Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-02-19
A. NEW PHASE
Put Upoa the wheeling Relief Sit
uation.
Tie Government Steps Ia With Assistance
and Private Subscriptions to be
Discontinued. With Pub
lie Thanks.


ten, of the War Department, put q new
phase on the relief situation, and one that
will be gratifying 10 every one far and near.
Ii, utenant Darlington is a slbaltern Of
Captain Cushing, now at Pittsburgh, who
has charge of the distribution Of the gov
eminent relief fund Of $4,000, to be dis
tributed over the territory embraced be-
tween Pittsburgh and Ironton. Mr.. Gar
lipgton came here yesterday for the pur-
pose Of obtaining data TO guide Captain
Cushing in the distribution OF supplies.
he had a long conference last night with
Mayor Miller and at its conclusion tele-
graphed to Pitt burgh and received an i'm
nus diste reply. The result OF the confer
ence will appear in the course of this ar
iiCle.
For the past day or two it has been very
evident that the relief work must be mar
rowed down and
GRADUALLY BROUGHT TO A CLOSE.
In the first excitement of distress and
suffering, many of our great hearted citi-
zers and ladies OVERLOOKED with charity and
gave the work great impetus. Never was
relief bestowed NJ on q better scale of lib
| erality. Systematic and spasmoiic gener.
oslty worked hand in hand, and 1t Is safe
| to say there was no case OF want and sut-
fering in Wheeling that was not promptly
work went on with unhsgging zeal
and energy and there was no apparent
| prospect Of a decrease OF the number of
| cases of necessity. Within the last two or
three days the conclusion has forced itself
on the committees that an end must be
| brought about. The generosity at home
| and abroad could not stand the continued
drain likely to be enforced upon it and the
people must be got into condition TO help
! them selves. The time for that is now
comilg Mills and factories are starting
up and money will soon begin 10 circulate
among those who were left suffering aud
destitute, enabling them to care for them
selves. 1t became apparent that break
had to be made, as the relief work was
| growing demoralizing There were too
| many who, without q thought for the
morrow, lived from hand to mouth and
wouId never help themselves as long a.
the relief fund held out, and the commit
| tee were casting about them in search Of
the best method, when Lieut., Darlington
| arrived.
A conference was held at the Mcclure
House and careful estimate made of what
| additional assistance would be necessary,
| beyond our present fund, to put our people
| on their feet. Benwood, Bridgeport, Bal
! laire and Martins Ferry were taken int
| consideration and it was estimated thai
| 81, so worth would tide US over. Lieut.
| Gsrlington said the fund was rather
too much. But he telegraphed to Capt.
| Cushing, asking for $4,000 for this neigh.
| borhoGd. Almost Immediately ne received
a reply, authorizing him
TO SPEND a, 900 HERE
and informing him that, if possible, 1908
blankets would be left here by the relief
| boat, Resolute, which will leave Pitts
| burgh tomorrow morning. Lieut.. Gar
| lirg'on thought we were very fortunate in
| getting that much, as the blankets will be
worth about $1,000. He will expend the
| 1000 here and distribute the supplies as
may be deemed most advisable and judici-
| Gus.
After the conference, REGISTER reporter
had an exhaustive interview with Mayor
Miller, Mr.. Egerter, and others Of the FIX
ecutive Committee, in regard to the situa-
| ton, and they all entertain the same view
| The work has been we'll and thoroughly
done, thus far, but the line must be drawn.
Mayor Miller thought the Government aid
together with the relief fund balance In
hand, would put us on our feet and an.
nounced his intention OF telegraphing and
| stopping further donations. Not only"
he said, have our own people been most
generous aud large hearted, but others
outside of us have been equally so and now
| | will telegraph them to stop. / would
much rather the committee would come
out in debt, than to have q surplus aud
have these kind donors think we were ex-
travagant and called for money that we did
| not need"
THE PRESENT SITUATION.
So the situation is about this: Enough
| clothing has been made and received, to
comfortably clothe every man, woman and
| child made destitute by the high water.
| The relief work has been reduced to sys-
| tenn and the remainder Of the surplus fund
with the aid of the general government,
will meet our actual necessities. We are
| to care for Benwood, Bellaire, Martins
Ferry, and Bridgeport and will send sup
plies there to-day. OF these, Benwood is
perhaps the worst off and will receive first
assistance. Bellaire and Bridgeport are
both we'll fixed and have even surplus,
while Martins Ferry needs assistance
which she will get, in qusntity, from the
| State appropriation. To-day, Mr.. Egerter
| will send shoes to the following places:
New Martinsville, Darlington, Moundsville,
Bellaire, Martins Ferry, Wellsburg, Wells.
willie and Benwood, and to the latter place
provisions and clothing will also be sent.