Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1878-09-14
IoUD APPEAL FOR AID.

ALOUD APPEAL FOR AID.
The situation in the south grows more
alarming. In addition to the dread ter
ror of the yellow fever scourge, which is
threatening to depopulate many of the
cities and towns OF that portion OF our
country, comes the cry OF threatening
fAmrse- This is brought about by an
..':nost total suppression of business. 1t is
cs.iInated that in the suspension of bust
ness on the Mississippi River. south Of
Memphis over fifty steamboats, are tied
up aud their crews discharged, and the
longshoremen and gangs of steyedores
and otlIer iaborers who were engaged in
the receiving and dlscharging OF freight
are without employment. -Four great
lines of railroads are paralyzed, and their
employees are lille. Nearly every place OF
business in the cities and towns where
the fever prevails are closed and their
employes discharged. These employees
are poor and dependent on their labor
for support. 1t is estim tied that OF these
unemployed men there are in New Or
leans $4,000; Memphis 5000; Vicksburg,
1000 and tie smaller towns 2,O00,making
total of 27,000 discharged workingmen
most of whom are heads of families, and
represent: total population of net less
than 10000 in actual and desolate want.
These people have no means to get away
from the pest-riLden cities. For them
there IS 10 llbor, no wages, no bread;
nothing but death or starvation. And
this condition must last at least for fifty
days, for there will be no stay of the pes
thence and no resumption of business
until frost. Averaging the support rot
each individual at twenty cents per day
which is ten cents less than the cost of
army rations-for fifty days, the support
of the suffering and destitute will cost
$l,0S0,0s and this for subsistence alone.
Nothing for medicine, clothing and
proper suStenance Tor the sick and the
burial of the dead has been taken into
account in this calculation.
The spontaneous response to the call
for aid, from the suffering people of the
scourged section, from all parts OF the
country is most gratifying and shows
that at heart we are people of one
country. chat however much politically,
the two. sections may be array ed. against.
each other as solid South" or ''solid
North" wheel an appeal as made from
suffering hcmanity we are one and all
are brethren.
In all the generous responses from all
portions OF the North shall not Cheboy-
gan be found contributing her mite? The
in their contribution forwarded last
week. Let it be initiated on the part of
the people generally and so me systemat-
lie effort be made 70 raise contribution
in answer to the louG appeal for assist
ance that comes up from that afflicted
section of our common country. There
are few but, that can contribute some
thing, and however small the, amount
may be. it will help swell the aggregate.
1t has been suggested THAI in each of the
great cities of the Union central depot,
for the reception OF supplies be at once
opened. where contributions of provis-
idns. tea, coffee, wines, medicines and
clothing may be sent. The lines OF
transportation over both land and water
have volunteered to transport supplies to
the stricken cities, free OF charge. Let
New Orleans, which is most accessible
by sea and land, and which has more ia
cilities of transportation, be constituted
the Genital depot for the reception of
supplies, which can be forwarded to the
Howard and Peabody Associations in
that city as fast as collected, Let Vickc-
burg, Memphis, and the smaller towns
that are affected SEMI to New Orleans
their agents to aid III receiving, distribnt-
ing and forwarding, pro rata, supplies
to the respective towns and
cities for which tEey are destined. The
character OF the noble gentlemen who
compose the Howard Association, and
the Peabody Association, and the Y. NJ
G.. Association are. guarantees that all
charities donated will be properly and
honestly applied.