New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-03-14
WHAT THE GOVERNMENT Is DOING.

| WASHINGTON, March 13.-Tbe Secretary OF
War has the following Telegram to General Amos
Beckwith Assistant Commssary General, st. Louis Mo-:
The following telegram has just been sent by the Chef
OF Eng to MAJOR Sutrr at st. Louis: Congress
has authorized the OF the steamboats,. tugs and row
boats belonging 10 or employed by the Goyernmc {,
with proper crews in the transportation and distT1bI
on OF supplies TO sufferers by The recent overflow on tae
Lieutenant colonel Beckwtn subsistence Department,
St. Louis furnish him with sncn steamboats, etc,
you may have available for the putE0se ana nc may
need the boats to be manned by on Expenses boats
and crews to be paid from special appropriation jns
made. similar dispatch to Ernst aud Bcaureg ird."
IL Is the intention that lot Only Government supplies
should be carried on these boats, but any winch may
In the disrbtOn Of supplies already issued 10 tue
You communicate directly with the State COmlnis
ascertain the extent of their needs for assist
Of this character In making distributions Present
Information Indicates That tie stores already Issued VIII
last as follows: At Memphis, for Mississippi, unn 10Th
inst. at Memphis, for Tenn. ee, until 2lst at Mem
| phis, for Arkansas. probably the same; at New
Madrid, FOR Missouri, nitll 3lst INST at Gayo5o,
report Is that there Is no Immediate necessity for
fom ound City, exccp, that The destitute are supPos,
to number 1000 people for whom there have been sent
in ali 20 900 raliUns The intention OF Congress is that
these steamers and their small boats should DC used
make the most efficient distribution OF stores at all points
should stl by STATE Oicers, the being
provided them for the purpose Would II not be adgls
be these boats ANA look aft the distribution II
they cannot per orm the dhes they are already ordered
on so well III TINS way would be wen to nave one army
officer cach large boat az least and upon advice from
IhlS sutJcc proper II necessary, Will Dt
given the use Of these boats viii, of course be eXen-
sye and IL important that an unnecessary number OF
large should not used. How many, i'll
Judgment, Will be requIedi
The Secretary OF War has also teegraphed Governor s.
McCollom. at Springfield. H.. as follows:
DIr. Townsend from the Shawnctown District has In
formation Of great suffering in ana around ShawnetOwn
from Hoods II you desire relief sent there please name
a commissioner and ascertain and advise OF the
IN distress and will render such assistance
Is possible.
lie tclegraphed to Governor L. p. Blackburn ut
Frankfort, KY, as follows:
Captain Benham, L. ;. A. tele;,raphs from Columbia.
that about 800 people need subsistence To be 'is-
trbItcd from Columbus II yOu desire this To be dOAe
ana telegraph the OF commissioner 10 make The
distribution at that point VIII order 10000 ratOns
sent.
The Secretary has also sent the following telegram to
Commissioners GILES and ScLarck at Ncw-Orlcaus:
Telegram of lltn received. The present Appropriation
il nearly exhausted thnt the Departmcn cannot place
100000 ratiUns your disposal Additional apprO-
pratiOn is PROBABLE. In the meantime telegraph from
time to time the number of ratOls needed ald tue mum
Der Of people being relieved.