The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1896-11-28
Relief For Drouth Sufferers.

As announced in our last issue,
the editor of the CHRONICLE visited
Baton Rouge, and on Tuesday and
Wednesday of this week had inter-
views with Gov. Foster relative to
the proposed extension of State aid
to the sufferers by drouth. Tues
day night we found the Governor
and his secretary busy signing and
mailing circular letters to the men,
bers of the Legislature asking their
consent for him to use SIS, 600 of
the States money to purchase corn
for distribution among the suffer-
ers. That this consent will be
readily granted we have not the
least doubt. We were present on
Wednesday while Senator Ryan
and Representatives Lyons, of
Rapides, were in consultation with
the Governor, and as soon as the
subject was mentioned to them
they heartily approved the propo-
sltion to extend aid. Taking this
as a criterion, We feel safe in say
ing that it will only be few days
before the Governor will be able to
announce that he stands ready to
take immediate steps in the matter.
The proposition is to distribute
nothing but corn, at the rate of
about fifty bushels to the family.
1t is thought this will relieve all
restitution and prevent absolute
suffering. The Governor has de-
cided to appoint committees in the
various parishes affected by the
droutb, to whom the corn will be
supplied for distribution, from
whom he will take receipts, and in
turn will require the committeeman
to exhibit receipts from the people
to whom the supplies are given.
In order to prevent imposition as
far as possible. the Governor de-
sires that the people to whom aid
is offered shall be alphabetically
listed and published in the news
papers of the different parishes,
giving the locality, numbers and
circumstances of the various fami-
lies. Thus the public may be able
to Judge or investigate each case,
and if supplies are being furnished
to undeserving parties they can be
stopped.
In this connection we would also
say that arrangements are being
made to secure corn at cheap rates
for those who may be able to buy
but do not care to become mendi-
cants for aid. A committee has
been appointed by the Governor to
visit the cheap corn markets of the
west and purchase all the corn that
| may be needed. The committee is
as follows: Hon. Uriah Millsap
of West-Monroe; j. M. Lee, ol
Calhoun station; B. F. Thompson
of Ruston; and j. II. Crawford, o.
Winfield. This committee was tc
have left on Tuesday last to ex'
ecute their orders. It is expected
that any and all persons in thu
stricken districts will be able t.
buy corn at cost and carriage, say
Csc or 3Oc per bushel. The mer
chants and farmers are both expect
ed to act in concert in the matter
and they are requested to organic
in order to secure the best results
Those who have the cash to bu.
with should deposit it with thei
local merchants.
With these few suggestions W
hope our people will be able to ge
promptly to work, SO that no della,
|; will be necessary in the distribu
ton of supplies to the needy. W
shall take pleasure in doing al
that we can to help along the goo
work, and propose to publish an
explain ell matters that may com