The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1897-04-10
TO THE RESCUE.
In Response 10 the spesiai Message
of President Mckinley, the Sum OF
100000 Ia Promptly Appropri-
ated by senate and House.


Washington, April s. -. The president
Wednesday sent the following message
TO the senate and house of representa-
ti,es:
Information which has recently come 10
me from the governors OF Arkansas. Mis-
sissippi and Louisiana and from prominent
citizens OF these states and Tennessee war
rants the conclusion that widespread dis
trees. involving the destruction OF a large
amount OF property and loss OF human
life, has resulted from the Hoods which
have been submerging that section OF the
country. These are stated. on reliable
authority. to be the most destructive
foods that have ever devastated the Mis-
sissippi valley. the water being much high
er than the highest stage IL has reached
before. From Marion. Ark. north OF Mem
phls. TO Greenvillc. Miss. a distance OF
more than $50 miles by river. II is reported
there are now at least 30 towns and viii
lagos under water; and territory ex-
tending from 100 miles north OF Memphis
TO 200 miles south. and from TO 40 miles
wide. Is submerged. Hundreds OF thou
sands OF acres OF cultivated soil. with
growing crops. are included In the sub
merged territory. In this section alone
there are from $4,000 10 50 900 people whose
property has been destroyed and whose
business has been suspended. Growing
crops have been ruined thousands of cat
or certain areas threatened with starva-
ton. AS a great majority OF the sufferers
are small farmers. they have thus been
left entirely destitute and viii be unpre-
pared for work even after the floods have
subsidized.
THE entire Mississippi valley I'm Arkan-
sas Is flooded and communication with
many points cut of. In Mississippi a like
condition exists. The levees In Louisiana,
with a single exception. have held: but the
L. .fUlsxr ut.I h uegy.
reported as being extremely critical
Under such circumstances the citizens
OF these states look for the cooIeration
and support or the national government In
relieving the pressing cases OF restitution
for food, clothing and shelter which nre
authorities who have communicated with
the executive recognize that their first
and most energetic duty is TO provide az
far as possible the means Of caring for
their own citizens; but nearly all OF thcm
agree IN the opinion that after their re-
sources have been exhausted a sum aR-
gregating at least $4,000. and possibly
900. will be required for immediate use
"Precedents are not wanting that In such
emergencies as this congress has taken
prompt. generous and intelligent action,
involving the expenditure or considerable
sums OF money, with satisfactory results
In 1874 $4,000 was appropriated, and In
1882 3S50.000 was also appropriated for re-
sums I'm other years
THE citizens relief committee OF Mem
phis. which has taken prompt action, has
already cared for from 5000 to 1000 refu-
gees from the flooded districts and they
are still arriving In that city In large num-
bers daily. Supplies and provisions have
been sent 10 the various points I'm Arkan-
sas and Mississippi by this committee, but
the most 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 In
hapitants living IN the interior whose con-
dition has already been described.
Under these conditions. and having ex-
erted themselves 10 the fullest extent, the
local authorities have reluctantly confessed
their inability TO further cope with this
distressing situation unaided by relief from
the government.
1T 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 have communicated
these facts In the hope and belief that the
legislative branch OF the government will
promptly reinforce the work OF the local
authorities In the states named.
WILLIAM M'KINLEY.
Executive Mansion. April Z. 1897.
Washington, April s.--Senator Jones,
of Arkansas, offered a joint resolution
in the senate Wednesday appropriate
ing $150,oO0 for supplies to the Missis-
sippi river sufferers, and it was passed
at once.
la the house Mr.. Catchings, OF MIS-
sissippi, offered a resolution appropri-
ating 100000 for the relief of the Mis-
sissppi Good sufferers. This was
promptly passed.
This would have left an awkward sit
uation, but the senate yielded prece-
dcnce TO the house and recalled its res
olution. and then promptly passed the
house resolution, which was at once
transmitted to the president
Washington, April s.-The president
signed the resolution for the relief OF
the flood sufferers NJ 1855 p. IN. He au-
thorized the secretary Of the navy to
secure ship for the transportation of
grain TO the famine sufferers In India.
Soon afterward the presidential party
drove TO the wharf and embarked on
the Dolphin for few days outing.
The party comprised the president
and Mrs. Mckinley. Mrs. SaNton, DR..
Rates. the naval surgeon. and Secretary
Porter and wife.
REPlJBl ICANS WIN