The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-04-08
FOR FLOOD SUFFERERS
President Mckinley Addresses a Message
to Congress Urging SPECIFY Action.
THE SITUATION Is VERY CRITICAL
hte Esfimntns ,hnt There Are Over
$4,000 People Whose Crops HIVE
Reen Destroyed mud Business S.is.
pended d-NcE,dres ShOw tho Elo0ds
the Worst Ever I1nown.

Washington, April THE President
sent this message to Congress to-day:
To the Senate and House OF Representa-
tires:
Information which has recently come
to Inc from the Governors of Arkansas
Mississippi and Louisiana, and from
prominent citizens of these States and
Tennessee, warranty the conclusion that
Widespread distress, involving the de-
structton Of a large amount OF property
and loss Of human life has resulted from
the Hoods which have submerged that
section Of the country.
THE WORST EVER KNOWN.
These are stated on reliable authority
to be the most destructive floods that
nave ever, devastated TIE Mississippi
valley, the water being much higher
than the highest stage it has ever reach
ed before. From Marion, Ark, north Of
Memphis. to Greenville, Miss, q dis
tance OF more than 250 miles by river.
1t Is reported that there are now at least
% towns and villages under water, anu
q territory extending from 100 miles
north OF Memphis to 200 miles south
and from five to forty miles wide IS sub
merged
Hundreds Of thousands Of acres OF
euttlvated soil With growing crops are
included IN the submerged territory In
this section alone there are from 30 600
70 Co,oue 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 certain
areas threatened with starvation. AS 4
great majority of the sufferers are small
farmers, they have thus been lert en-
tTely destitute, and will be unprepared
Tor work even after the foods have sub
sided. T''Ea >',
a CRITICAL SITUATION.
the entire MISSISSIPPI Valley in Ar
kansas is flooded, and communication
with many points cut off. In Missis-
sippi a like condition exists. The lcyces
an Louisiana with n single exception,
nave held, but the water is rising, ana
the situation there is reported as heinz
extremely critical
Under such circumstances the citi-
zens OF these States look for the CO.
opera lion and support OF the national
government III relieving the p:esEins
case: or dsstitu,:on for food. clothing
ana shelter which are beyond The re ach
or local efforts. The authorities who
nave communicated with the executive
tecesnlGe that their first and most en-
ersetlc duty is TO provide as far as nos.
sole the means OF caring for their own
c!lEenS; put nearly all of them agree
IN the opinion that after their resources
,oeen exhausted, sum aggraga;ing
a: least $4,000 and possibly sS0O O00 vii
PRECEDENT CITED.
Precedents are not wanting ,b,t ~
such emergencies as this Congress; has
taken prompt, generous and inta;lirent
"csion involving the expenditure CT con
slue'a s pie sums OF money, with t:atisfac
.o!! re;ults: In 1874 S590,Ooo was appro
p!iated, and 1882 S35N,O was also annro-
pr:a.ed tor relief in the same direction
pes.des large sums in other wears
me citizens Relief Committee Of
.nehhPh1s, which has taken prompt oc
.ion' on mas already cared for from G 0OD 10
t,VVo refugees from the flooded districts
q. ,hu !heS are still arriving in that city
IN large numbers daily. SupDlies and
provisions have been sent to the yarions
po:hls III Arkansas and Mississipp hv
TINS committee, but the utmost thn; cnn
ne done by these efforts Is 10 ,lartlv 70
!ieFe the most acute cases OF sufferine
40 action has yet been taken for thc
great majority OF the inhabitants living
IN the interior. whose condition has ,i
ready been described
onuer these conditions and having az
erted themselves to the fullest extent
the local authorities have re,uclantiv
confessed their Inability to further cone
with th:s distressing situation unaided
oy relief from The Governments
PROMPT HELP NEEDED.
1T has. therefore, seemed 10 mo thai
the representatives Of the reope should
be promptly Informed OF the nature and
extent Of the suffering ana needs Of
these stricken peop.1, and have com
municated these facts in the hope and
1ellef that the legislative branch of the
government Will promptly re-enforce the
work Of the local authorities In thn
states named n>,
WILLIAM M'kINLEY
Executive MaEE.on, April 4 1897.
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