The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-06-28
THE SITUATION AT JoHNsrowN.
A Local Committee Makes Statement
to tho General Public.

ilIIsbOhtt id.i Juue @f.-luc lOlOW-
ing communication has been furnished the
Associated Press, with request that il be
given general publicity:
JoHSTows, Pa, June &C, 1889.
To all Committees Holding Funds for Relief Of
Johnstown Sufferers
Dear Sir-The Jchnstown Finance Com
mittee for the relief Of sufferers by the
flood would represent to you that there is
urgent necessity for the prompt and wise
use Of the money which has been gener-
ously contributed by the country for the
alleviation Of the distress OF our suffering
people. Large as these sums Of money
are, they will be utterly inadequate to do
more than to mitigate the present distress
and TO aid this community to make an ei
fort for self help. Their patience has been
unprecedented, and Gty are now begin
ming with courage TO reconstruct, in some
temporary fashion, shelter for their fami-
lies and places in which business can be
carried on. II is impossible for the COM
mttcc, or any number Of committees, 10
supply this community with the things
Il needs. II Is really in need
OF everything, and the only practical
way OF helping II is 10 put into the hands
OF the individual members OF the COM
mittee money by which they can get what
they need, mot merely for their subsistence,
but all the various requirements OF peo-
pie who nre beginning life anew upon a
devastated tract OF land on which their
fair city stood. Our committee has been
in receipt OF contributions OF money sent
us iIom all over tho country. We have
used necessarily portion of this money
for the labor incident 20 the distribution
Of supplies OF food, clothing and shelter,
the collecting OF statistics, etc. We have
waited anxiously for some movement TO
be made on the part Of the committees
throughout the country having large sums
OF money in their hands which would In.
dicate whA they intended TO do with those
funds. We can wait no longer. The
necessity is so great for prompt action that
our committee has been obliged TO adopt
plan for using lis pitance OF money for the
immediate relief Of the sufferers.
II has set on foot and will have com.
pleted shortly an accurate registration OF
all the surviving sufferers, and IL is pro-
posed rs an equitable and quick method OF
reaching the first pressing wants TO di-
vide the money which II holds equally
among them. The sum which will begiycn
10 each will necessarily be small, butt will
inspire them with the hope that the larger
amounts OF money contributed for their re.
lief may speedily become available, and II
will give better heart and ircsher hope
10 those who are now struggling 10 ro-
establish themselves In their lost employ
ments and ayocalionE The position here
is Ms follows: The working people are Of
fered ample employment, and rs they aro
q people who own their own homes they
are sticking TO Johnstown In spite OF their
present priyations Our merchants aud
tradesmon, seeing this, are quickly open
| ing their stores in shanlics or board build
ings OF any type.
We have thus on the one hand a com
munily needing enough supplies from the
merchants 10 do a good business, and on
the other hand the merchants making an
earnest effort TO supply this demand. II
We can bring these two together aud keep
them together during the next sixty days.
our community will again be sci-sustain-
ing. But already the inability Of the peo.
pie 10 purchase is causing great despond.
ency upon the part OF the merchants
which, II not speedily checked, will cause
! further want and hopelessness. There Is
but one method 10 check this, namelw To
furnish the people the funds with which
TO 20 10 the merchants aud make the pur-
chascs Of that which will relieve them from
their su1crings. Two needs are before Us:
|. To commence distribution Immediately.
.. To continue Il on basis equitable 10
all aud satisfactory 10 the country.
The registration spoken Of above takes
into account merely the number Of suryi-
yos 10 bc reached quickly by the iirst dis
! lrihuiicn The above Is for speed. Fol-
lowing this the Same machinery will col.
lect this and accurate statistics 10 that by
the time good effects OF the first distrbu.
ton have worn away We will be ready for
a fair and equitable further distribution,
OF further sums secured based, not upon
the number VI the flood sufferers but upon
their respective losses.
Coincidcnt with this distribution we are
making oil the arrangements here that We
can make 10 curtGil the free distribution
OF supplies OF all sort, In order 10 check
two large evils: /. Waste Of money con.
tributcd by the nation. Immense amounts
OF val uablc material are coming here, tho
very things that are not needed, while the
things that are needed tho people, ns we
say, are absolutely suffering for. g To
check the dcmomlizing effect upon the
manhood Of our inhabitants. Those who
were good men before the flood, arc be-
coming demoraliEed aud upset by the fact
that they lind they can live without work.
Nor must they bc blamed, after what thoy
have gone through; Il is only human M.
turc; nevertheless II Is something to bo
quickly checked.
A little thought must convince you that
no committee, however perfect, can salts
iactoriy and wisely meet the wants Of at
least 20, people when each ono have dii-
iercnt wants. We will add 10 this another
strong argumen, In favor Of our plan.
Granted that the nation has contributed
Sl,OOO,000. The quicker that the money
reaches the sufferers the moro Of II they
will got. II costs moley 10 take care OF the
organization which distributes. The more
quickly this organization effects Us pur.
pose the greater tho percentage Of this
assumed Sl,0O0,0O0 will reach its proper
channel.
We understand that You are holding a
fund devoted for this p1pose pending
some arrangement for its proper distrbu.
ton. We would strongly urge you 10 con-
slider tie plan wc lay before you, and we
would bcp Of YOU unless YOU can suggest