The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-04-13
GETTING DOWN TO WORK
AlGSR ORG CANNING a MILITARY
FOOD CAMPAIGN.
Wires Hot Nth Reports as to the
Ounces Of Corn Meal and Mol.
asses and Pork.

nOod dangers nave passed in the MiSSiS-
sippi Valley, and that with the force the
War Department now has in the field, CO.
operating as it is with the local relief
committees, there is small danger that
great suffering will be permitted to go
unchecked and unrelieved
The question of feeding the live stock
of the people driven from their homes
by water has been solved. When it was
first proposed to authorize the officers to
buy forage for the animals, it was held
that the act of Congress would not per-
NIT that to be done, and the officials were
about to ask Congress to amend the OrI
ginal joint resolution when the Treasury
authorities decided that the resolution
itself contained the necessary authoriza-
ton. This was fortunate, for Captain
Davis, at Memphis Saturday night, tele-
graphed that it seemed absolutely neces-
sary to purchase forage for the stock in
addition to food, and the permission to do
so was at once given him. Another de-
cision that may do something to relieve
the government authorities of undue
pressure upon their resources was also
made by Secretary Alger upon the recon-
mendation of Capt Davis. This was to
reduce the rations supplied to the sim
plest proportions, while still making sure
that they should be sufficient for actual
needs. The army ration will be discard
ed, and in its place the hungry will get
nothing but pork, corn meal and mOlass-
es. Capt. Daviss report on this subject
was contained in the following telegram
to the War Departments:
Memphis, April II.
Conditions as to the food here same
as in Capt. Fitch's telegram of the Sth.
Water subsiding slightly and slowly
Steamer j. III. Martin hired to take Mai
Sanger on inspecting tour to St Francis
river and carry relief. Have shipped, on
requisitiOn Of relief committee, 3,07O
pounds of pork, 600 pounds of corn meal,
$50 gallons of molasses in charge of
Lieutenant Carnahan for destitute in
that district. Steamer sailed at seven
o'clock this morning. Civilian relief CON-
mittees to be reorganized. 1t is diff
ficult to obtain accurate information as
to the number of destitute at any point.
In purchasing supplies we have figured
on plantation ration consisting daily per
person of seven ounces pork, 273-7
ounces corn meal and - pint of molases.
(Signed) DAVIS"
This was supported by the following
telegram, which was turned over to the
War Department by Representative
Catchings as recipient:
Impress on the Secretary of War the
advisability of sending only meat, meal.
-four corn and oats to flood sufferers here.
They are cheaper and go further than
the regular rations. This should only be
distributed through government officials.
(Signed) wv. A. EVERMAN,
wv. w. STONE"
The following report of the situation at
Moorhead, Mimi, came from Maj
Sanno, just before leaving for Grand
Forks:
"MOorehead, Mimi, Auri II.
"Adjutant General. Washington:
Had Il conference with the relief COM
mittee at which Geo. n. Lamphere pre-
sided, the mayor and city attorney being
present. Seventy families, consisting
Of 325 souls, have been flooded out and
are being cared for by the committee.
These people mostly owned and occupied
small dwellings, in the flooded district
and are now Quartered in public build
ings or among friends. Fifty houses
have floated off some distance and twen-
ty-tye more are water-soaked to the
roof. The committee estimate it will
cost $4,000 to replace and repair the
dwellings before they can be made habit
able and would prefer that the govern
ment assistance should be in this direc-
ton, provided the appropriation will ad-
NIT of it. With the exception of some
fifteen mechanics all the people flooded
out are common laborers, and it is my
understanding that the government relief
contemplates the issue of rations. To
this end, l recommend, 1900 rations as
being sufficient to carry them through
the next thirty days. Rations can be
purchased here as reasonably as else
where, and | am satisfied that Geo. N
Lamphere would be proper person to
take charge of the matter. The river
is falling and no further trouble is ex-
pected here"
kilograms from other officers on in
spectiOn duty show that there is more
destitution than was supposed in upper
Arkansas and Missouri.
The first of the detailed reports from
the inspection officers came to Secretary
Alger this afternoon from Lieut. Whit
ney as follows:
Memphis, April II, 1897.
las result of personal inspection Of
part of the Memphis Cairo district, north
of Ashport, Tenn, ninety miles by river,
| found eighteen crevasses in levees.
varying in width from fifty to 1000 feet
and widening some. The increased
damage to levees will be considerable |
unless the ends of breaks are heavily |
capped. No fresh crevasses are antici- |
pated now. The flood is completely over
the United States levee at Ashport and |
south for fifteen miles. except in few |
Of the highest places; three crevasses in |
this stretch. Top is being badly dam
aged on account of sloughing. / have
reported latest details as to location, ex-
tent and condition to the engineer of |
ficer in charge of this district. Water
ut the maximum was 3 to feet higher I
on the gauge than ever before known.
1t has been falling 10 to II inches every
twenty-four hours and is now about on
I.Nsh l.. I.-.lNA