St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1878-09-13
Another Appeal for Help.

Another Appeal for Help.
A TERRIBLE PICTURE OF THE CALAMITY
AND A PLAN FOR ORGANIZING RELIEF
WASHINGTON, Sunday, Sept. 8.
To the Chambers of Commerce and til,
Charitable Of the Chief Cities of til,
| Union:
The cry of anguish from the stricken
cities and people of the South has been
answered by noble burst of charity
from the cities and people of the whole
country. Contributions, great and small
have been extended to the sufferers
the secretary of war has generously ex-
tended the aid of the government to
the poor and needy of the pest-riddeu
cities. But, great as has been the char
lty, the necessity is yet greater, and
the sums subscribed are yet inadequate
to the wants of the suffering. In New
Orleans, Vicksburg and Memphis, as
well as in the smaller towns of Holly
Springs, Grenada, Port Gibson, Canton,
Greenville, Brownsville, Baton Rouge
and Delhi, business is entirely suspend
ed. 1t is estimated that, in the suspen-
sion of business on the Mississippi river
south of Memphis, over so steamboats,
are tied up, their crews discharged,
longshoremen and gangs of stevedores
and other laborers without employ
ment. Four great lines of railroads are
paralyzed and their employees idle.
Nearly every place of business in the
cities and towns where the fever pre-
walls is closed, and the employees are
discharged. These employees are poor
and dependent upon labor for support
1t Is estimated that of these unemploy-
ed men there are in New Orleans 49,
600, Memphis 5000, Vicksburg 1000,
smaller towns 1000, making a total of
q 900 discharged workingmen, most of
whom are heads of families, and repre-
sent total population of not less than
100000 in actual and uesolate want.
These people have no means to get
away from the pest-ridden cities. For
them there is no labor, no wages, no
bread, nothing but death or starvation
and this condition must last at least so
days, for there will be no stay of the
pestllence, no resumption of business,
until frost. Averaging the support of
each individual ut 20 cents per day,
which is 10 cents less than the cost of
an army ration, for so days, the support
of the suffering and destitute will cost
$I,OSO,OOO, and this for subsistence
alone. Nothing for medicine, clothing
and proper sustenance for the sick aud
the burial of the dead has been taken
into account in this calculation.
1t has occurred to the undersigned |
that comprehensive system of relief
should be at once inaugurated, to avoid |
the appalling distress which sickens and |
shocks humanity, when to the awful
destruction of the plague are added the |
horrors of famine. We suggest that in
each of the great cities of the Union a
central depot for the reception of sup
plies be at once opened, where contri-
buttons of provisions, tea, coffee, wines,
medicines and clothing may be sent.
The lines of transportation, both land
and water, have volunteered to trans
port supplies to the stricken cities free
Of charge. Let New Orleans, which is
most accessible by sea and land, and
which has more facilities for transpor-
tatiOn, be constituted the central depot
Tor the reception of supplies, which can
be forwarded to the Howard and Pea
body associations of that city as fast as
collected. Let Vicksburg, Memphis
and the smaller towns that are affected
send to New Orleans their agents to aid
n receiving, distributing and forward
ng pro rata the supplies to their re-
'pectlve towns and cities for which thew
Ire destined.
We appeal to the chambers of COM
nerce of the great cities to inaugurate
his movement forthwith. We appeal
% the charitable and good. We appeal
% the ministers of God for their in
1uence, and to their congregations.
even the smallest donation of proyis-
Ons, money or medicines will be ac-
'eptable. The character of the noble
gentlemen who compose the Howard
and Peabody association and
he Young Mems Christian association
$ guarantee that all charities donated
will be properly and honestly applied.
N the name of a common country and
! kindred humanity, we invoke for our
tricken, dying and starving people the
harity of those whose homes and loved
mes are secure from the pestilence that |
yalketh in darkness and the destruction ,
hat wasteth at MONDAY.
E. John Ellis, Louisiana; RI. Glib I
on, Louisiana; John T. Morgan, Ala
anna William HI. McCardie, Missis- {
ippi Cyrus Bussey, President of the |
SeW Orleans Chamber of Commerce.