New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-05-19
An Important Letter.


Henry G. Crowell, Esq, Of Boston, who
came to us some days ago as agent of the
relief committee of Boston, has written the
following letter to Mayor Wilt. The let
ter is an admirable document, and will, no
doubt, have good effect in the prosperous
cities of the East-and especially in the
good old Common wealth of Massachusetts,,
Heaven bless her!
NV ORLEANS, May l6, 1874.
Hon Louis A. Wilt, Mayor:
DEAR STR arrived here on the eleventh instant
of Boston, aud of the BOstOn committee in charge
of subscriptions for the relief of sufferers in Louis
lana by the overflow. ! came for the purpose OF
of Boston can render towards alleviatng the ne
cessties of the suffering, and restoring your
was Immediately put in communication with
the members of the general committee of relief
appointed by you. with these of the several sub
sidiary committees, and with many intelligent
citizens, from whom and from eminent profess
sional engineers made diigent inquiry as to the
area of the country Overt0wed the number of
people made destitute by this stupendous calam-
ty, the extent of damage to crops and live stock
the probable continuance of the inundstion. the
nature and amount of relief absolutely necessary
to prevent loss OF life by famine and to The plan
of relief adopted here.
extent, more disastrous in effect, and causing dis
tress and destitutiOn to far greater numbers than
represented by you in your first appeal for aid
from the chief cities of the Union-greater than is
| generally believed, and greater than can be con.
ceived Of by those not familiar with the nature of
the asst fiat alluvia region which the waters of the
Mississippi and it's lower branches now cover. The
| calamity surpasses in extent and ruinOus conse-
quences any that has occurred from fire. storm or
food on this continent during the current century.
| To see for myself the nxture of the great inun.
dation went to Brashear, eighty miles west of
| New Orleans, the last twenty three miles through
IsAfSn l;ufnv
crevasses the Mississippi and devastates an i'm
mense region. shall not here relate what saw.
but it sufficient to give me realizing sense of
the magnitude and destructiveness OF the great
flood and of the reasons why tho suffering destitu
! tiOn and danger caused by it must continue for a
long time. ! have made careful examination OF
the workings of ysur cormittee Of relief, which
| am pleased to find composed of citizens OF high
character and of distinguished ability, who labor
| which you have called them. Their method Of
purchasing and forwarding supplies, and their
rules and regulations for the distribution Of relief
| meet my approval in all respects. Bv the system
adopted the donations of the charitable are sure
| to do the most good 10 those who made desti
tute by the flood. Wise precaution is taken tH
avoid The encouragement of idleness by strictly
| withholding relief from such can hEd
work on lands net overfowed. and who
| refuse to labor, a precautiOn which commend
| and approve Careful systematic economy Is EN-
ployed in all relief measures At their request
and yours have examined your accounts as treas
urer of the relief fund. and the accounts and
vouchers Of the committees, finding all correc,
and in order. By well organized 81 stem every
thing received is properly accounted for ant
promptly applied. l am pleased to say that yer
and the members of your committees have shown
much executive and administrative ability, and
that the disposition of contributions has been g
careful and so judicious as to merit entire cenfi
dence. You have done. and I am sure will con
tinue to DO, all that can be done for the sufferers
with the means which the philanthropic put II
your hands. l can suggest no Improvement IL
! your method.
| can not close without advising you to renew
your appeal for help. Your for the requlr
ed relief are altogether insufficient. Put be fore tn
people of America the leading facts relating to th
Unprecedented and enormous visitation of calam
itv. true knowledge OF the great danger AM
suferings Of afflicted people will awaken wealthy
and prosperous States. cities. churches and A asso
Citations to an active sense Of their duty. While
there is such prosperity and abundance of mean
everywhere else, these poor victims ofthe hoot
must not be left to starve.
Please accept for yourself and extend to al
others whom have met here my thanks tor tn
very many cOurtesies and kind attentions which
have received at your hands and theirs. Hopin
to revisit you under more prosperous auspices,
remain, yours very respectfully,