The record-union., 1897-04-08

WASHINGTON, April THE Presi-
dent to-day sent the following message
to the Senate and House of Represen-
tatives:
Information which has recently come
to me from the Governors of Arkansas,
Mississippi and Louisiana and from
prominent citizens of these States and
Tennessee, warrants the conclusion
that widespread distress, involving the
destruction of large amount of prop
erty and loss of human life, has result
ed from the floods which have been
submerging that section Of the country.
These are stated on reliable author
ity to be the most destructive floods
that have ever devastated the Missss-
ippi Valley. the water being much high
er than the highest stage it has reached
before. From Marion, Ark, north of
Memphis, to Greenville, Miss, a dis
lance of more than $50 miles by river,
1T is reported that there are now at
least fifty towns and villages under
water, and territory extending from
100 miles north of Memphis to 200 miles
south, of from five to forty miles wide,
is submerged, and hundreds of thou
sands of acres of cultivated soil with
growing crops are included in the sub
merged territory.
In this section there are from 80
OO0 to 10000 people, whose property
has been destroyed and whose business
has been suspended. Grown crops have
been ruined, thousands of cattle have
been drowned and the inhabitants of
fap Will
ton. AS a great majority of the suf-
ferers are small farmers, they have
thus been left entirely destitute, and
will be Cnprepared for work even after
the floods have subsidized.
1.-The entire Mississippi Valley in
Arkansas is flooded, and communica-
ton with many points cut off, In
Mississippi, a like condition exists. The
levees in Louisiana, with a single ex-
ception, have held but the water is
rising, and the situation there is re-
ported as being extremely critical.
Under such circumstances. the cit
liens of these States look for the CO.
operation and support of the National
Government in relieving the pressing
cases of restitution for food. clothing
and shelter, which are beyond the
reach of local efforts. The authorities
who have communicated with the Ex-
ecutive recognize that their first and
most energetic duty is to provide as
far as possible, the means for caring
for their own citizens, but nearly all
of them agree in the opinion that after
their resources have been exhausted a
sum aggl egating at least S15000O and
possibly $500, 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 of
considerable sums of money with sat
isfactory results. In 1874 $3.50. 900
was appropriated, and in 1882 $3.50. OOO
was also appropriated for relief in the
same direction, besides large sums in
| other years.
The citizens relief committee of
Memphis. which has taken prominent
| action, has already cared for from g.
OOO to 1000 refugees from the flooded
districts, and they are still arriving
in that city in large numbers dailv
Supplies and provisions have been sent
to the 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
cases of suffering. No action has vet
been taken for the great majority of
the inhabitants living in the interior.
whose condition has already been de-
scribed.
Under these conditions and having
exerted themselves to the fullest ex-
| tent, the local authorities have reluc-
family confessed their inability to
further cope with this distressing sit
uation unaided by relief from the Gov
eminent 1t has, therefore, seemed to
me that the representatives of the peo-
pie 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 prompt
| ly reinforce the work of the local au-
| thorities in the States named.
WILLIAM M'KINLEY."
Executive Mansion, April Z. 1897
RELIEF MEASURE PASSED.
WASHINGTON, April THE text of
| the relief resolution, in accordance with
the Presidents message, as it passed
Congress and was sent to the President
| is as follows:
Resolved, That the sum of 5000 DOC
is hereby appropriated out of any mon
ey in the Treasury not otherwise an
proproated, to be expended by. and nm
der the direction of the Secretary of
War, to purchase and distribute sub
| sistence stores to such destitute persons
as may require assistance in the dis
trict overfiowed by the Mississippi
River and its tributaries, and by the
Red River of the North, by the recent
| floods. The Secretary of War is All
thorized to use the steamers and other
boats and vessels belonging to or now
employed by the Government upon the
Mississippi River and its tributaries in
the transportation and distribution OF
the supplies furnished by the United
States or individuals to and among said
destitute and suffering people, and may
employ such other means of transpor-
] tatiOn as he NAV dao,,, nooocCorx- ~