The Oskaloosa herald., 1912-04-04
CONGRESS AIDS IN
/ CHECKING FLOODS
Votes $350,OO0 to Strengthen
!; Mississippi Levees.
1000 HOMELESS IN HICKMAN
Exodus Starts From Cairo, IT,, When
News Comes From Washington
That River viii Rise
Above bikes.

Washington. April S.-The senate
and hanse gave a demonstration OF
rapid Legislation, when they by unani-
nous vote passed bill appropristing
SS50.600 to be Immediately available
for the strengthening and the extern
sion OF the leyees along the MISSISSIPPI
pi river.
The senate broke all presidents by
passing the appropriation bill few
minutes after ii had been reported to
that body under suspension OF the
rules which require that all such
measures be referred to a commit
tee. The S350.000 appropriation Will
become available as soon as the presi-
dents signature is affixed
In the house the bill was put on pas.
sage as soon as II was reported from
the rivers and harbor committee. The
committee acted immediately on re-
ceipt by the house OF message from
President Taft urging an appropria-
ton OF 100000 for the purpose. The
entire delegation in congress from
Louisiana had called on the president
and pointed out the dangerous situa-
ton OF the 1ood-swept valley OF the
Mississippi and urged an appropria.
ton.
e. Money Is Sufficient Now.
The appropriation OF S350.000 in
stead OF the amount asked for by the
president, 1t was announced by Repre-
sentative Ransdesl, who reported the
bill, was made after consultation with
the war department and the receipt
OF private messages. which showed
the sum appropriated would be sutti-
Gent for the present.
President Taft urged the passage or
the bill In q message to congress 1t
follows in part:
1T seems proper that the govern.
ment take immediate action to make
the loss impending as little as posi-,
BILE In view OF the character of the
emergency and the safeguards sur.
rounding the expenditures made under
the corps OF engineers, I have no hest.
tation In asking for an appropriation
OF 100000, as recommended by the
secretary of war"
To-. Thousands Are Homeless.
Hickman, Ky, April 3.-The flood
waters OF the Mississippi river. which
broke the West Hickman levee, have
poured a muddy current eight feet
deep through the business streets, the
factory and the tenement districts OF
the town.
TWO thousand persons are home.
less. The work OF systematically car,
ing for the refugees was taken up
and tents were shipped in by the state
military.
Cairo People Flee.
Cairo, ILL.,, April Cairo was
thrown into panic and a heavy ex.
odus from the city started, following
the receipt OF advices from Washing.
ton that the river would reach So feet
Many women and children were put
on trains and more prepared to leave.
All the levees are still holding.
The local weather bureau received
word OF the breaking OF the levee at
New Madrid. Mo. The break flooded
about 100 square mixes. This relieved
conditions in Cairo somewhat and the
city Is now considered safe.
New Record stage at Memphis.
Memphis, Tenn. April 3.-The Mis-,
sissippi river reached stage OF AL
feet, the highest ever recorded here.
The predicted rise OF ~ feet an
nOunced by the weather bureau will
add greatly to the damage already
done, though no new levee breaks are
reported.