, 1897-04-08
MESSAGE TO CONGRESS.
IN WHICH THE PRESIDENT ASKS
FOR MONEY FOR FLOOD
SUFFERERS.

Conditions OF Distress Among the Suf-
ferers are Recited by the Executive
PRESIDENTS for the Action are Not
Wanting, and the Need of an Ap-
preparation is Greater Than Ever.
Washington, April THE president
today sent the following message to the
senate and house of representatives:
Information which has come to me
from the governors OF the states Of Ar
kansas, Mississippi and Louisiana, and
from prominent citizens Of these states
and Tennessee, warrants the conclusion
that widespread distress, involving the
destruction Of a large amount of proper
~ and loss Of human life, has resulted
from the floods, which have been cub
merging that section OF the country.
These are stated on reliable authority
to be the most destructive floods that
have ever devastated the Mississippi
valley, the water being much higher
than the highest stage 1t has reached be-
fore. From Marion. Ark, north of Mem
phis. to Greenville. Miss. a distance Of
more than $50 miles by river, 1t is re-
ported there are now at least so towns
and villages under water. and a territory
extending from 100 miles north of Mem
phis 70 200 miles south, Of from five to
40 miles wide, is submerged. Hundreds
Of thousands OF acres Of cultivated soil,
with growing crops, are included In the
submerged territory. In this section
alone there are from $4,000 to 60, 900 peo-
pie. whose property has been destroyed
and whose business has been suspended.
Growing crops have been ruined, thou
sands Of cattle have been drowned, and
the inhabitants Of certain areas threat
ened with starvation. As a great ma
jority OF the sufferers are small farmers,
they have thus been left entirely desti-
tute and will be unprepared for work,
after the floods have subsidized.
INTERRUPTED.
The entire Mississippi valley In Ar
kansas is flooded and communication
with many points cut OF. In Mississippi
a like condition exists. The levees in
Louisiana, with = single exception. have
held, but the water is rising. and the
situation there is reported as being ex-
tremely critical.
Under such circumstances, the citi-
zens OF these states look for the cooper
alton and support Of the national gov
eminent 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 executive recog-
nize that their first and most energetic
duty Is to provide, as far as posaible, the
means for caring for their own citizens,
but nearly all Of them agree in the opin,
ion that after their U have been
exhausted. a sum aggregating at least
e15O, 900. and possibly $500, 900. will be
required for immediate use.
Precedents are MOI wanting that in
such emergencies rs this congress has
taken prompt. generous and intelligent
action, involving the expenditure OF
considerable sums of money with salts
factory results. In 1874, $780, 900 was
Appropriated. and in 1882, $35O,0O0 was
also appropriated for relief in the same
direction, besides large sums In other
years.
REFUGEES IN MEMPHIS.
The citizens relief committee in Mem
phis. which has taken prompt action,
has already cared for from 5000 to 1000
refugees from the flooded districts. and
they are still arriving in that city in
large numbers daily. Supplies and pro-
visions have been sent to the vario.,a
points In Arkansas and Mississippi by
this committee, but the most that can
80 ' - ~ pe.uy re-
NJ ,s.,o. -.
.n
.. 1900 'i''ns