The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-04-08
WITHIN TWO HOURS
PROMPT RELIEF. AFFORDED FLOOD
SUFFERERS BY CONGRESS-.
Message Received from the President
at Noon Calling Attention to the Sit
uation i'm the Overfow ed Regions.
JOINT RESOLUTION PASSED
81
APPRoPRIATING 100000 FOR THE
PURCHASE OF SUPPLIES,
At Once Engrosscd, Sent to the White
House and signed by President
Mckinley Before z O'Clock.
LOWER LEVEES NOW In PERIL
OVERFLOW WATER NOW RETURN
ING TO THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.
Vicksburg Beginning to Feel the Eff
fects Of the Rise-SituatiOn
Throughout the south.
At Once Engrosscd, Sent to the White
House and Signed by President
Mckinley Before z O'Clock.
LOWER LEVEES NOW In PERIL
OVERFLOW WATER NOW RETURN
ING TO THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.
Vicksburg Beginning to Feel the Eff
Throughout the south.
,cial to the Indianapolis journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON. April THE American
Congress is not slow to action when ii takes
a notion that prompt work is really neces-
sary. This was evidenced to-day in force
full manner. President Mckinley sent mes
sage to Congress when it assembled at
noon, calling attention to the situation i'm
the flooded sections of the country and sug-
gesting that relief be afforded. The House
and Senate at once passed the following
resolution:
Resolved, That the sum of 100000 is
hereby appropriated out of any money in
the treasury not otherwise appropria ted, to
be expended by and under the direction of
the secretary of war in the purchase and
distribution of subsistence stores TO such
destitute persons as may require assist
ance in the district overfiowed by the Mis-
sissippi river and it's tributaries and by the
Red River of the North by the recent
floods. And the secretary of war is author
lied TO use the steamers and other boats
and vessels belonging to or not employed
by the government on the Mississippi river
and its tributaries in the transportation
and distribution of the supplies furnished
by the United States or individuals TO and
among the said destitute and suffering peo
pie and he may employ such other means
of transportation as he may deem neces-
sary TO carry the purpose of this joint
resolution into effect
The resolution was engrossed signed by
the proper officers of both houses and sent
to the White House without delay. where
it was signed by the President at 1:55 p.
m. 1t was then taken over to the War De-
partment. Secretary Alger acted with the
greatest promptness and has already al
most completed arrangements for dstrbu-
tion of government relief for flood suffer-
ers. Six army officers will start for Mem
phis tomorrow and dividing the Missis-
sippi into six sections. will ascertain the
needs of the people. Another detail of off,
GERS will follow. distributing rations in ac-
cordance with the reports of these officers.
acting in harmony with the local relief COM
mittees. The six officers selected to make
the inquiry are Colonel Haines. of the en-
gineer corps, in charge of river and harbor
works in the Baltimore district; Colonel
Sanger, of the inspector generals depart
ment: Captain Gaillard of the engineers:
Captain Marin. of the quartermaster's de-
partment; Captain Craig, of the signal
service. and Captain Clark. of the ordnance
department. Their instructions are 70 leave
Washington tomorrow for Memphis and
dividing the river into six districts. ascer-
tain the number of refugees along the
banks and back districts that are sub
merged. the damage TO property, the loss
TO life and just what supplies are needed
to assist the distressed people.
Touching the details of the plan of dis
tribution. there was a conference this aft
ernoon at the War Department between the
officials and Mr.. Graves president of the
Memphis Chamber of Commerce, and Mr.
j. S. Menken, vice president of the Men,
phis relief committee. To these gentlemen
is owing much credit for the expedition
with which the government relief was Sc
cured. though they were aided heartily by
their representative in Congress and by
the administration. The committee said
that it needed no blankets, nor tents, as
ii was now advised. though reports from
outside points on the river might show the
necessity for some of these later on. What
IL did need now was food and medicine
The supplies could be purchased in Mem
phis TO the best advantage. for that was the
nearest point TO the distressed districts and
would serve best as a point OF distribu-
ton. AT Camp Congo, I'm the limits of
Memphis, a competent physician was al
ready at work and at their suggestion the
War Department will leave to this doctor
the selection of the medical supplies To be
purchased. The six departments into which
the Mississippi will be divided for purposes
of investigation and distribution r. as
follows: From Memphis down to r. elena ;
from Helena down to Greenville: from
Greenviile down to Vicksburg; from Vicks-
burg to New Orleans; from Memphis to
Cairo; from Cairo up.