The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1897-04-13
RELIEVE FLOOD SUFFERS.
The Senate and House Appropriate $780,
900 for Their Beneft--The Presidents
Urgent Message.
WASHINGTON, D. G, April Z.

LIS . spoke IGr Tie MlSS1S-
sippi food sufferers in his prayer in
the House when it met to-day for the
first time this week. He spoke Of those
who have been left homeless and desc
late in the Mississippi valley, "and said,
"touch our hearts that our hands may
be opened to their necessities"
Mr.. Catchings (MississippD at cree
brought forward a joint resolution
authorizing the Secretary of War to
distribute rations among the sufferers.
1t appropriated $500, 900 for the pur-
pose, and author zed the Secretary to
employ the government steamers and
other boats on the Mississippi in trans,
porting and distributing the supplies,
and also such other means as he might
deem necessary for the purpose Of dis
trlbutlng supplies contributed by the
government Or individuals. Mr.. Catch
ings spoke briefly on the subject, say
ing that the President had been in com
municatiOn with the governors of the
states and was in sympathy with leg
lslRtion for their relief. He referred to
the presidents for congressional relief
IN 1882 and 1883. Then he was about
to yield the floor to MIR. Sayers (Eex)
when Mr.. Walker (Mass) interposed
an objection unless there could be
twenty minutes on a side for debate.
II do object" he asserted, "Jo hav-
ing a resolution brought in and having
some n take possession of the House.
There should be time in this House at
some time or other when a man can
speak as the representative of eco, 900
people, and we don't have it at all. No
man is allowed to speak in this House
in his own right"
At this point the Presidents message
was presented, and other business was
suspended while it was read to the
House. 1t was as follows:
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
WAsHINGToN, April THE Presi,
dent sent his message to Congress
to day:
To the Senate and House Of Represen-
tatives:
Information which asrecently come
to me from the Governors Of Arkansas,
Mississippi and Louisiana, and from
prominent citizens of these States and
Tennessee, warrants the conclusion
that widespread distress, involving
the destruction of a large amount of
property and loss of human life has re
suited from the foods which have sub
merged that section of the country.
These are stated on reliable authority,
to be the most destructive floods that
have ever devastated the Mississippi
valley, the water being much higher
than the highest stage it has reached
before.
From Marion, Arkansas, north of
Memphis, to Greenville, Miss, a dis
lance Of more than two hundred and
fifty miles by river, it is reported that
there are now at least fifty towns and
villages under water; and a territory
extending from one hundred miles
north of Memphis to two hundred miles
south, and from five to forty miles wide,
is submerged. Hundreds of thousands
of acres of cultivated soil with
growing crops, are included in
the submerged territory. In this sec
ton alone there are from so, 900 to co.
600 people whose property has been
destroyed and whose business has been
suspended. Growing crops have been
ruined, thousands of cattle have been
drowned, and the inhabitants of Ger
tain areas, threatened with starvation.
As q great me jority Of the sufferers are
small farmers, they have thus been
left entirely destitute and will be un-
prepared for work even after the foods
have subsidized.
ENTIRE VALLEY FLOODED.
The entire Mississippi valley in
Arkansas is flooded, and communica-
ton with many points cut off. In Mis-
sissippi a like condition exists. The
levees in Louisiana, with a single ex
ception, have held, but the water is
rising, and the situation there is re
ported as being extremely critical.
Under such circumstances the citi
zens of these States look for the CO.
operation and support of the National
government in relieving the pressing
cases of restitution for food, clothing
and shelter which are beyond the reach
of local efforts. The authorities who
have communicated with the Executive
recognize that their first and most
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