New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-04-18
WILLIAM P. KELLOGG,
Governor.

Governor.
ERApQuARTERs DEPARTMENT OF THE GULF,
NewOrleans, April II, 1874.
Respectfully forwarded through division
headquarters.
The facts stated in the incloseG resolu
tiOns are true.
The distress caused by the overflow is &c
great that, unless some aid is afforded
large number Of people must perish from
hunger, and respectfully recommend the
resolutions to earnest consideration.
As q temporary relief, and before the
action of Congress can be invoked, re-
spectfully recommend that, if it can be
legally done, the rations asked may be
issued, nnder the direction of the CHIEF
comm.ssary Of subsistence Of this depart
ment. w. H. EMORY,
Colonel and Brevet Major General.
Governor Kellogg yesterday sent the fol
lowing telegram to the President:
STATE OF LOUISIANA }
Executive Department
New Orleans, April Il, 1874.
President U. s. Grant, Washington D. G.:
The unprecedented rise in the Mississippi,
aided by violent local storms, has caused a
most disastrous overflow.
Six or seven of the largest parishes of the
STATE are already in great part under water,
and thousands of people, white and black,
are without food or shelter, and in danger
of stan vation. The emergency is so great
that feel constrained to appeal to you di-
rectly, asking the general government, if
possible, to extend to these poor people the
same relief that was given to the sufferers
by the scarcely more disastrous calamity at
Chicago.
WILLIAM P. KELLOGG,
Governor.
He also addressed the following letter to
the Mayor:
STATE OF LOUISIANA
Executive Department, ,
New Orleans April II, 1874.
Hon. L. A. Wiltz. Mayor Of New Orleans:
SIR am in receipt of information that
in the parishes of Caldwell. Catahoula,
Richland and Ouachita, throughout the La
fourche district and in other portions of the
State distress and suffering caused by the
present disastrous overflow exist to an ex-
tent beyond all local means of alleviation.
Hundreds Of families are said to be without
shelter, and suffering for want of the CON-
mon necessaries Of life.
am in consultation with the proper Off
GERS, and it in any way the resources of the
State can be made available to mitigate the
prevailing destitution, the State authorities
will go to the extreme limits of the law to
afford relief. l have also telegraphed to
Washington to ascertain if assistance can
not be obtained from the general govern
ment.
Should you deem it proper to call pub
lie NEE ing OF citizens to appoint commit
tee to receive contributions, all assistance l
can render, either personally or officially,
will be promptly given.
Very respectfully,
WILLIAM P. KELLOGG.
At late hour last evening Governor Kel.
logg received the following answer from
the President to his telegram:
WASHINGTON. April II, 1874.
To Governor ". P. Kellogg, New Orleans:
Your dispatch of this date asking aid for
the sufferers by the disastrous overflow of
the lower Mississippi is received. Congress
being in session at this time, do not feel
authorized to order government aid, as
lid in the case of suffering from yellow
Fever in Shreveport and Memphis last sum-
ner; and in the case Of the burning of
Chicago two years ago, without authority
rom Congress. will, however, send your
lispatch to the Louisiana delegation, and
f resolution is passed by Congress l will
,xert every authorized means to avert suf-
ering from the disaster which has over
AIKEN the citizens Of Louisiana.
U. S. GRANT.
Information was also received that Sen
tor West, in the Senate, and Representa-
i've Morev, in the House, had introduced
esolutions looking to the authorizing of
he issue of government stores to the desti-
ute, as suggested by the President.