The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-04-08
Pres,d-,.Y Asks Funds For the
Aa:ssi.ss!ppl Sufferers.
he les fRGCEDENTS
DESC NIEIlS THE HORROR OF
THE SITUATION.
HIS MESSAGE TO CONGRESS
On Two Occasions Before Congress
Has Responded TO Flood Appeals,
and Memphis and Other Dis
stricts Now Ask For Help.

Washington, April 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,
Missouri and Louisiana and from prom
inent citizens of these States and Ten
nessee. warrants the conclusion that
widespread distress, involving the des-
truction of large amount Of property
and loss of human life, has resulted
from the floods which have submerged
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 Ma
rion. Arkansas, north of Memphis to
Greenvine. Miss, a distance OF more
than $50 miles by river, it is reported
there are now at least fifty towns and
villages under water; and territory ex-
tending from 100 miles north OF Mem
nhis to 200 miles south and from five to
forty miles wide, is submerged. Hun
dreds Of thousands of acres OF cultivat-
cd soil with growing crops are included
in the submerged territory. In this sec
+;on alone there are from $1,000 to Co.
900 people whose property has been des-
troyed and whose business has been sus-
rended. Growing crops have been ruin
:. ed. thousands of cattle have been drown
ed and the inhabitants of certain areas
threatened with starvation. As a great
majority of the sufferers are small farm
era they have thus been left entirely
destitute and will be unprepared Tor
work even after the floods have subslded.
The entire Mississippi Valley in Ar
Kansas is flooded and communication
with many points cut off. In Mississippi
a like condition exists. The levees in
Louisiana. with single exception. have
held: but the water is rising and the sit
nation there is reported as being ex-
tremely critical.
Under such circumstances the citizens
of these States look for the cooperation
and support of the National government
in relieving the pressing cases OF desti-
tution for food, clothing and shelter
which are beyond the reach of local eff
forts The authorities who have COM
municated with the executive rocgnlze
that their first and most energetic duty
is to provide as far as possible the means
of caring for their own citizens: but near
ly all of them agree in the opinion that
after their resources have been exhaust
ed. a sum aggregating at least $15O,OOO
and possibly 100000 will be required
for immediate use.
Precedents are not wanting that
in such emergencies as this Congress
has taken prompt. generous and intelll-
gent action. involving the expenditure OF
considerable sums Of money with salts
factory results. In 1874, S590OOO was
appropriated and in 1882, S350.000 was
also appropriated for relief in the same
direction. besides large sums in other
years.
The citzercs' relief committee of Mem
phis. which has taken prompt action, has
ALREADY cared for from six thousand to
seven thousand refugees from the flood
ed districts. and they are still arriving
in that city in large numbers daily. Sup
niles and provisions have been sent to
the various points in 4.rkansas and Mis-
sissipni by this committee, but the ut
most that can be done by these efforts
is TO partly relieve the most acute cases
of suffering No action has yet been
taken for the great majority Of the in
hab;tants living in the interior whose
condition has already been described.
Under these conditions, and having ex-
erted themselves to the fullest extent,
the local authorities have reluctantly
confessed their inability to further cope
with this distressing situation unaided by
relief from the government.
1t has therefore seemed to me that the
representatives of the people should be
promptly informed Of the nature and ex-
tent of the suffering and the needs or
these stricken people, and have commu-
nicated these facts in the hope and be-
lief that the legislative branch OF the
government will promptly re-enforce the
work Of the local authorities in the
States named
(Signed) WIN. MCKINLEY.
Executive Mansion, April Z. 1897.