The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1897-04-08
CONGRESS LENDS IT'S AID
FOR TIE SUFFERERS BY THE MIS-
sIsSIPPI FLOOD.

President Mckinley Sends Message to
Congress and Prompt Response Is Made
-S2OO,OOO is Appropriated at Once.
Washington, April 1.-THE president
to-day sent the following message to
the senate and house of representatives
Information which has recently come
to me from the governors OF Arkansas,
Mississippi and Louisiana, and from
prominent citizens of these states and
Tennessee, warrants the conclusion that
widespread distress, involving the de-
struction of q large amount OF prop
erty and loss of human life has re-
suited from the floods which have sub
merged that section of the country
These are stated, on reliable authority,
to be the most destructive foods that
have ever devastated the Mississippi
valley, the water being higher than the
highest stage 1t has ever reached be-
fore. From Marion, Arkansas, north of
Memphis, to Greenville, Mississippi a
distance of more than $50 miles by riv-
err, it is reported there are now at least
fifty towns and villages under water;
and territory extending from 100 miles
north of Memphis, to 200 miles south
and from five to forty 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 10000 people whose
property has been destroyed and whose
business has been suspended Growing
crops have been ruined, thousands OF
cattle have been drowned and the IN
habitants 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 un-
prepared for work even after the floods
have subsidized. The entire Mississippi
valley in Arkansas is flooded and COM
munication with many points cut off.
In Mississippi a like condition exists.
The levees in Louisiana with a single
exception, have held; but the water is
rising and the situation there is re-
ported as being extremely critical
Under such circumstances the citizens
Of these states look for the co-opera-
ton and support lof the national gov
eminent in relieving pressing cases of
restitution, for food, clothing and shell
ter which are beyond the reach, of local
efforts. The authorities who have COM
municated with the executive recognize
that their first and most energetic duty
is to provide as. far as possible the
means of caring for their own citizens
but nearly all Of them agree in the
opinion that after their resources have
been exhausted a sum aggregating at
least s150,0O0 and possibly 100000 will
be required for immediate use,
PRECEDENTs NOT WANTING.
Presidents are not wanting that in
such emergencies as this congress has
taken prompt, generous and intelligent
action, involving the expenditure OF
considerable sums of money, with salts
factory results. In 1874, .$59O,O0O was
appropriated, and in 1882 $S50,000 was
also appropriated for relief in the same
direction, besides large sums in other
years.
The citizens relief committee OF
Memphis, which has taken prompt ac-
ton, has already cared for about 5000
to 1000 refugees from the flooded dis
tricts, and they are still arriving in
that city In large numbers daily. Sup
plies and provisions have been sent to
the various points in, Arkansas and
Mississippi by this committee, but the
utmost that can, be done by these eff
fortsis to partly relieve the most acute
cases of suffering. No action has yet
been taken for the great majority OF
the inhabitants living in the interior
whose condition has already been de-
scribed. - c
Under these conditions and having
| exerted themselves to the fullest ex-
tent, the local authorities have reluc-
family confessed their inability to fur
Their cope with this distressing situa-
tion unaided by relief from the govern
| ment. 1t has therefore, seemed to me
| that the representatives of the people
should be promptly informed in the ma
ture and extent Of the suffering and
needs of these stricken people, and ]
| have communicated these facts in the
hope and belief that the legislative
branch of the government will prompt.
ly REINFORCE the work Of the local
authorities in the states named
WILLIAM MCKINLEY.
| Executive Mansion, April7, 1897.
| RESPONDS PROMPTLY.
| Washington, April 7--Tmmediately
upon the reading of the, message OF
President Mckinley Mr.. Catehings OF
Mississippi offered in the house a reso-
luton appropriating 100000 for the re-
lief Of the Mississippi flood sufferers
The resolution was at once adopted
| In the senate Mr.. Jones of Arkansas
| has offered a joint resolution appro-
| priating $150,000 for supplies to the Mis-
| sissippi river sufferers. But on receipt
of the house resolution 1t was adopted
as a substitute without objection. II
now goes to the president.
| The president signed the resolution
| for the relief of the food sufferers al
1:55 p. m. to-day. He also authorized
the secretary of the navy to secure a
ship for the transportation of grain to
| the famine sufferers in India.
Soon afterwards, the president and
party drove to the wharf and embarked
on the Dolphin for few days' outing