Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1844-06-29
PUBLIC MEETING.

ard County was held at the Court House, in the
town Of Fayette, on Monday June Oath, 1874
THOMAS JACKSON, acting as Chairman and
GEo. w. WARD, as Secretary.
The committee appointed at former meeting
to proceed to the river bottoms in the county and
ascertain whether there be any sufferers in need OF
aid from their neighbors, and il so, to devise and
report to this meeting some plan Of relief re.
ported as follows:
At a meeting OF respectable portion Of the
citizens OF Howard county, on Thursday last,
the goth OF June, the undersigned were appointed
a committee to proceed to the river bottoms in
this county, and ascertain whether there be any
Of the sufferers in need Of aid from their neigh
bors, and il so, to devise and report some plan
Of immediate relief.
In discharging the duty assigned them, the
committee found it necessary to divide themselves
into three parts, of equal numbers, assigning to
one the upper, the other the central and the
third the lower portion Of the county, the body |
Of this report being a consolidation Of the facts
and circumstances ascertained by the action Of
the sub. committees,
Our county is believed to contain smaller |
portion OF territory than any in the State, but in
consequence OF the great Southern bend of the
river, we have river front Of nearly forty five
miles; only small portion OF which, is pro
tected by bluff bank, upon this front the extent
Of bottom is at least thirty.fve miles, averaging
about two miles in width. The Howard bot.
toms, therefore, contain at least 45 900 acres,
and nearly all, heretofore, stood high and dry,
with most exuberant and productive SOIL facing
Southern sun; was inhabited and cultivated
TO an unusual extent; nearly two hundred and
twenty families were located thereon, every one
of whom have suffered severely, the loss Of many
being total; the average depth Of water on the
bottom land was at least eight feet; the entire
planted and growing crops Of every name and
nature is utterly gone, the corn and wheat being
already in state Of putrelaction; in addition,
many have lost and otherwise greatly injured
their family furniture-their grain and houses
have been swept away-incredible portions OF
all kinds Of stock have perished and not one Of
their numerous and once happy homes ale Wis.
ibe to The eye, or susceptible OF approach by
man. The actual damage to the soil is not yet
fully known, and until the extent Of the sand de.
posite is asceI taned, cannot be. The loss, how.
ever, on that score, is considerable, and added TO
the growing crop, stock, furniture, old crop, and
provisions on hand, cannot fall short of 100 900
This amount, incredible as it may seem, 10 those
who have not visited the scenes ofdestruction, is
nevertheless, believed TO be within the actual
loss OF the sufferers Many, however, arc very
wealthy, and instead Of standing in need or
anticipating aid from any quarter, are actually
distributing what they have saved with a munif
cent and liberal hand. Their loss is great, bu
their lberality greater, and they deserve and will
receive the thanks OF the whole county. Blu
these remarks are only explanatory Of our rea
duty, which was, to ascertain and point out those
families, whose losses-have exhausted all presen
means of subsistence. This number, we sup
pose, exceeds eighty families, all with infan
children, OF present encamped mostly in the oper
air, on the surrounding bluffs and in the houses
OF their neighbors For this number, promp
provision should be made, and the description
OF aid recommended, is cash contributions, 10 b.
expended and appropriated by committee fol
that purpose and also contributions in corn
bacon, milk cows, beds, chairs, tables, and othe
articles Of prime necessity, to be held subiec
to the order Of the committee appointed for tina
purpose. Many, also, have lost their homes anc
have no houses 10 return to; to such, the profile
OF temporary residence by our wealthy far
mers, who have vacant tenements, would b.
acceptable and highly appreciated
Having stated the loss and suggested the rem
cdy, the duty OF the committee is discharged
and further action is left TO the adjourned meeting
TO which we were directed to report
JOSEPH COOPER,
VIM. MONROE,
DAVID PEELER,
A. R. ANDERSON,
FEDERAL WALKER,
JOHN M. CASON,
A. c. WOODS,
N. G. ELLIOTT,
A. w. MORRISON,
Committee.