The Yale expositor., 1908-11-06
Relief Committee Report.

clLlZenS at a mass meeting nelu III
Central Hall, Immediately after the fire
i'm the north. The committee got busy
at once. Mahlon Bearss was appointed
chairman of the committee to look
after the solicitations of the surround
ing country, and j. &. Holden for the
city. And right here we wish 10 thank
the several committees appointed, for
the way in which they executed their
part of the work. Farmers were ready
with their teams to canvass the
country. Nearly every one Was ready
and glad to help the sufferers, who
were left homeless and destitute. The
wagons were filled with flour, potatoes,
corn, oats, hay and clothing. Our city
committees made a thorough canvass
of the several wards, and the collectors
found bundles of clothing or bedding
at nearly every residence Much of
the clothing and bedding was packed
in large packing cases, contributed by
the merchants. OF these there were 2l
cases, also 20 suit and skirt cases, be-
sides IS bundles of clothing and bed
ding as sent in. Other articles such as
bed springs, mattresses stoves and
pipes, cots and chairs, knives, forks
and spoons; butter, 1900 pounds -four,
80 bags potatoes, barrel potatoes, %
bags of corn, l2S bags OF oats, apples,
and many other articles that are useful
and will be appreciated by these people.
There were 20 bales of hay contributed
by farmers and enough more was pur-
chased by the committee to make full
car of hay, making in all two full cars.
Cash contributed by the citizens of
Yale and surrounding country amount
ed to $202.35. Order on city treasurer
$4,000, making a total amount of
$252.35. 1t was decided by the COM
mittee to retain this cash until an in
Vestigation was made, as to the dis
posal of the same. 1t was the opinion
of the committee that as j. &. Holden
had nothing to do he was the man TO
90 and take i'm the situation, and re-
port, which he did as follows:
left Yale Tuesday morning, arrived
at Posen, one of the distributing points,
the same evening. talked with
several gentlemen relative to the dis
tribution of the supplies that were re-
ceiyed. They stated that first, without
organization or system, things were a
little mixed, but at present the supplies
were being dealt out in a systematic
manner. In the morning | went to
the ID. 81 n. freight house where the
supplies were being distributed by j.
ID. Hawks and his helpers who assumed
the responsibility of distributing relief
goods Immediately after the catastro-
phe. They at once purchased a car OF
supplies and sent on, as many of the
homeless people were without anything
TO eat or wear. l met Mr.. +. Is. Merrill
who then had supervision at this point,
also at Metz where the town was wiped
out. So far as | could see and learn
the work of distribution was quite
satisfactory at this point. Wishing to
see some of the burned district, away
from the railroad secured rig and
started for Metz by roundabout way.
We hear sometimes that the farmers
buildings did not amount to anything
and were only shacks. | wish to say
right here that judging from the few
buildings left and the foundations and
ruins saw, should think their build
ings would compare favorably with
many sections of our southern
counties. Arriving in Metz, the only
buildings / saw standing were ID
shanties, built by the Rail Road com
pany for the people, since the fire.
Business places are being constructed.
Here it was necessary TO use box cars
IOT all Ttllel WOIk. Ills was WOIhlilS
under difficult circumstances, but they
seem to be master of the situation and
have their work thoroughly systemized
using car for each line of supplies.
Anyone wishing goods, must first go to
the Office, state what they need and get
an order for the same. They then go
to the car that contains these goods
and receive what the order calls for. l
talked with a number of the people
who seemed well pleased with the
treatment they had received. They
certainly will not suffer this winter for
want of clothing and bedding. They
will require plenty of feed for stock
and flour and other eatables during the
winter for themselves. | stated to Mr..
Merrill that we had some money for
the relief commission, and when they
needed car of flour, hay or grain to
advise, and it would be forwarded.
Respectfully submitted
Mahlon Bearss
Il O. Holden