New-York tribune., 1902-05-13
RELIEF PLANS UNDER WAY
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SENDS $4,000
FRANCS BY CABLE-MERCHANTS'
ASSOCIATION AT WORK.

Chamber of Commerce for tomorrow at l2:3O
p. m. was called by the president, Morris X.
Jesup. in response to the following request:
New-York. May 12 1902
Morris X. Jesup, esq, President Chamber of Com
Dear Sir: The terrible calamity that has over
whelmed the city of St. Pierre and the surround
ing communities of the French West Indies. and
the sympathy and prompt relief Of our citizens.
call a special meeting OF the chamber for Wednes-
day, May H. at IL 30 o'clock, to take measures for
wants, J. Edward simmons Alexander F. Orr.
James G. Cannon. Jacob II, Schf Robert H. Gal
laway, William G. lie Gendre, Eugene Delano. Ly
man J.. Gage, Gates W. McGarrah, A. Barton Hep
burn. Joseph c. Hendrix. Henry Hentz-
After an interview with Edmond Bruwaert.
the French Consul General at this port. the
president of the Chamber of Commerce author
tied him to send the following cable dispatch
to the French authorities in Paris for trans
mission to the Governor of Fort de France. Mar
Unique:
New-York Chamber of Commerce meets, 18th. to
take action for aiding sufferers at Martinique.
President Of Chamber willing to anticipate needs
necessities if you think best
The message was sent from information the
president OF the chamber received through the
French Consul General that vessels sailing
from this port for st. Pierre with supplies. mer-
chandise etc. before the disaster occurred Will
now. doubt. put in at Fort de France by to-
morrow. and thus a good opportunity can be
taken advantage of for purchasing needed sup
plies for immediate He felt sure that the
~ 900 francs. and perhaps more. could be used
with great benefit in giving immediate relief to
the sufferers.
A QUESTION OF TRANSPORTATION.
Mr. Jesuu early in the afternoon told a TrIb-
une reporter he had heard that two vessels. well
provisioned. sailed from here for ST. Pierre some
time before the disaster and probably went to
Fort de France. AS quick action was imper-
ative. Mr.. Jcsup proposed to send cable or
der for money to buy up these supplies. and he
felt confident the chamber would back him up.
He would act through the French Consul
w. r. CorwIne. Of the Merchants Association.
said yesterday:
There Is no question as to the ability or will
inRness of New-Yor<eTs to buy what is neCes-
sary for the relief Of the sufferers but the prin-
cipal question is of transportation. It is
hard to get steamers and Martinique is about
seven days away. Cash could not be expended
I'm the adjacent islands well as here. Those
islands do not carry large stock of food or
clothing. except perhaps Porto Rico.
The sufferers need disinfectants medical sup
plies of an anti-malarial nature. staple foods.
like rice beans. dried or smoked fish bacon.
hardtack. cogee, which is necessary on those
islands and tents, cots and light weight. cheap
clothing. The population OF Martinique is about
10000. with probably not over 10000 10 $4,000
whites. The negroes there wear little clothing
and Of the cheapest klad. Cheap undershirts
and trousers for the men and light weight un-
deTshirt5 and calico wrappers for the women
are all that are necessary To protect them.
We shall appoint a committee 10 solicit sub
scriptions and subdivide the work so as not 70
conflict with that OF the Chamber OF Commerce.
1t is best to buy the goods here at wholesale
through experienced buyers, as was done at the
time of the Galveston calamity. Business houses
then We're willing 10 sell at cost price and the
money contributed was made TO go further than
II we had gone into the open market Every
supply sent should be non-perishable and At for
use in the tropics"
JACKSONVILLE FUND AVAILABLE
The Merchants Association yesterday sent
dispatch to President Roosevelt as follows:
II there is any way in which We can cooperate
Tef 'S %orH p 9T IN 9dns IN the
have but 10 command us.
y similar telegram was sent 10 the Secretary
of War, The Chamber Of Commerce and the
Merchants Association last spring appointed
a joint committee for the relief of JacksonviIle
which city had been partly destroyed 10y fire.
After the work was finished the Joint commit
tee had on hand an uueXpended balance OF about
$1,000. which is on deposit in the CITY Trust
= :,
treasurer OF the joint committee This amount
will probably be turned over to such committee
as may be appointed hereafter by the Chamber
of Commerce or the Merchants Association for
use In the relief work for Martinique
The principal question in sending relief sup
piles TO Martinique is one of transporta-
tion. There is no trouble about raising the
funds necessary TO buy the Eeeded sun
plies, but the difficulty Is to get them there
quickly. Vessels are scarce. William r.
Corwine of the association. was irving all
day yesterday to see Il a vessel could be OBJ
tanned. The agents OF the Red d Line of steam,
ers. Boulton Bliss & DaIlett expect their steam
ship Zulta in this port on May ~ She could
he unloaded and loaded again so as To sail from
here by May ~ This ship can be had by the
Merchants Association or the Chamber Of Com
merce. provided the United States Government
does not need her. Mr.. Corwine learned that no
transport is available and that the government
itself Is trying to get boat for the carving of
supplies in addition to those to ba taken on the
Dixie.
The experience of the Merchants Association
in III" Porto RicGn relief work showed that
what was principally needed was disinfectauts
medical supplies. especially of an anti-naIariaI
nature; tents, cots, cheap light weight clothing
cheap cooking utensils and stoves, and In tn.
way OF rood, rice beans, smoked and dried fish
bacon hard tack, coffee. etc. Ii is possible that
the neighboring islands of Porto Rico and Cuba
VIII nave sufficient stocks ON hand to supply |
pressing needs. These stocks however cannot
he very large. II will only be a few DAYS before
they are exhausted and supplies must be sent
from here
H. d. Lockwood of the office of the Merchants.
Association has been delegated To- visit the COM
mercial houses in New-York doing business with |
Martinique and St Vincent to ,,at m, i,,ta,,t,. !