The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-04-08
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Accommodating 10 Congress Relief for the
IOmsIsS' and Destitute Flood SRfrsEsrs.


Recommending 10 Congress Relief for the
IIomsIss' and Destitute Flood sufferers
WASHINGTON, D. c, April 1.-THE
President to-day sent the following
message to the senate und house Of rep-
reseRtRtiges:
To the Congress OF the United States.
Information which has recently come
to me from the governors OF Arkansas.
Mississippi! and Louisiana, and from
protnineu: citizens OF these states and
Tennessee. warrants the conclusion that
widespread distress, Involving the de-
s;ructlon OF large amount OF property
and loss OF human life. has resulted
from the floods which have submera-
ed that section OF the country. These
are stRted, on reliable authority, to be
the most destructive floods that have
ever devastated the Mississippi valley
the water being much higher taau the
highest stage It has reached before.
From Marion, Ark, north OF Memphis.
to Greenville Miss n distance OF more
than 950 mIIes by river, u Is reported
there are now ut least hfty towns and
villaEe.i under water, and territory
extending from one hundred miles north
OF Memphis 10 two hundred miles south
aud from five to forty miles wide. u
submerged Hundreds OF thousands OF
acres OF cultivated soil, with growing
crops. are included In the submerged
territory. In LiiA section Mono therPHre
from 58,909 TO G0,G08 people whose prop
erty haS been destroyed ana ~hose
business has been suspended. Growing
crops have been ruined, thousands Of
cattle have been drowned, and the In.
habftants OF certain areas threatened
with starvation. As a great majority OF
the sufferers are small farmers, they
have thus been left entirely destitute
and will be HHprepared for work. eyeu
after the floods have subsidized,
The entire Mississippi valley IN Ar
kansas Is flooded and communication
with many points cut on. In Mississippi
like condition exists. The leVees IN
Louisiana, with n single exception have
held: but the water Is rising, ana the
situation there Is reported as being eN-
tremely critical
Under such circumstances. the Clti-
gems OF thesesstates took FOR the coop
grafton and support OF the national
government IN relieving the pressing
cases OF destltutlon for fool. clothing
and shelter which are beyond the reach
OF local efforts. The authorities who
have communicated with the executive
recognize that their first and most en-
erErtlc duty IS 10 provide as iar as pos
slble the means Of caring for their owA
cItigens: but nearly all of them agree
IN the opinion that. after their resources
have been exhausted, sum aggrcgtt-
ing Al least $3.50, 600. and possibly Ss0O,-
0OO. Viii be required for immediate use.
Precedents are not wanting that In
,iIch emerupncieS as this Congress has
taken prompt, generous and intelllSent
action. involving the expenditure OF
considerable sums Uf money, with sat
Isfac,Ory results. IN 1874, S59O.OOO was
oppropriated. aud IN 1852, SSJD.OOO was
niso appropriated for relief In the same
direction. beside large gums In other
years.
Memphis, which has taken prompt de-
tion has already cared for from 5000 TO
I 900 refugees from the Hooded districts.
mud they are st!ll arriving IN that city
in large numbers, daily. supplies ana
provisions have been sent to the var,
ious points In Arkansas and mississippi
by this committee, but the utmost ilal
can be done by these efforts ls 10 partly
relieve the most acute cases OF sumcr-
ing, No action has yet been tlken Tor
the great majority OF tho inhabitants
ltyIng in the interior, whose condition
has already been described.
Under these conditions. ana hhVinE
exeried themselves 90 the fullest extent,
the local authorities have reluctantly
confessed their inability 10 further cope
with this distressing situation unaidel
by relief from the government
Il has, therefore, seemed to me that
the representatives OF the people should
b. promptly Informed Ot the nntUre
and extent Of the suffering nnd needs
or these stricken people, and ] have
communicated these facts In the hops
and belief that ihe legislative branch
or the government viii promptly rN-eh-
sorce the work OF the local authorities
In the states named.
WILLIAM M'KINLEY.
Executive Mansion, April 4. 1879.