The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1882-03-09
DEsTrrUTloN ON THE MIs.lssIrrl

|
The recent overflow Of the Mississippi
River has caused great destruction tc
property all along its course, and great
dcstitution now exists among the poorer
classes in tho ovcrilowed dintricts. Some
idea rs to the extent Of the damage done
and Of the dcstitution now existing may
be gained from the following statement
made to n reporter of the New York
World 10y Ger. Hancock, who has Intcly
visited The Mississippi valley:
81 think there is matter connected
with the Southern people which should
ut the present juncture have attention
called to il. The people of the North
don't realize what the kilograms which
they read about tho foods really mean.
From what saw believe the Southern
people over hundreds of surface miles
are literally drowned out. Fences and
| cattle are gone; houses have been swept
away or are inhabited railroads destroy
ed plantations ruined and the country
desolntcd. Nothing ike it has been seen
for many years. The distress in the
flooded regions is beyond the power of
words to describe. Ilecollcct, what
have told you about was seen at time
when the flood was not ut its worst. The
first thing to be done is TO extend neccs-
sary aid to these people. We must face
the promblem of feeding, sheitering and
clothing these people until such time rs
they can raise food and shelter for them.
selves. The Southern people will do
what they can, but the Northern and
Western people must also como to the
rescue. Even if it were right to throw
the burden of such M unparalleled and
widespread calamity upon tho Southern.
crs alone, they have had the means of
charity swept away with the means of
livelihood. We mus. help, and help Mt
once. 1t is better to send money to Mem.
phis, Mobile. New Orleans and cities
where provisions and clothing may be
bought than to wait to send food and
clothing. 1t is possible that more will
have to be paid there than here for sup.
plies, but | tell you the people cannot
wait for provisions To reach them from
here. There are thousands of negroes
who are homeless and starving, and they
must be fed and, what is more, we have
got to feed them. There is enough food
In tho South that can be bought to keep
them going until VIC can aend more from
the North. 1t should be sent by mail
steamers are too slow. Those people
must eat, and they have nothing. Relief
committees should bc formed iii every
city TO receive and forward supplies.
Money should be sent at once TO relieve
the most pressing wants. Arrangements
should be made with the railroads to
forward supplies at first on through
freight trains to carry nothing else, and
to be put through in the shortest possible
| time"
In regard to measures for future pre-.
vention Of overilows, the General said:
"a bill should be introduced into Con-
gress providing for a survey of the Mis-.
sissippi, the Missouri and the Ohio Riv-
ers, as we'll as their principal tributaries,
such Us the Arkansas and White. The
survey being made plan Of levees should
be devised which would be sufficiently
strong to protect the country. Whether
the government, the States or the par
ishes build them they should be con.
| strIcted on some general plan. II the
Southern States canno. afford 10 build
| the levees the government should help,
for the protection Of the vast bodies of
land now oyerflowed in the South and
West is, in my opinion, of national i'm.
portance, and should be SO regarded by
Congress, But whether the government
builds or helps to build the levces, it
certeiniy can afford to and should cause
surveys to be made ut once"
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A ccnrdinc, IN a eOoc;ol r.n.,, Nio.lo,