The Louisiana populist., 1896-12-11
MONROE, La. Dec. 9TH, 1896.
To the Citizens of the
DrOuth Stricken Parish
eS of North Louisiana.

The Governor having appointed
the undersigned committee, to pur-
chase and distribute corn among
the destitute people of the drOuth
stricken section of North Louisi-
ana, and having placed $4,000 to
our credit in the State Treasury
for that purpose, and it being the
desire of the Governor, to apply
this fund to the relief of the great
est number of needy people,-we
therefore believe, that owing to the
very low price of corn in the grain
country, and the very liberal
freight rates made by the railroad
lines for transportation; the great
est number of people will be re-
lived by applying Il part of the
available funds to the payment of
all or part of the freight on corn
which may be purchased by the
consumer, thereby reducing the
cost of the corn materially; which
will enable large number of peo-
pile to provide for themselves, and
those dependent upon them. By
this policy the extreme cases of
destitution will be very greatly
reduced. The balance of the funds
will be used to relieve those who
are without means or credit. We
therefore earnestly request the
good people and the press of North
Louisiana to cooperate with us in
carrying out this policy. We re-
commend that a mass meeting be
canvassed in each parish, to be
called by the members of the leg
islature thereof, at an early day,
for the purpose of appointing a
Central Parish Committee of not
less than three citizens, whose du-
ty it will be to cooperate with US
in ascertaining the extent of the
destitutiOn and to make the dis
tribution in their respective par
ishes.
The Parish Central Committee
will also appoint a subcommittee
in each ward, whose duty it will
be. to make a canvass of their res
pective wards, and ascertain the
exact condition of each destitute
family, and report in detail to the
Parish Central Committee, accord
ing to the rules laid down by this
committee, which will be furnished
TO the Parish Committee. These
reports must be examined and ap-
proved by the Central Committee
and forwarded to this committee,
where they will be compiled with
similar reports from other parish
cs, and pro-rata of the available
funds, will be invested for their
relief, and shipped to the Central
Parish Committee for proper dis
tribution.
All persons who wish to avail
themselves of the privilege of pur.
chasing corn under the arrange
ments above mentioned, must do
so through this committee. And
all purchases must be in car load
lots, and the necessary funds to
cover each order, must be deposi-
ted in the Ouachita National Bank
of Monroe, to the credit of this
committee, although they may
concentrate their funds, and ap-
point any local merchant to pur-
chase for them.
This committee will fix the price
on each car of corn to cover the
cost and at which it must be sold
to actual consumers, and only in
such quantity as will meet the &C
tual necessity in each case.
No speculation whatever will be
permitted on corn purchased by
this committee, and shipped with
its agreement with the railroad
companies.
Apprcciating the responsibility
imposed upon us, and desiring to
perform the duties to the satisfac-
tiOn of the Governor, and the peo-
pie of the State, we earnestly in
vite the representatives of the
drouth stricken parishes in the
State legislature to take special
supervision of the appointment of
suitable committees in their res
pective parishes, who will see that
the bounty of the State is proper
ly applied, and that no imposition
is practiced.
For the purpose of transacting
the business of this committee, we
will at once open an Office at Mon
roe, La, and all communications
should be addressed to
URIAH MILLSAPS,
Nkcs-c,cx, Ckc<o Dol..c Iz.xl