The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-04-07
M'KINLEY ACTS.
Sends Message on the
Flood TO The Senate.
Says the Means of Local Conf
mitteeS are Exhausted.
Resolutions for Relief Passed by
Both Senate and House.

f. Washington, April THE president to.
day sent the following message TO the
senate and house of representatives:
Information which recently came to
me from the governors Of Arkansas, Mis-
sissippi and Louisiana and from promi-
| nent citizens OF these states and Tennes-
see warrants tho conclusion that wide
| spread distress, involving the destruction
! of large amount of property and loss of
human life has resulted from the floods
which have submerged that section of
| the country. Those floods are stated, on
reliable authority, 20 be the most de-
structiye floods TINT have ever visited the
Mississippi valley, the water being higher
than the highest stage il has reached be.
fore. From Marion, Ark. north of Mem
phis, TO Greenyille, Miss, distance of
more than $50 miles by river, il is report !.
cd that there are now at least 80 towns
and villages under water, and territory
extending from 100 miles north of Mem
phis 10 200 miles south and from D 10 40
miles wide is submerged. Hundreds
of thousands of acres of cultivated
soil with growing crops are
in the territory. In this sec
tion alone there are from ~, 0OO TO 60 600
people whose property has been destroyed
and whose business has been suspended.
Growing crops have been ruined thou
the inhabitants OF certain areas threaten
od with starvation. AS "a great majority
OF the sufferers arc small farmers, they
have thus Leen left entirely destitute and
will be unprcpared for work even after
the floods have subsided. The entire Mis-
sissippi valley in Arkansas is flooded and
communication with many points cut OFF.
In Mississippi like condition exists. The
leyees in Louisiana, with a single excep-
tion have held, but the water is rising
and the situation there is reported as be-
ing extremely critical.
Under such circumstances the citizens
of these states look for the cooperation
and support of the national government
In relieving pressing cases of destitution
Tor 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 energetic duty is 10 provide as far as
possible the means of caring for their own
citizens; but nearly all of them agree in
the opinion that after their resources have
been exhausted "A sum aggregating at
least SlJO, 600 and possibly S9UO, 900 Will be
required for immediate use.
Prccedents are not wanting. AT such
emergencies as this Congress has taken
prompt generous and intelligent action,
involving the expenditure of considerable
sums of money, with satisfactory results.
In 1874 $3.50, 600 was appropriated and in
1882 $3.50, coo was also appropriated for
relief in the same direction besides large
sums in other years. The citizens relief
committee of Memphis which has taken
prompt action has already cared for from
5000 TO 700 refugees from the flooded dis
tricts and they are still arriving in that
city in large numbers daily. Supplies
and provisions have been sent to the vari-
Gus points in Arkansas and Mississippi
by this committee but the utmost that
can be done by these efforts is to partly
relieve the most acute cases of suffering.
No action has yet been take" for the great
majority of the suffering inhabitants liv-
ing in the interior whose condition has
already been described.
Unuer these conditions, and having ex-
orted themselves to the fullest extent the
local authorities have reluctantly confessed
their inability TO further cope with this
distressing situation unaided by relief from
the government IL has, therefore,
seemed to me that these people should
have their sufferings alleviated.
(Signcd) WM. MCKINLEY.
Executive Mansion, April z.