Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-04-10
FLOOD RELIEF OPERATIONS.
The Government Machinery In
Working Order.

WASHINGTON. -. G., April 9.-The
machinery provided by the War Depart
ment for the relief Of sufferers from the
Mississippi river floods is now in work.
ing order, and Secretary Alger said to-
day that by tomorrow morning the de-
partment would be in position to cover
the entire flooded district with its forces
of inspectors. The officers already de-
tailed TO this service haye started for
the West. and before leaving Washing
ton they received orders assigning them
TO different sections of the great river.
Major Craig. of the Signal Corps. is
prepared 10 proceed to New Orleans to
consult with Major G. NJ. Derby, the en-
gineer officer in charge OF that section,
and then to proceed to Redriver land
ings, investigating the condition and
needs of the people as he proceeds. His
orders are TO report the. results OF his
Investigations directly TO Secretary Alger.
who will use the information in con-
junction with similar reports from other
officers. as basis for the distribution of
the relief stores. Captain Charles II.
Clarke, of the Ordnance Department is
ordered to Nicksburg: there TO consult
with Mayor J. II. Willard. the, station
engineer. after which he Will also pro-
ceed 10 Red-river landings. on tour of
Investigation. He. like his brother Of
ficers. engaged in this duty, is instructed
to confer FUZZY with all OF the local ReneI
Committees on his route. a.
First-Leutenant a. s. Rowan Nine
teenth Infantry. goes TO Memphis to con-
fer there with Captain Fitch, of the en-
gineer corps Thence he starts on tour
of the river between Helena. Ark, ana
Greenville Miss. Major Sanger. the In
spector-General also goes TO Memphis,
but after talking over the conditions with
Captain Fitch, he will take as his route
the river from Memphis to Helena. Cap
tain Martin, assistant quartermaster, VIII
go first to Vicksburg and hear from Ma
ior Willard, the engineer officer stationed
there His section of the river will eX-
tend from Vicksburg to Greenville. Sc
cond-Lieutenant II. NJ. Whitney, Fourth
Artillery, takes section No. Of the river
from Cairo up. He will first report the
condition of affairs at Memphis.
The abatement of the flood in the Red
river of the North has caused the re-
scinding of the order already issued to
another officer to proceed TO that section.
All of the boats of the lighthouse es-
tablishment on the Mississippi have been
turned over to the War Department for
relief work. SO have the boats of the
Mississippi River Commission. and Sec
retary Alger says If these are not sum
cient he Will charter as many more nf the
river craft as may be necessary.
This morning Secretary Alger sent an
identical telegram to the Governors of
Mississippi Arkansas, Louisiana, and
Missouri asking them to designate the
points where they desire ratiOns deliver
ed for distribution, and also TO name per-
sons to receive them. The first response
was from Governor McLaurn. of Mis-
sissippi, giving names and places as re-
duested Governor Foster. of Louisiana,
telegraphed that his people had no pres
ent need of government stores, but re-
turned thanks for the generous offer. The
other States have not yet been heard