The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-04-13
WORST IS OVER.
Flood Situation as Summarized in
Reports to AIger.

WASHINGTON, April 12.-Secretarv
Alger thinks the worst of the flood dan
gers have passed in the Mississippi
valley, and that with the force of the
war department, which is In the field.
cooperating as 1t is with the local re-
lief committees, there is small dan
ger that suffering will be permitted to
go unchecked and unrelieved. One dan
ger to be avoided from now on, in Sec
rotary Ayers opinion, is the possible
concentration OF the destitute Iaborers
In the cities and towns in order to
secure the relief which the government
holds out. 1t is highly important. in
the estimation of the secretary. that
this concentration be averted as far
as possible, in order to make sure that
the farm laborers will not permanently
desert their old homes and perhaps be-
come charges upon the towns. Also. it
is felt that the labor of this class of
refugees will be very necessary to re-
store the plantations and farms to
workable condition, and ensure the
making Of crops this year. Some of
these dangers were strongly set out in
telegraphic report receivd by Secre-
tary Alger last night, from Lieut.. Ro-
wan, one Of the inspecting officers in
the field, based on representations of
leading citizens of Helena and Green
Vile. Accordingly, Secretary AIger
this morning sent the following teIe-
graphic order, through Adjt. Gen. Rug
giles, to the cOmmissary office at Mem
phis, with instructions to forward the
same order to all the officers now dis
tributing rations:
The secretary of war directs YOU to use ev
cry possible effort TO prevent people who are
receiving aid from the government from
gathering in their districts. for as soon as
the water subsidies, their services will be re-
qutred to till the fields and besides IL would
be a great expense to transport them back
to their former homes when needed.
The question Of feeding the livestock
of the people, driven from their homes
by water, has been solved. When it
was first proposd to authorize the off,
GERS to buy forage for the animals. it
was held that the resolution of con-
gress would not permit this to be done
and the officials were about to ask con-
gress to amend the original joint reso-
luton, when the treasury authorities
decided that the resolution itself con-
tanned the necessary authorization
This was fortunate, for Capt Davis
at Memphis, Saturday night TELEGRAPH
ed that it seemed absolutely necessary
to purchase forage for the stock in ad-
dition TO food, and the permission TO
do so was at once given him Another
decision, that may do something to
relieve the government authorities Of
undue pressure upon their resources.
was also made by Secretary Alger upon
the recommendation Of Capt Davis
This was to reduce the rations supplied
to the simplest proportions while still
making sure that they shall be sIlfTi-
cient for actual needs The army ra-
ton will be discarded, and in its place
the hungry will get nothing but n0rtx
corn meal and molasses. Capt. Davis
report on the subject was contained in
the following telegram:
Memphis-Condftion here much the same
Water subsiding slightly and slowly. Steam
CT J. s. Hardin hired to take Mai. Sands on
inspecting tour and carrying relief Have
shipped on requisition of the relief commit
tee, $500 pounds pork, 500 pounds cornmeal
$50 gallons Inolasses, in charge Of Lieut. Car
nahan for distribution in that district The
steamer sailed at 7 O'Clock this morning
Civilian relief committee is to be reorganize<i
II Is difficult TO obtain accurate information
as TO the number OF destitute at any point
In purchasing supplies we have figured on
plantation ration consisting daily. per per-
son. OF Z ounces pork, q 81 ounces cornr,.,al
half pint of molasses -Davis
This was supported by the following
telegram, which was turned over to the
war department by Representative
Catchings, its recipient
Impress on the secretary Of war the ad-
visibility Of sending only meat, meal flour
corn and oats to food sufferers here They
are cheaper and go further than the regular
army ration This should only be distrib-
uted through government officials.
Lieut.. Rowan telegra phed last night
from Memphis TO Secretary Alger that
he would start this morning for Helena
Fitch. At Helena he would board the
Meteor, placed at his disposal for in
spection purposes. The boat would
carry some supplies furnished Capt
Davis for distribution in special emery