The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-09-15
4 CENTRAL BUREAU
pEAN SUGGESTED RY CONGREssMABs
EaLHs FOR THE RELIEF OF
THE DESTITUTE.
Number of the Needy who Cry for Hsmaag
Dread-Fhe One Practical Question

DFead-The One Practical Question
IN. Y Heraldl
Mr Ellis was found in his hotel last even
ing, and mt the request OF q Herntd reporter
outlined his views as far as it Was deemon
wise for the present He said "We find H
nataaral hesitaney In many minds about Civ
ing q little. They are not able to give money,
and don't know how tOgiye what we really
need"
'Such as WHAT"
''Well, such as flour, hams, butter, dry goods,
cheese, wine, liquors, In fnct, supplies OF oil
sorts and kinds, such as we all have when We
are well provided. In Cincinnati and Chicago
for instance men who have not money, bua
have -four, wheat, produce OF any sort, can
give ii and have it sent by the car load or ship
lOad to New Orleans and from thence 1t can
be distributed. Now our idea is to make New
York the great centre here and then ior-
boat and ear communication with the in
feoted places is easy
About how many people are In LITERAL need
OF daily help now?
There are not less than $4,000 or 10000
poor men, lhborers and SO on, who are OUT or
work. They depend upon their daily labor
for their daily bread. At q low calculation
they represent families OF four persons each.
[ think there must be about 10000 persons
who need constant care and attention not
only, but the actual bread and water OF life.
All this before we touch the helps needed by
the sick and dying the medicines, clothing
and little comforts OF the sick room
"Have you taken any steps yet =
"Oh, yes, and / feel greatly encouraged by
the generous tone and friendly bearing OF tho
people. | spent some time at the Chamber
Of Commerce to-day. In fact, l have just
come from there. The president and several
men OF means and influences approve the 1detA
Of onr Central Bureau, and we shall arrange
for it at once"
"On what basis do you work 7"
1--WE telegraphed this afternoon to the How
pV,H
burg for exact information as to the dead, the
sick and the needful. We shall doubtless hear
tomorrow, and then, with the facts brfor0 ils,
we shall issue an appeal which will be In
dorsed by the Chamber Of Commerce, ann NJ
don't doubt we will get what we need. The
Howards will probably do the same
"Have you any idea OF the sum IN money
neededY' ......
"Roughly we put it at 81, 100000, and even
that, you see, doesn't give any Individual sut~
Yerer great deal"
"Has anything been said about public meet.
ings Or theatrical benefits OF any kindY
"Yes. expect the manager OF B0oths
Theatre here every minute He has been Or
considerable service to US by his shreWd al
vice. He has an idea in his head, which ne
will explain when he comes.
DO you believe the Southern people will
learn any sanitary lesson from this scourgef
Its O. difficult problem to solve. The TACT
is that cleanliness Or dirt has apparently but
little to do with the intensity OF the fever this
year have never seen New Orleans LII Q
more filthy condition than it Is now. and
yet her death-rate is but IS per cent.
Grenada is small town, and there Is q slug
gish stream running through it, IN either side
of which is q swamp, virtually All oo2e,
| There the death-rate Is 80 per cent Ine
| fever was intensified by the ulasma from tho
swamp It is simply impossible to theorl2e
about the matter. We are faced with sickness
and death; destitution and suffering follow
in their train, and there Is but one practica2
question, What can we do to help the people
ia their miserY?"
"Do you believe the coming Congress will
do anything"
",The difficulty is that We need help now
this very particular, special hour That Is
the reason Of the urgency Of our appeal. We
are not looking ahead to the winter and it's
troubles, but are standing In the presence
and the sick chambers of poor creatures who
cry for their daily bread tt-day. -