Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-10
READY TO GIVE AID
Tents and Subsistence Supplies for
Texas Sufferers.
WILL UNDOUBTEDLY Be UTILIZED
Gen. Mckibbin Instructed to Learn
Conditions.
THE PRESIDENTS SYMPATHY

|
have taken steps to render all possible aid
and assistance to the flood sufferers of
Texas. The President sent kilograms of
sympathy to the governor of the state and
| the mayor of the city of Galveston, and
| promised to render all possible relief
| The President this morning received
telegram from Mr.. Spellane. a prominent
citizen Of Houston. telling him. on behalf
Of the mayor and the citizens committee
| Of Galveston, that the disaster that had
| overtaken that city is most appalling in
| its results, very many lives having been
lost and vast amount of property destroy
| ed He said that state and national aid Is
| imperatively demanded at this time for
the destitute citizens of Galveston. and he
asked that whatever is done might be or
| dered Immediately, as the necessity Is ur-
gent.
| The President Immediately telegraphed
| the mayor of Galveston that he would at
| once direct the Secretary of War to fur
nish tents and food for the victims of the
| flood. He also sent a telegram to Cover
| nor Sayers that upon his request tents and
| provisions would be Immediately supplied
| him for distribution.
| Adjutant General Corbin also telegraphed
| instructions to General McKibbin, COM
| manding the Department Of Texas at San
| Antonio, to proceed to Galveston at once
| and investigate the character and extent
| of the damage caused by the recent hurri-
| cane and to report to the Secretary Of
| War what steps are necessary to alleviate
the sufferings of the people and improve
| the situation.
| The army has a large supply of tents and
| subsistence supplies at the quar.ermaster's
| depot in Texas, which will undoubtedly be
| utilized in relieving the people in the flood
| ed districts So far. however, no formal ap-
| plication has been made to the War De-
| partment for the Of army tents or ra-
| tons.
Garrison at Fort JacintO.
| Battery o, 1st Artillery, which garri-
| soned Fort San Jacinto, at Galveston. was
| commanded by Captain William C. Raffer-
| ty The first lieutenant Lassiter, is at
present on detail duty at West Point, but
| the second lieutenant, ]. c. Nichols, was
| with his company during the storm.
In view Of the reported difficulties in
| reaching Galveston owing to the condi-
| ton of the railways, it is expected that
| General McKibbin will scarcely be able to
report to the War Department upon the
| disaster inside OF twenty-four hours un-
| less he avails himself OF reports coming to
| him.
The Army FORtiAcatfOns.
The United States government has been
| constructing fortifications at Galveston, but
| has taken no particular precautions against
| such q hurricane occurred Saturday.
| There are two batteries at Galveston, one
| on each side of the deep channel. which
the engineers have been constructing at
that place. The channel is made by the
| jetty system, two jetties having been con-
| structed across the bar out into the ocean.
| This channel runs in northeasterly direc-
| ton from the main land and passes the
| island upon which Galveston is situated
| the city lying south of the channel TEore
| is military reservation on the northwest
| side of the channel. and also another on the
| southeast or city side. 1t 10 probable that
| the great body of water came in from the
| ocean and up the channel, IN which it
| would no doubt do great deal of damage
| to the forts.
| The Notifications are built of concrete on
| the sand, and could easily be seriously
| damaged by such a storm The founda-
| tions are, of course, carefully prepared for
| the guns, but there never has been funds
available for constructing breakwaters and
protection against an. inundation. There
| are in the Notifications at Galveston eight
| and ten-nch modern high-power guns, fif
| teen-pounder rapid-fire guns, 47-inch
rapid-fre guns. six-pounders, twelve-inch
| breach-loadng mortars.
| The HarbOr improvements.
| Besides the fortifcations the government
| is much interested in the harbor improve
| ment. Ten years ago the government ap-
| propriated s6,OO0.OO0 for improving the har-
| Dor at Galveston, and the work was placed
| under contract. This money has been ex-
| pended in constructing jetties and building
| revetments for the protection of the cnan-
| mel. Probably the jetties have been dam
| aged by the storm, but nothing has been
| reported to the War Department Yet.
Cutters Ordered to Mobile.
Gen. Spaulding, acting secretary of the
| treasury, today ordered two revenue cut
| ters to proceed to Mobile and await orders
/ relative to probable work at and near Gal
weston. The vessels the Onondaga,
| now at Norfolk, and the Algonquin at
| Wilmington. The vessels will be several
| days In reaching Mobile By that time 1t
| is expected that their services will be de-
| manded on the Texas coast. Gen. Spauld-
| ing is sure that the vessels can be of great
| value.
Rates of Hospital Charges.
4 Miles has