Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-04-07
FOR FLOOD RELIEF.
RATE RESOLUTION MAKES APPEAL
TO CONGRESS UNNECESSARY.
aEpIDEKlC FUND" AVAILABLE.
II May he Applied to Purchase OF
Supplies for the distressed People
Flood situation, Generally speak
ing, Improved.

WASHINGTON, Aprl t-iAtc '"'S -
ternoon President Mckinley and secre-
tary Alger had a conference about the
proposed message TO Congress recon-
menGing Federal relief for the flood SUI
fercrs In the Southwest. They examined
and discussed the Bate resolution. which
passed the Senate yesterday. making
available the epidemic fund" for the
purchase of supplies 10 succor the dis
tressed people. and finally came TO the
practical agreement that this resolution
removed the necessity for an appeal from
the President TO Congress, asking that
on appropriation for the sufferers be
made. and while e was not definitely
stated that the proposed message should
not be sent. IL is extremely improbable
that the President will communicate with
the legislative branch on the subject
President Mckinley and Secretary Al
ger examined maps Of the flooded sec
tion. and the kilograms representing the
situation there They discussed the sub
ject thoroughly. and parted with the I'M
Outstanding stated
The President will not leave Washing
ton on his outing until the Bate resolu-
ton. or some other relief measure has
been signed.
FLOOD SITUATION.
ST. LOUIS. MO. April 6.-Conirary TO
the predictions OF the local Weather Blu
reau and old-river men. the MISSISSIPPI
river remained stationary during last
night, but began TO rise slowly this morn
ing. the gauge now marking y feet Ike
ports received from points north as far
as Keokuk state that the river is rising
at the rate Of four inches every twenty
four hours The Des MOines and Missouri
rivers are reported rising rapidly, ana
these floods. together with the water in
the Illinois river. will cause the lower
river 10 gain at least two feet within the
next forty-eight hours. The weather IL
clear and warm In Missouri and Arkansas
to-day. SO far this morning, reports
from points on the lower river show the
situation 10 be practically unchanged.
ANXIETY AT NATCHEz.
ST. LOUIS. MO. April Ga special
telegram TO the ScTipps-McRae Press AS
ISOLATION states that the river is falling
at Helena. Ark, and at Greenville, Miss.
The relief commission at Natchez, Miss,
has issued a warning Of the worst over
flow in the history Of this country, and
entreating every man and boy TO suspend
all business and begin work on the leVees.
The river continues TO rise at that point.
At ST. Joseph, Mo. great anxiety pre-
walls on account of the flood outlook IN
the Missouri river. The river is several
feet higher than ever known before and
the indications favor an increase Of two
feet or more.
At KeOkuk, Iowa. the river is station
airy. but it Is expected 10 rise again
when the flood from 81. Paul reaches
there
At Louisiana, No. and Alton. ILL.,. the
river has fallen about ten inches in the
last twenty-four hours &.
SITUATION AT ST. PAUL.
ST. PAUL. MINI. April 6.-The Mis-
sissippi has remained stationary at eigh-
teen feet for several hours, and the Wea-
Their Bureau officials are hopeful that II
will not go much higher. The Lafayette
School Is surrounded on all sides by
water. and was closed yesterday. Engi-
neer Rundlett has built a boom in the
river. to protect an endangered pier OF
the Wabash-street bridge Engineer
Copeland has closed the Tenth-avenue
bridge in Mipneapoliss because OF a
fear that IL will be wrecked. The bridge
cost $4,000. is 60 feet above the water,
and lib feet long.
At st. Paul. Staples & Kings ice-house
collapsed yesterday. Gautie's ice-house
is in twelve feet Of water, and the Ice
II contained has foated away. Four
hundred persons in the vicinity Of the
Washington-avenue bridge, Minneapolis,
have been forced TO leave their homes.
AT WINONA.
Al Winona all the saw-mills. except
that Of the Winona Lumber Company,
have had TO shut down, and foot and
A half more of water will make the latter
close. Youmans Brothers Hodgins
have large crowd of men at work
moving lumber from the lowlands TO
place Of safety. Merchants in Second
street are moving goods out of their cell
lars and residents on the lowlands on
west Fourth street are leaving their
houses. The Diamond Joe dock is under
water The second levee wall Is now
covered, and q foot more rise Will badly
wash the levee park, constructed at con-
siderable expense last year.
The bridge over the Wisconsin slough
on the road 10 the high wagon-bridge,
has gone out. cutting Off travel with
Wisconsin, Both the passenger bridges
between Fargo and Moosehead are closed
and the water is two feet high in Front
street and Northern avenue, and -FOUR
blocks of paving are headed toward Win
vent further damage.
The CHEYENNE river, west of Fargo, has
begun 10 rise. and is flowing across
the prairie and flooding the entire west
side of the town. Many families Will be
compelled TO move, unless the water ialls
quickly. Nearly every basement In
Fargo Is flooded. including the press
rooms of all the papers
FLOOD IN MISSOURI.
MANDAN. y. d, April 6.-The ice in
the Missouri river has gorged below here,
and the water is now rising at the rate
~ six feet per hour. 10 is probable
that the lower part of this city Will be
Inundated The Northern Pacihc rail-
way tracks between this city ana Bis
marck are under water. The great steam
boat warehouse at the LANDING mere Is
afioat. IL is tied TO the banks ~ CABLES
OUTLOOK ENCOURAGING.
NEW ORLEANS, La April 1.-THE
river i'm front of this place is at stand
a,d the outlook locally Is very en-
nos,ras.ng A tremendous volume of
water Is being DETECTED down the Atcha-
falaya. and this. of course, relieves
the strain on the Mississippi, south of
Red river landing. very severe ram
storm prevailed here late this evening,
and a heavy wind is reported 10 have oc-
Cured I'm the vicinity OF Raceland' on the
Southern Pacific road. No particu-
lars have been received.
SITUATION IMPROVED.
NEW ORLEANS. LA, April IA spe-
cial 10 the Daily States, dated Helena,
Ark. April 9th. says: The river de-
clined eight inches last night. making
two feet from the highest mark reached
this year but still foot and half
above the highest flood-mark OF pre-
vious years. The number OF refugees
is Increasing every hour, as beleaguered
families from points remote from the