The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1882-03-03

commodate the suiferers These districts were
placed IN charge OF responsible and promi-
ncnt cinzen residing therein, through whom,
~ their relief agent, assisted by voluntary
local committees IN the district the general re-
lief committees and the commission have dis
pensed every form OF relief, except In cash,
which has been distributed, with their assist
ance, by special agents.
Through these district agencies as originally
organized, with the exception Of a few changes
shown to be necessary as the work developed,
relief has been dispensed 10 the sufferers under
the following general classification: Provis-
ions and groceries, clothing and bedding, rnedi-
cines and medical aid, sesd wheat and grass
seed plows, wagons, harness and agricultural
implements and tools Of all kinds lumber and
shingles, doors, windows and nails, etc, for
houses and barns furniture, including stoves,
bedsteads, chairs, tables, crockery, tin and
wooden ware hay and other feed for such
number OF cattle they were advised 10 re-
tain donations and loans in money to aid in
rebuilding saw-m lis, ETC., destroyed cash dis
tributions by special agents directly to the suf-
ferers on az liberal a scale proportional to the
sze and wants of each family as the commits
sion deemed it wise, with the means at its COM
maud 10 allow.
On the progress and results obtained In the
distribution OF the foregoing means of relief
the commission reports rs follows:
Provisions and groceries have been literally
supplied, sufficient to subsist the sufferers
upon an average TO nearly the first OF January,
cash distribution being made in the latter
part OF November and beginning OF Deem
Der, as a substitute from that date
Clothing and bedding have been supplied to
the sufferers iii abundance. The former, az
we'll as large quantities Of the latter, being fur
nished through the generous contributions of
the pubic in these articles.
Many districts were supplied with more cloth
ing OF certain kinds than was required, the
hai,, haI
ing, new boots and Shoes and wooden wear for
winter use. These the commission purchased
and distributed wherever required.
The stocks OF clothing now on hand we be-
feve to be sufficient for the requirements of
tho sufferers.
Seed wheat for fall sowing was furnished by
this commission and other committees to all
who were reported as entitled to 1t and ready
to SOW. Through the energy OF the committees
and theie agents in the district aided by the
favorable season, a large area was sown in good
time vii the promise Of a favorable result. A
suantitJ'of grass seed was also furnished and
sown- Is
Flows, wagons harness and other farming
implements were sent forward IN liberal guam
titles as rapidly az practicable. The distiibu-
ton OF the most expensive Of these articles was
intrusted TO the Judgment of the agents, to be
loaned or donated, IA they might deem advis-
able, 1t being impossible to supply all who APP
Piled. BY the aid, however, of liberal ex-
penditure for the repair OF those only partially
destroyed, most OF the sufferers are now enabled
to prosecute the work on their lands.
The work OF furnishing lumber and shinglee
to replace, after a sort, the houses and barns
destroyed was entered upon Immediately after
the fires, but so large were the quantities re-
quired beyond the available stocks within
reach that some time WAS unavoidably con-
sumed before all the sufferers could be fur
nished with sufficient for shelter. In order to
tl.n oIxrar, and
donations were made to owners Of saw-mills
destroyed in the district, to be repaid in lum-
Der and saving I, the benefit OF the sufferers.
The Detroit Relief Committee, by whom such
loans and donations were chiefly made, was
guided In It's action by the recommendation Of
the district agents, that such aid would not
only increase the quantity Of lumber for the
Use Of the sufferers, but. by saving logs for
those who required, be of general benefit to
the district. Some OF these loans have already
been repaid in full or in part in lumber and
saving. The sufferers are now all under
shelter, and temporary shelter for the stock is
also nearly furnished.
AS fast as places Of shelter could be got
ready, and doors and windows sent forward to
close them in, the commission, who had moan
while been forwarding stoves az fast as they
could be obtained from the manufacturers,
purchased and sent forward moderate quanti-
ty OF furniture, consisting of bedsteads, chairs,
tablss, tin and wooden ware aud crockery,
useful and substantial IN kind and character
and, although the supply to each family was
necessarily limited, the acquisitions of the dis
trict agents having been filled, 1t is believed
that sufficient has been distributed to supply
the necessities OF the sufferers, and enable them
to resume housekeeping.
The abundant rains during October, falling
upon the soil burned over and enriched by tbs
fires, produced an abundant crop OF grass,
which, with the continued mild weather until
late in the season. proved Of incalculable
benefit and saved the lives of large num-
Der OF cattle. At the proper time circular
letter was sent TO the several agents, requesting
them to notify the sufferers that hay would be
furnished to each family so entitled at the rate
OF one ton for each head of cattle, at the maxi
mum number Of one team and one COW, three
head III all, to those requiring so many, and to
ad wise those who possessed more, without hav-
ing otherwise the means 20 subsst them, to
dispose OF the surplus while in a tit condI ton
for sale. The advice generally followed,
and one ton Of hay issued. In this connection
it should be understood that the amount of hay
30 furnished by the commission and other com
mittees was not considered sufficient to winter
the cattle 30 supplied, but rather as the maxi
mum quantity which the funds then on hand
would warrant.
The remarkably-mld weather, however,
while ii has prevented much outdoor work with
teams, has ut tho same time enabled the suffer-
ers to practice the closest economy in feeding,
so that the allowance has lasted for longer
time than was anticipated.
The commission is Of tho opinion that an ad-
ditional half ton per head, which it Is now en-
gagged in distributing, will, should the spring
prove rs favorable III proportion as the winter
has hitherto been, not only subsist the cattle
until the lat of April as contemplated, but,
with tho aid Of some coarse grain TO feed the
teams during seeding time, carry them through
till grass.
Upon a careful review Of the position Of the
sufferers and Of the reports from the agents in
response to request for information thereon,
il was resolved early in November to substitute,
instead Of supplying provisions, payments in
money to the sufferers, upon scale as nearly
adequate and proportionate to the size and
wants of each family as practicable. The first
payment was made by special agents sent for
that purpose In the latter part of November
and beginning OF December, being for the
months OF December and January. The change
from supplies to money payments appeared to
give general satisfaction.
In January a second payment was made for
the month OF February and part of March, 25
per cent. being added TO the amount allowed in
the previous payment
1t Is believed that when the hay now being
purchased And disfrlbuted In Daid for alao IN +