The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-04-08

Tho r. resident Sends a Message
to Congress.
REVIEW OF THEFLOOD SITUATION,

|
Local Authorities Have Done All In Their
Power to Relieve Distress and Destitu'
tion but the Government Will Have TO
Help Precedents Not Wanting in Such
AN Emergency, and Congress Is Asked
to Take Prompt Action, Which Is Done.
Washington, April s.-The president
Tuesday sent the following message 10
the senate and house of representatives:
Information, which has recently
come TO me from the governors 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 prop
erty and loss of human life. has re-
suited from the floods which nave oeeh
submerging 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 it has reached
before. From Marion, Ark. north OF
Memphis. to Greenville, Miss, DIS
| tance Of more than $50 miles by river
il is reported there are now at least hf-
" towns and villages under water;
and a territory extending from lV0
miles north of Memphis TO 200 miles
south and from FIVE 10 forty miles Wlue'
is submerged
Thousands Lose Their Property
Hundreds of thousands OF acres or
cultivated soil with growing crops are
included in the submerged territory
In this section alone there are IRON
so, OOC to $4,000 people whose properly
has been destroyed and whose business
has been suspended Growing crops
have been ruined, thousands or cattle
have been drowned and the inhabitants
of certain areas threatened with star
walton. AS a great majority OF the SUI
ferers are small farmers they have thus
been left entirely destitute and VIII lie
unprepared for work even after the
floods have subsided.
"The entire Mississippi valley in AT
4, kansas is flooded and communication
with many points cut off. In Missis-
sippi a like condition exists. The leVees
IN Louisiana with a single exception
have held, but the water is rising ana
the situation there is reported as oe-
ing extremely critical. Under such CIR
cumstances the citizens Of these states
look for the cooperation ana suppotI
of the national government In reheVlhS
the pressing cases of destitution Tor
: food clothing and shelter which are
beyond the reach of local efforts
/. More Money Is Needed.
Is 'Thr authorities who have cornfhuh'
cation with the executive recognize ina
their first and most energetic duty :
TO provide as far a possible 'hr meaH
n of caring for their own citizens; pu
81 nearly all OF them agree in the opihioi
y that after their resources have been eN
p bausted, a sum aggregating at ieas
= $3.50 600, and possibly 100000 VIII oe re
ouired for immediate use.
''Precedents are not wanting that II
such emergencies as this congress ha
ai taken prompt, generous ana inteiHseh
action, involving the expenditure
~ considerable sums of money win sa''s
~ ,actorv results. In 1874 s590.0OO was ap
70 nronriated and In 1882 900 was ais
OF annropriated for relief in the same di
t. rection. beside large sums in other years
to The aitizens' relief committee of Mem
ii. nhis which has taken prompt ACTOR
r. has already cared for from 5000
n : ooO rhfugees from the flooded district
IT, and they are still arriving In that CIT
I'M IN large numbers daily.
m. Only Partial Relief
va supplies and provisions nave pee
n cont to the various points in Arkanss
)r- ord Mississippi by this committee oi
nd the most that can be done by these
lt- forts is to partly relieve the most aeu
nj cases Of suffering No action mas y
heen taken for the great majority OF u
ost inha abitants living in the interior VINO
his condition has already been descrlpe
ny Irnder these conditions and having e.
,ur e,ted themselves to the fullest eNteh
n6 tho local authorities have reluctant
iis, confessed their inability to further col
ar with this distressing situation uhaio'
he bv relief from the government
os- 1T has. therefore seemed TO me u
the the representatives OF the people siou
be- be promptly informed OF the nature al
ted extent Of the suffering ana heeus
his these stricken people, and | nave COZ
mes nunicated these facts III the hoPe
hio heIief that the legislative branch of I
/ IL government will promptly reinforce |
ed : s,,o,,ls of the LEGAL authorities in |
to statosnan,ed WILLIAM MKlNLEf' :
Congress Acts Promptly.
Aster the reading of the MESA
vnnRG n
'ne ntion in the senate appropriate
A. $50 GOO for supplies to the Mississil
cen river sufferers Catchings of Miss
iers sinrl offered a resolution In the SEN
'on ION appropriating 100000 for the rei'ei
UP The Mississippi lood sufferers.
non senate passed the Jones resolution q
ec' ~. house Catchings' resolution
fing would have left an awkward situatl
req hut the senate yielded precedence
'e' the house and recalled its resclut
and promptly passed house resolu,l
which was then sent to the preside
era' 7, approprlates 100000. The resolu.
who , inelrdes the Red River Of the Nor'l
= q Resolution Promptly signed
able The president signed the resolution
) IS The relief Of the food sufferers at
n,sh m He authorized the secretary
The navy to secure ship for the ira
portation Of grain to the famine sur
ers in India. Soon afterward the pr
,rne ao,t,o, partv drove to the wharf