New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-06-20
Louisiana Sufferers.

Meesrs. John f. Tolle, John B. Maude
| L. L. Ashbrook, c. o. butcher, Captain j
3. Carroll. A. Phelps, D. P. Rowland and
| Bart Able. the inundafion committee Of the
| Merchants Exchange. and others met yes
| terday noon il the directors room, to hear
| a etatement Of DR.. V. o. King, Of New Or.
| leans, an agent for the Louisiana relief
committee. Mr.. Ashbrook presided over
| tie meeting and introduced the speaker.
DIR. King said that many persons unac.
Quainted with the Topography Of Louis
| lana suppose that because the river has fell
| two or three feet within the past ten days
| that the Inundated lands are uncovered
and ready for repairs. The lands are yet
| from two 10 ten 1eet under water. There
are about 100000 acres. or 10000 square
m.les, or onethird OF tie State overf0wed.
This area includes nearly all the alluvial
or cultivated land in the State. Conse.
uuently 1t is the agricultural community
and field hands that are the greatest direc.
sufferers.
Relief has to be distributed among 10000
starving and destitute persons daily. Mayor
Wilt, Of New Orleans, and dozen OF the
most prominent and honest men Of the
State, representing the different races,
classes and employments, constitute the ex-
select local subcommittee in each district
and parish, who Gisburse pro rata per
capita the contributions OF provisions and
clothing. No male citizen is given assist.
ance, unless he can prove he has no food to
sustain him nor any chance for employ
ment. The army officers gave the re-
lief committee 5000 rations. The gen
eral government made donation
from it's treasury, but divided it
equally between Louisiana, Arkansas
and Mississippi. In those two last States
the area of overlooked land are each two
million acres, or One.fOurth that of Lousi-
ana. Up to June relief was distributed to
10000 persons. and unless this relief can be
kept up for several weeks longer thousands
Of persons will have to starve to death.
Boston, besides sending a large donation,
sent commissioner to watch the distribu-
ton of the aid and to examine the country,
and thus satisfied the donors of the true
circumstances Of the suffering, and of the
extent OF the disaster 1t would be pleas
ing TO have ST. Louis send commissioner
to inspect the inundated region, and thus
show that the statements of the people from
that section are not exaggerated.
The st. Louis committee announced that
they had in behalf of St. Louis, already
sent $9939 GA worth of supplies to the suf-
ferers. and had $llS9 40 balance in the COM
mittee's hands.
1t was resolved that $1,000 of this balance
De donated 10 the Louisiana sufferers, and
that the Merchants Exchange in it's cor
porate capacity ought to donate $1,000.
The meeting adjourned until noon to-day,
when DR.. King will address the merchants
upon the floor Of the Exchange.
During the afternoon the following ap-
peal was drawn up and put in circulation
UNION MERCHANTS EXCHANGE
St. Louis June II, 1874. 5
The undersigned, members of special
committee appointed by the Exchange to
inquire into the condition of the suffering
and destitute thousands of louisiana and
to investigate the extent Of their great
calamity occasiOned by the late unprece-
dented food, beg leave to inform the citi-
zens of st. Louis that their inquiries fully
Justify an appeal to the generous and hui
name sentiment of this city for instant and
adequate relief. The late contributions for
this purpose have been properly distributed
among the starving to whom it was sent,
day at our doors for bread. Their repre-
sentative, in the person of DR.. V. 0. King,
is now in onr midst, bearing the highest
credentials and commentators from his
State. We earnestly ask that no hand
among US should withhold the charity it is
able to bestow. Contributions will be re-
ported to either Of the undersigned, or TO
DR.. King, at the Southern Hotel, or to
George H. Morgan, secretary Of the Mer-
chants Exchange. rsL i
Signed by Levi Aehbrook, chairman; F.
B. Davidson, w. N. Senter, John B. Maude,
Forester Dolhonde. John F. Tolle, John |
w. Carrol.-S Louis Globe, Seventeenth.