Omaha daily bee., 1906-04-25

SUSTAINED RELIEF IMPERATIVE
With every neighborhood between the
oceans contributing funds and the news
papers full Of reports OF railroad trains
laden with relief supplies speeding to
San Francisco there is danger OF prema-
ture assumption that the need Of relief
has been substantially met and OF relax
alton I'm the work. The testimony of
competent and trustworthy men ON the
ground is that relief work will have to
be kept up for several weeks.
Few have any adequate conception of
what is required to subsist such a multi
tude under the circumstances i'm which
the people Of San Francisco have been
placed and a large, although a steadily
diminishing part Of them must remain
indefinitely. For days at least 100000
people must be fed wholly from outside
sources, and the period during which an
average Of 100000 must be thus main
tanned is to be reckoned by weeks, while
that for an average of from 25,OO0 to
we remember the immense difficulty al
ways experienced in subsisting a COM
paratively small army at a considerable
distance from its base, a difficulty under
which the facilities of the most powerful
governments. with time for preparation,
have oftener broken down than sue
ceeded, we may be prepared for a truer
notion Of the enormous magnitude of the
task before the American people. The
failure of our government under favora-
bic circumstances, with all it's organiza
ton and ample notice, to transport and
distribute in time supplies for the little
army Of only 10000 men at Santiago is
a recent experience.
An army ration, which is far more
select and condensed form of food than
is available in this emergency, weighs
over a pound. At the very least twenty
required now each day, and ten cars
day will be required for a long time. If
this were all it can be seen how heavy
and continuous the strain OF the work
and expense must be.
But tens OF thousands have absolutely
lost everything. roof and even clothes,
as well as the means of getting food.
Tents, bedding, clothing and many other
articles which are costly and difficult
to collect, transport and distribute are
essential Thousands were hurt and
other thousands will be sick. and great
variety of medicines and medical sup
plies will be imperatively needed. In
large part all stores of this character.
the same as OF ordinary subsistence on
hand when the disaster came, were de-
stroyed. Even when public order is re-
stored and business operations begin
fairly to be resumed it will not be in the
power of San Francisco people. finan-
cially crippled and otherwise grievously
burdened as they are, out of their own
resources to care for the immense num-
Der of dependents who at best will long
remain. This will not be expected Of
them and should not by inadvertence be
left to them.
The paramount necessity has been
promptitude Of relief. for such a mass
OF suddenly destitute people could not
wait many hours for food and help. That
necessity has been met. But the vital
point now is that the country shall ap-
preciate the need for sustained relief
The nation has responded nobly to the
first call. 1t has only to realize the
magnitude and true character of the
emergency to bear to- the end the heavy
burden which It imposes.