The Forrest City times., 1897-04-09
M'klNlEYS MESSAGE.
The President Calls the Attention
OF Congress to tho Floods.
The STRICKEN PEOPLE NEED HELP.
There is Abundant Precedent for Con.
gressional Action, and the Nearly
Exhausted Local Efforts Should
be Supplemented.

WASHINGTON, April S.-The president
sent the following message to the SEN
ate and house of representatives:
Information, which has recently come to me
trom the governors OF Arkansas. Missis-
supp and Louisiana, and from prominent citi-
zcns OF these states and Tennessee warrants
the conclusion that widespread distress, in
VoiFlng the destruction of large amount of
property and loss of human life, has
resulted from the floods which have
Dcen submerging that section OF the
country. These are stated, on reliable au-
thority, to be the most destructive foods
thnt have ever devastated the Mississippi val
ley, the water being much higher than the
highest stage it has reached before From
Marion, Ark, north of Memphis to Greenyflle
mlss., distance of more than $50 miles by
river, 1t is reported there are now ut least so
towns and villages under water; and a territory
extending from 100 miles north of Memphis to
200 miles south and from ) to 40 miles wide
Is submerged Hundreds Of thousands of
acres OF cultivated soil with growing crops are
included in the submerged territory In this
section alone there from 50 600 to 90 90 peo-
PIE 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
great majority of the sufferers are small
tftute and will be unprepared for work even
after the floods have subsidized
Inc entire Mississippi valley in Arkansas Ia
Hooded and communication with many points
cut of. In Mississippi like condition exists
The levees in Louisiana, with single excep-
ton, have held but the water is rising and the
situation there is reported as being extremely
critical
Under such circumstances the citizens of
these states look for the cooperation and sup
port OF the national government in relieving
the pressing cases of destitution for food cloth
ing and shelter which are beyond the reach of
local efforts. The authorities who have COM
municated with the executive recognize that
their first and most energetic duty is to provide
as far as possible, the means of caring for their
own citizens; but nearly all of them agrea
in the opinion that after their resources have
been exhausted, sum aggregating at least
$4,000 and possibly $4,000 will be required
for immediate use.
Presidents are not wanting that in 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 $4,000 was appropriated
and in 1882 $3.50 600 was appropriated for relief
In the same direction, beside large sums in other
years.
The citizens relief committee of Memphis
which has taken prompt action, has already
cared for from 1900 to 1900 refugees
from the flooded districts, and they
IRE still arriving in that city in large
numbers daily. Supplies and provisions have
been sent to the various points in Arkansas and
Mississippi by this committee, but the most
can be done by these efforts is to partly relieve
the most acute cases of suffering. No action
has yet been taken for the great majority of the
inhabitants living in the interior whose condi-
ton has already been described.
Under these conditions and have eyerted
themselves to the fullest extent, the loyal au-
thorities have reluctantly confessed their ina
bility to further cope with this distressing stu
alton unaided by relief from the government.
1t has therefore seemed to me that the repre-
sentatives Of the people should be promptly
informed OF the nature and extent of
the suffering and needs OF these stricken
people, and l have communicated these
facts in the hope and belief that the legislative
branch OF the government will promptly REIN
force the work of the local authorities in the
states named. WIN. MCKINLEY.
Executive Mansion, April T. 1897