The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-02-03
Thirty Thousand Persons Iu
Louisiana of StarvatiOnsVerge.
Sufferers From Last Seasons
Long Continual Drought.
A STRONG CALL ISSUED
By the Board of Trade Of New
Orleans.
to the General Pub
lie for Help.

New Orleans, Feb. 3.-The following
appeal has been issued:
ITO the Public: A cry of despair and
for help from the suffering of north
Louisiana has reached our city, and in
order to relieve the suffering people of
our own state, the representatives of
the different exchanges have met and
hereby issue a general call to the peo-
pie of our city.
Our daily press has acquainted our
people already with the dire want ex-
listing in the parishes of the northern
portion of our state, and, therefore, we
abstain from repeating all the harrow
ing details of the misfortune that has
befallen our people.
I'VE believe that you are able to re-
lieVe the suffering without going out
side the state for aid.
Everything that makes life beara-
BILE is needed.
Therefore, every contribution, wheth-
er of money, food, clothing and cover
ing, is needed.
Therefore, we ask the good people of
our city to prove again that no one can
appeal to us in vain, much less the chill
dren of our own beloved state
Thirty thousand men, women ana
children, in IL parishes, are in state
bordering on restitution and If these
people are not helped at once, enabling
them to make a crop, hunger and de-
Spair will become permanent, and self
help, that most potent factor of we'll
applied benevolence, will be impossible
in the near future
The people are more hungry than
naked
I'VE therefore desire to emphasize
the necessity for the prompt contribu-
ton of funds and money through this
committee.
1--WE indulge the fervent hope that
our people will remember that he who
gives quickly gives doubly, thereby en-
abling the committee to render the
much-needed help.
subscriptions in cash can be sent to
Henry Newman, treasurer, 934 Grayier
street.
contributions other than money. to
Robert B. Jones, Board of Trade of
New Orleans
During the summer of 1896 an unpre-
cedented drought afflicted the northern
hill parishes of this state and almost en-
! tirely destroyed the crop OF that year
Mr.. Uriah MillSaps saw the necessity OF
procuring a cheap supply of corn for
these farmers. He first took up the
matter in the board of trade and Sc
cured reduced rates of transportation
by the railway lines and began distri-
button of corn at reduced prices to the
drought parishes. Shortly after this
| Gov. Foster came nobly to the front
and called upon the representatives OF
/ the parishes in the drought district to
meet him in convention at Ruston- AT
/ this meeting plans were laid for state
| aid, and Mr.. Millsaps was appointed
/ with other gentlemen on a committee
1 to go to ST. Louis and arrange with
1 transportation lines for reduced freight
on supplies of corn for these parishes
| After this committee made their report
Gov. Foster appointed a state relief
committee, of which Mr. MillssaPs was
/ made chairman.
1 They have since been engaged in the
! purchase and distribution of this grain
/ A portion of this corn was given free
| to the destitute; the balance is sold at
| reduced prices, the state paying very
| large percentage of the freight. 1t will
require 1,O0O,OO0 bushels of grain to
produce a crop in the drought parishes
| this year. One half of this has been
| contracted to be shipped mostly from
/ Kansas. Mr.. MillSapS says that the
| only trouble he has in this business Is
! in getting the grain dealers to ship rap
| idly enough; some contracts made with
quick shipment" clause, now more
| than a month DID, are not yet complet-
! ed.
The grain in the United States is
| largely marketed in bulk instead OF
| sacks, as formerly. There are thousands
| of grain dealers who have no sacks OF
| sacking facilities, and they decline tc
| receive orders for shipment of grain IL
| sacks.
| In the purchase of this corn the com
mittee is confined to the railroads Will
| which they have contracted; this pre-
vents their buying in general markets
| of the corn belt