The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-06-03
THE MISSISSIPPI OVERFLOW.

Report OF the Boston Commission on the
Condition OF the SufYerers-The Greatest
Calamity OF the Current Century-Ne-
cessity for Immediate Aid-The Best
Means OF Consolidating tho South.
BOSTON, Mass, June 2, 1874.
Mr.. Henry G. Crowell, who visited New Orleans
as o commissioner for the purpose OF ascertainlng
what use was being made or the iund contributed
by the citizens OF Boston, and what further assist
ance, II any, was required to alleviate the neces-
sites of the sufferers, made report to-day to the
Mayor and citizens, at meeting in the City Hall.
After describing IN terms OF high praise the
method by which relief Is distributed Mr.. Crowel
THE EXTENT OF THE INUNDATIoN.
''The calamity, in extent and ruinous conse.
quences, is one Of the greatest that have occurred
from ire, storm or nood on this Continent during
the current century. To see for myself the ma
ture OF the great inundation went to Brashear,
eighty miles west OF New Orleans, the last twenty.
three miles through an unbroken flood varying in
depth from three to six feet, which pours from
the distant crevasses on the Mississippi and de-
Misslssippi about zoo miles to port HUDSON, 'lr 10
order to witness the passage OF the vast volume
Of water rushing through the several cravasses
cataract, having swept away every. obsta::
ike vast fan over the neghboring country.
submit with this report several maps and letters
received ny the relief committee from various sec
tent OF the inundation and giving some particulars
as to
THE CONDITION OF THE PEOPLE.
To enter into details would extend this report to
great length 1t Is sufficient for me to say that
what | saw gave me a realizing sense OF the mag.
ntude and destructiveness OF the great mood, anu
OF the reasons why the suffering restitution and
danger caused by 1t must continue Tor o
long time. 1t Is estimated by those VINO
are familiar with previous hoods IN tnat
State that from Jour TO six weeks must elapse be-
fore the water will subsde sufficiently from the
larg porJi0n OF the overlooked district to enable
the people to plant, and that rom ninety 10 l20
days must expire before they can raise produce
enough to sustain life have noticed since my
return from New orleans that Mayor Witt has
again appealed TO several cities and towns In the
North for further aid Unless this Is afforded there
must of necessity be q terrible amount OF suffer-
ing IL not starvation. ! regret that the people OF
the more wealthy and prosperous cities and towns,
churches and associations OF the North have not
better knowledge OF the impoverished condition OF
that portion OF the South and
THE GREAT DANGER AND SUFFERING
OF that af1icted people, Tor am confident II they
did they would at once send to them abundant
aid. Aside from the great relief which the large
donation made by the citizens OF Boston has given
the sufferers, their prompt action has, in my
opinion done more TO concate the people Of the
south than any other thing which has occurred
since the war. The praises OF citizens are
upon every lip, not only in New Orleans Ia the
various cities and towns at which stopped on my
way out and on my return"