The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1897-04-15
MCKINIIIGY'S FLOOD MESSAGE.

Two Hundred Thousand Dollars
Given to the Sunrrcrs-Thc Bill
Was Passed in Less Than an Hour.
The President sent the following
message 10 Congress on tho 7th inst,
relative to tho flood sufferers on the
Mississippi:
10 the Senate and House Of Repro
scntativcs:
"Informntion which has recently
come to me from tho governors Of Ar
kansas, Mississippi and Louisiana and
from prominent citizens OF these States
ana fcDncssec, warrants tho conclus-
sion that widespread disaster, iuv0lv-
ing the destruction OF Il largo amount
OF property and tho loss OF human life
has resulted from the Hoods which
have submerged that section OF the
country. They arc stated on reliable
| authority to be the most destructive
Hoods that have ever devastated the
| Mississippi valley, tho water being
much higher than the highest stage
it has reached before.
| From Marion, Ark, north OF Mem
| phis, to Grccnviile, Miss, IL distance
Of more than 25O miles by river, it is
reported ttnt there are now ut least
fifty towns and villages under water,
and The territory extending from 100
miles north OF Memphis to POO miles
south, with Il width Of forty miles, is
submerged. Hundreds Of acres OF un-
cultivated soil and much growing
crops arc included in the submerged
territory. In this section alone thcro
arc 80, 900 people whose property has
been destroyed and whose bus sincss is
totally suspended. Growing crops
have been ruined, thousands Of cattle
have been destroyed and the inhubi-
tants arc threatened with starvation.
~ great majority Of the sufferers arc
small farmers and they have thus been
lclt entirely destitute, and will be un-
prepared for work even after the floods
| have subsidcd.
"Thc entire Mississippi valley in
Arkansas is flooded and communic;..
tlon with many points cut Off. In Mis-
slsslppl like condition exists. The
| lcvccs In Louisiana with Il single cX-
| ceptiOn have held, but the water is
! rising and the situation there is re-
ported as being extremely critical.
Under such circumstances the citi
Gems OF these States look for CO. opera
ti0n and support from the national
government in relieving the pressing
casos Of destitution for food, clothing
and shelter, which arc beyond the
reach OF local efforts. The authorities
who have communicated with tho cx-
ecutlvc recognize that their first and
most energetic duty is to provide as
far as possible within their means for
caring for their own citizens, but
nearly all OF them agree in the opinion
that after their resources have been
exhausted sum aggrcgating at least
$l30,00O and possibly $500, 900 will be
required for immediate use.
Il
In such emergencies rs this Congress
mas taken prompt, generous and in
telligcnt action, involving the expcn-
diturc OF considerable sums Of money,
with satisfactory results. In 1874
$I9O.OO0 was appropriated and in 1892
500, 0OO was also appropriated for re-
llcf in the same direction, and large
sums in other years.
The citizens relief committee Of
Memphis, which has taken prompt
action. has already cared for from
1000 to 1000 refugees from the Hooded
districts, and they arc still arriving
IN that city in large numbers. Sup
plies and provisions have been sent t.
tnc various points in Arkansas and
mississippi by this committee, but the
most that can be done by these efforts
Is to partly relieve the most acute SUI
ierlng. No action has yet been taken
Tor the great ma jority OF the inhab-
ltants living In the interior whose con,
dltlon has already been described.
Under these conditions and having
| cXcrtcd themselves to the fullest cx-
tcnt, the local authorities have re-
/ luctantly confessed their inability to
further cope with the distressing sit
uation unaidcd by relief from the gov
! crnmcnt.
1T has, therefore, seemed to me
that the people should be promptly
informed Of the suffering needs of
these stricken people, and have COM
municatcd these facts in the honest
belief that the legislative branch of
the government will promptly rein
force the work Of the local authorities
Of the states named.
WILLIAM MCKINLEY.
Executive Mansion, April I, 1897. ,
The Presidents message, when read
in both houses, was promptly actc(
upon.
Senator Jones, of Arkansas, offered
"a joint resolution appropriating $3.50,
600 for supplies to the Mississippi
river sufferers and 1t was immediately y
taken M bV tho Spnoto