The times., 1897-08-07
FEEDING FLOOD VICTIMS
Captain Davis Reports His Dis
tributi0n of Relief Funds.
PLANTATION RATIONS ISSUED
Operations of Memphis Relief Com
mittee Warmly Commended-sTook
Care Of Refugees and Never AL
lowed Political Considerations To-
Influence Them

The War Department has just made
public tile report of Capt. George b. Davis,
U. 5. A, in relation to the distribution
of relief for the recent flood sufferers
along the Mississippi. The report shows
that the Government gave 5e5,1 rations
for people, and 81 .057 rations for stock,
at a total cost OF $29,03S.07. the cost of
a single ration per man being $0.0326S,
and for an animal S00416S.
Many interesting facts are embodied in
| Capt Davis report. He says: while in
a letter of instructions, dated Washington.
ID c., April s, 1897, authority was given
me to purchase the components OF the
Army ration and such other articles of
food as might be necessary, l thought.
after consultation with the Memphis re-
lief committee, that il would be advisable
10 oonfine purchases to the plantation RAJ
ton, which was composed OF corn meal.
pork and molasses. i then determined the
quantities that the laborers ordinarily re-
ccivcd, and the Ration was established as
follows: II pounds corn meal, pounds
pork, and IL pint molasscs, where there
were children, per week. In the case of
children, the molasSes would, in measure,
take the place of tic pork.
The following is a brief description of
relief district with the distributing points:
The territory between the Mississippi and
ST. Francis rivers was known as the St.
Francis River district, with issuing points
at Wyanoke. Scanlous, Blue Point, Peters
Landing, Askew, Phillips Bayou, Maranna,
Raggio City, Cut Off, AshwoTth and Madi-
son. The territory from Wyanoke 10
Askew was so completely subneT Tged that
ii was necessary to obtain United States
engineer barges and anchor them at these
points. / employed men to live on the
barges and supervise the distribution OF
supplies, aud found the saving by this
method to be great.
''On April 10, Major Sanger applied for
boat to enable him to carry out his
orders. / considered the rate, 81 so day,
to be eXorb.tant, but on investigation
found it reasonable, as the risk was great,
the insurance beng vitiated the moment
the steamer left the channel. In later trips
the rate was SI25 per day, the reduction
being due to the fact that the steamer
did not run at night
commended in the report. The commit
tee, il says, was composed Of some of
the best and most reliable business men in
town. Their sole object seemed 10 lie TO
relieve the destitute. In many cases the
heads of firms permitted the men under
them 10 devote their whole time to the re-
lief work. The question of politics never
entered the heads of the committee Camp
-.
limits, and refugees were received and
cared for there, and the committee con
tinued TO pay for work done there until
the camp was broken up.
''The people OF Helena took care of their
own refugees for some Jim- at d camp est3t.,-
lisbed near the city. Supplies We're sent
to Helena, and some Of the planters tried
10 obtain supplies on the ground that they
would not bo able to make a crop, but it
was found that they Were really trying
TO get their share.
The governors agent, Mr. J. W. Cutrer,
reported that two-thirds of the people of
Coahoma county, Miss, We're destitute, but
our Investigation found only one-tenth,
whom we relieved
In sending supplies to points on the
Yazoo and Mississippi Valley Railroad some
little trouble was had. The railroads, as
soon as they found that the Government
was sending supplies, began to charge
freight. / requested the agent to send
the bills TO me and the freight should be
prepaid. The Yszoo and Mississippi Val
ley Railroad did neither, although theagent
had told 1e thathe would do so.
The last supplies Were sent north Of
Memphis April %. The land had begun |
TO appear and it was possible to plant
"onthe wayto Vicksburg weinvcstigated |
carefully the situation on both banks of |
the Mississippi and concluded that south |
Of Greenville the situation had been ex- |
aGgerated.
NO organization had been made at |
NatcheZ- People not deserving of aid had |
been given assistance and the country |
was rapidly approaching a condition of |
Generalization. All the evils of a lack |
of system attic di stri button We're pres |
ent. In less than week the district was
and reasonable regulations es-
tablished by which the deserving could
draw rations.
THE suffering along the Yazoo and
sunflower Rivers was perhaps greater
than at any other point on account of
there being so many small farmers. Lit
tie aid was needed from Natchez TO the
mouth of the Red River. the planters, as
a rule, caring for their own people.
ut is due to First Lieut.. f. C. Carna-
han, Fifth Infantry, and First Lieut.. e.
I. Cole, Sixth Infantry, to say that no
officers could have given more cheerful
md earnest cooperation. They worked
With untinng energy for the interests
of the overflowed people. the Government
and the honor of the Arny.n