The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-04-13
II THE WORK
OF Relieving the Flood SnffereTs-ArHy
Officers Put in Command of Sections to
superintead Distribution of the Sup
niles.

Oficers Put in Command of Sections TO
superintead Distribution of the Sup
plies.
Washington, April 9.-The machinery
provided by the war department for
the relief of the sufferers from the Mis-
sissippi river floods is now in working
order, and Secretary Alger said today
that by tomorrow morning the depart
ment would be in a position to cover
the entire flooded district with its
forces Of inspectors. The officers al
ready detailed to this service have
started for the west and before leaving
Washington they received orders as
signing them to different sections of
the great river.
Major Craig, signal corps, is ordered
to proceed to New Orleans to consult
with Major CT. NJ. Derby, the engineer
officer in charge of hat section and
then to proceed to Red river landings.
investigating the condition and needs
of the people as he proceeds. His or
ders are to report the results of his in
vestigatiOns directly to Secretary Alger,
who will use it, in conjunction with
similar reports from other officers, as
a basis for the distribution of the relief
stores.
Captain Charles H. Clarke, of the
ordinance department, is ordered to
Vicksburg, there to consult with Mayor
j. H. Willard, the station engineer,
after which he will also proceed to Red
river landings on a tour of investiga-
ton. He, like his brother officers en-
gagged in this city, is instructed to con-
fer fully with all of the local relief
committees en- route.
First Lieutenant A. S. Rowan, Nine
teenth infantry, goes to Memphis to
confer there with Captain Fitch, of the
engineer corps. Major Sanger, in
spectOr general, also goes to Memphis,
but after talking over the conditions
there with Captain Fitch he will take
his route through the river from
Memphis to Helena. Captain Martin,
assistant quartermaster, will go first to
Vicksburg and hear from Major Will
lard, the engineer officer stationed
there. His section of the river will eX-
tend from Vicksburg to Greenville.
Second Lieutenant H. M. Whitney,
Fourth artillery, takes section No. 6 Of
the river from Cairo up. He will first
report to Captain Fitch at Memphis.
The abatement of the flood on the
Red rive of the North has cause the
resembling of the order already issued
to another officer to proceed to that
section. All of the boats of the light
house establishment on the Mississippi
have been turned over to the wal de-
partment for relief work. So have the
boats of the Mississippi commission,
and Secretary Alger says that if these
are not satisfactory he will charter as
many more of 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 desired rations de-
livered for distribution and also to
name persons to receive them. The
first response was from Governor Nc
Laurin, of Mississippi, giving the
names and places as required. Cover
nor Foster, of Louisiana, t~elegraphed
that his people did not at present
need government stores, but returned
hanks for the generous offer. The
other states have not yet been heard
from.