The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1897-04-10
GREENYILLE WASHINGTON COUNTY, MISS SATURDAY, TO-
APPEAL FOR RELIEF.

The following telegram was sent on
wednesday to Governor McLaurln in
response to inquiries from tho Secrc-
tary OF War as to tho necessity for
providing means of relief for suffer.
ers from the flood in this district
~, To the Hon. Al. McLaurln, Governor OF
Mississippi, Jackson, Miss.
"Further investigation into the ef-
feet Of overflow and conference with
leading merchants aud planters show
that this, Washington county, is pr.c-
tlcalIy, entirely overfowed. Tho
population of the county 10 about fifty
thousand, with upwards Of ten thou
sand head of mules and horses, ex-
cluliye OF cattle. Over 10000 Of these
people subsist upon weekly rationa by
planters and local merchants. The
limited means Of those is about exhRus-
ted, and their credit DESTROYED by the
overflow. Thirty days will probably
elapse before it can be determined
whether crop can be made. If none
can be made, the destitutiou will be
incalculable. In the meantime. we
must appeal to the Government for
aid during the period of waiting, in
caring for these and stock. Only
actual necessities are desired, aud such
supplies can be disbursed without
waste, through the Government force
stationed at this point. We estimate
that ii will require not less than
$125,000 worth Of supplies for this
purpose during the ensuing so days
for this county, aud we earnestly re-
quest your aid in securing it. This Is
supplemental to our wire OF yester-
day, J. NJ. JAYNE,
WM. G. YERGER.
There was at first much difference
Of opinion as TO the Advissbilily of es-
tabllshingA A public relief bureau for
this county. Arguments were freely
advanced to show the etrects of such
provision in the past, but the telegram
above published sets forth succincly
the result OF mature deliberatisn on
the subject, and must commend itself
by Its reasonable aud truthful repre-.
sentations. AS IN all charitable work,
some advantage will be taken. Some
unworthy persons must profit by the
rolief offered, while many deserving
ones are helped, The fact that the
disbursement can be made through
accredited government agents eta
toned on the ground is \ disinct ad.
vantage, and will beget confidence
that, Os far as practicable, the supplies
provided will he dispensed with dis
elimination and the demorGIlzing ef.
feet on The labor of tho country will
be minimized. The did to be extend
ed will be principally beneficial to
the planters, whose efforts to feed and
care for large numbers Of hands and
stock will prove, in short time, a
strain which their means will not sup
port. A single illustration will serve
to show the condition governing the
whole delta. A planter makes ar
rAngoments VITA a Gre0EVile bank 10
furnish him With funds during the
year. This tho bank agrees to do, in
case be is not ovorhOwed. He 10
overfowed and the bank withdrAws
its support, which was conditioned on
the production ofA crop.
The planter, having at his command
no funds but those which the bank
had agreed 10 furnish, is unable, of
course, TO purchase food for his ten
ants, and immediate suffering must
result. Even If the bank we're willing
to furnish the means, it 10 probable
that it's supply from Now York or
elsew here would be cut of. The
New York correspondent shuts down
Oh the GreenVille Bank, the Bank can
no lougsr supply tho planter, the
planter in his turn cannot provide for
his labor, sud there is no further re-
course than application for aid. Such
casos must arise, and, If the water re-
mains up for sometime, must become
When this becomes the
case It will he Of iuestimGble advan.
tage 10 have resource in tie aid TO
be dispensed by the government agents
here, A bill appropriatinE 100000
aas been passed through both houses
Of Congress for immediate relief for
Hood sufferers in this district, and
here 10 little doubt that supply will
1ery soon be at the command of the
people of the delta for the relief of a
condition which is daily becoming |
more aud more serious.
Bishop Hugh Miller Thompson has