The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1897-04-15
HELP FOR HELPLESS.

HELP FOR HELPLESS.
President Mckinley Asks an Apprepris.
tion for Flood Sufferers.
WASHINGTON, April THE Presi-
dent sent this message to congress to-
day:
"To the Senate and House Of Req
resentatives: Information which has
recently come to me from the COVER
hers of Arkansas, Mississippi and
Louisiana and from prominent citizens
of these States and Tennessee, war
rants the cor clusion that widespread
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. 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, Ark, north of Mem
phis, to Greenville, Miss, a distance
o. more than $50 miles by river, it is
reported that there are now at least 50
towns and villages under water and
territory extending from 100 miles
north of Memphis to 200 miles south
and from 8 to 40 miles wide, is sub.
merged. Hundreds of thousands Of
acres of cultivated soil with growing
crops are included in the submerged
territory. In this section, alone there
are from $4,000 to go 900 people whose
property has been destroyed, and
whose business has been suspended.
Growing crops have baen ruined,
thousands of cattle have been drowned
and the inhabitants OF certain areas
threatened with starvation. As q
great majority of the sufferers are
small farmers, they have thus been
left entirely destitute and will bs un.
prepared for work even after the flood
have subsidized. The entire Mississippi
valley in Arkansas is flooded and com
munication with many points cut off.
In Mississippi like condition exists.
The l.vees in Louisiana, with single
exception, lave held, but the water is
rising and the situation there is re-
ported as being extremely critical.
Under such circumstances, the citizens
of these States look for the cooperation
and support of the national govern
ment in relieving the pressing cases
of de8titution for food, clothing and
shelter which are beyond the reach of
local efforts The authorities who
have communicated with the execu.
tive 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
agree in the option that after these re.
sources have been exhausted, q sum
aggregating at least $15G000 and pos
sibIy 5000, 900 will be required for i'm.
mediate use. Precedents are not
wanting that in such emergencies as
this congress has taken prompt, gener-
Gus and intelligent action, involving
the expenditure of considerable sums
of money. with satisfactory results.
In 1874 $3.50, 900 was appropriated and
in 1882 $3.50, 900 was also appropriated
for relief in the same direction, be-
side, large sums in other years.
"Ihe citizens relief committee Of
Mem phis, which has taken prompt ac-
ton, has already cared for from 6, 600
to z, 900 refugees from the flooded dis
tricts aud they are still arriving in that
city in large numbers daily. Sup
plies and provisions have been sent to
the various points in Arkansas and
Mississippi by the committee, but the
utmost that can be done by these ef-
forts 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 condition has already been de-
scribed. Under these conditions and
having exerted themselves to the full.
est extent, the local authorities have
reluctantly confessed their inability
to further cope with this distressing
situation unaided by the government.
It has therefore, seemed to me that
the representatives of the people should
be promptly informed Of the nature
and extent of the suffering and needs
of these stricken people and I have
communicated these facts in the hope
and belief that the legislative branch
of the government will promptly re.
enforce the work of the local authori.
ties in the States named.
civilian MCKINLEY.
Executive Mansion, April z, 1897. "
APPROPRIATION MADE.
WASHINGTON, April THE joint
resolution making appropriation for
the food sufferers passed through
both houses of congress with a rush
and was signed by President. Pro
Tenn. Frye of the senate and Speaker
Reed of the house and sent up to the
White House for President Mckinley 8
approval. :.
Bryan and Mckinley Meet.
WASHINGTON, April 6.-There were
some important callers at the white
house this morning before the cabinet
assembled at IL o'clock. First came
Senator Hanna, of Ohio, who had
inst returned from Cleveland, whith.