in special session dur? ing the early winter of 1847, and four hundred family heads came begging for supplies, draining all local resources. When seed potato was distributed the following spring, the need was so great that it was eaten, and that which was planted, largely rotted. Consequently, in 1848, one observer declared that "not one person in every five hun? dred has seed of any kind to put in the ground." When the hay crop failed and grain and seed were gone, people slaughtered cows and working animals, averting immediate death, but decimating herds. The summers of both 1847 and 1848 were wet and stormy, encour? aging the rot and ruining the hay crop. Rust even appeared on the wheat in 1848. Many people did not even receive seed. Some living in remote areas of Cape Breton were not aware that it was being distributed. Others heard about the government programme, but when they reached the distribution points, they were told that they had been forgotten and that there was neither seed nor supplies left. The Relief Committee fi? nally had to admit that "the expectations of the farmer have been blighted." Stan/ation would certainly have been rife had people not foraged ber? ries, hunted wildlife, shared food, or fished. Fishing was particularly helpful, especially in coastal areas, but unfortunately, the places hardest hit were a distance inland. Moreover, the important fishery on the south coast of the island failed during the peak of the famine, in 1847 and early 1848. The idea of road work for seed proved unsatisfactory. Those most in need lived in remote areas where there were no roads. Where there were roads, it was also soon apparent that the wretched settlers were not performing the required work. By May 1848, no road labour had been performed in Cape Breton or Richmond counties, prompt? ing the Committee for Relief for Poor Settlers to observe that "the lib? erality of the Legislature has not met with corresponding gratitude on the part of the people • who have been willing to receive the benefit, but have made little return...." In Inverness County, road work was performed in the fall, after rains had prevented earlier labour. Howev? er, people resented such work and it was poorly done, while the offi? cial records were in such a state of confusion that work debits could not be properly computed. Politicians furthermore complained that WHALE WATCH Daily Trips July & August: 10:00 a.m. • 1:30 p.m. • 4:30 p.m. (Weather permitting. Call for times in June and September.) For Confirmation of /Qf0 QQQ OQQi Times and Reservations: V'U'j 000-'??0 I they were under great pressure to give assistance to whoever asked and were loath to exact repayment. The Relief Committee soon realized that "the benevolent intentions of the Legislature have been frustrated...." Not only was the road work poorly done, but the burden of paying for relief was also removed from those who could afford it. Though it would have been impossible for the local population to pay, the Committee was appalled that poor rates had been assessed in Cape Breton County only in Sydney Township. To the Committee this meant that people did not intend to repay, indicating a clear "relaxation of moral principle," which could lead only to "idleness and want of self-reliance and self-respect which elevates a people and enables them to overcome the difficul? ties and misfortunes of life." The question arose, however, should the poor settlers have to pay at all? The Novascotian Nondere6 why the citizens of Richmond, Inver? ness and nearby counties should be penalized with poor roads to avoid starvation. James McKeagney, M.L.A. for Inverness County (1843-1847), carried the argument further by wondering why Cape Bretoners should pay for assistance for all when the government had given ??1,000 in emergency aid to both Barbados and Quebec without asking for repayment. The government never collected payment and reluctantly committed itself to large-scale financial aid to the socially destitute, setting a precendent that would be difficult to break in the future. Besides government, merchants were called upon to give assistance. Great quantities of food were thus distributed. The managers of Gam- mel and Christie, merchants in the Bras d'Or area, recalled that dur? ing the famine they sold between 2,000 and 3,000 ban-els of flour, but by 1853, as crops improved, they disposed of only six hundred bar? rels. Either cash or credit was always demanded. An observer wrote: "Any person possessing the common feelings of humanity, and standing for an hour or two on one of the wharves at North Bay [North Sydney], would really feel sick to witness the number of men 2 1/2-hour cruise • frequent sightings of Minke Whales, Pilot Whales, Dolphins, Fin Whales The Markland a coastal resort Kel Lelax in our luxury log suites and dine on our gourmet food featuring local fish and lamb. Jlhrill to the play of light and shadow as they dance over the northern seascape. For reservations in the Maritimes call 1-800-565-0000. 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