The Portland daily press., 1897-04-08

AID FOR FLOOD SUFFERERS.
Message of President Mckinley to Com
gress Yesterday.
Washington, April 1.-THE President
today sent the following message to the
Senate and House of Representatives:
Infogin alton 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 largo amount of property
from the foods which have submerged
that section OF the country. These are
stated, on re.iabls authority, to be the
II, ost destructive foods that have ever
devastated the Mississippi valley, the
water being higher than the highest
stage it has reached before. From
Marion, Ark, north Of Memphis, to
Greenville, Miss, distance Of more
than 900 miles by river, it is reported
there are now at least fifty towns and
villages under water: and territory ex-
tending from one hundred miles north OF
Memphis to two hundred miles south.
and from five to forty miles wide is sub
meraed. Hundreds of thousands of acres
of cultivated soil with growing crops are
included i'll the submerged territory. In
this seution along the river live from 30,
900 to 60, GOO 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 Inhabitants OF
certain areas threatened with starvation.
As great mel ,rity Of tie sufferers are
small farmers Uney have thus been left
entirely destitute and will be unprepared
for work even after the floods have sub,
sided. The entire Mississippi. valley in
Arkansas is flooded and communication
with many points cut off. In mississippi
like conditions exist The levees in
Louisiana, with single exception, have
held but the winter Is rising and the
situation there ia reported az being ex.
tremeIy critical. Under such circum.
stances the citizens OF these states look
for the cooperation and support of the
national government in relieving the
pressing cases of restitution for food,
clothing and shelter, which ATE beyond
reach of local efforts.
The authorities which have cnmmuni-
Gated with the executive recognize that
the frat and most energetic duty Is tt
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
sum aggregating at least $3.50, 900 will
be required for immediate use.
Precedents are not wanting that il
such emergencies as this Congress hal
taken PROMPT, generous and intelligent
action, involving the expenditures o.
considerable sums Of money, with salts
factory results. In 1874. $50. 0C0 was ap-
propriRtsd and in 1889 $3.50, 600 was also
appropriated for relief in the same direc
tion. besides large sums In other years
The citize,s relief committee of Memphis
which has taken preinpt action has al
ready cared for from 5000 to 1000 refugees
from the flooded districts ana they are
still arriving in that city in large NUN,
hers daily. Supplies and provisions may
have been sent to the various points IL
Arkansas and Mississippi BY this com
misttee, but the utmost that can be dont
bv these efforts is to partly relieve thu
moat acute cases of SUFFERING No actor
has yet been taken for the great majority
Of the inhabitants living In the interior
whose condit has already been de
scribed. Under these conditions, anf
having exerted themselves to the fulles
luctantly confessed their inability tx
further cone with this distressing situa
tfon unaided by relief from the govern
ment. 1t has, therefore, seemed to mi
that the representatives of the peopl,
should be promptly informed of tn.
nature and extent and need of thes,
stricken people, and have coinmuni
Gated these facts in the hope and belle
that the legislative branches of the gov
eminent will promptly re-enforce thu
work of local authorities in the state
named.
(signed) WILLIAM M'KINLEY.