Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1912-01-25

attended a meeting of the Executive
Board of the Wisconsin Federation
Of Clubs. Among other matters
brought forward for discussion at
this meeting was the Black River
Falls catastrophe and a letter was
read by the President, Mrs. Crosby,
from one of the club women of the
stricken city which we take pleasure
in printing. The letter tells in
a graphic manner and with the sure
touch of one on the spot of the des-
perate situation of the people of that
community and it should make its own
appeal to everyone who reads it:
Black River Falls, Wis, Jan. Is,
1912.
Mrs. Crosby, Pres. st. F. w. G.. Ra-
cine, Wis.
Dear Mrs. Crosby:
The women of the Civic League
have been battling bravely with con
ditions in our stricken city, ever since
the flood disaster of October sixth;
but as our funds are so small. in
comparison with needs, we are get
ting well nigh discouraged.
The citizens of Wisconsin and of
other states have been very kind
and have contributed literally; but
as the loss to city and individual
was so great, thousands seem only
drop in the bucket.
The general fund now reaches near
ly forty thousand dollars and that
amount is entirely inadequate to
bring our river back to it's former
channel and to build a dam and re
tanning wall-both of which are ne
cessary to the future safety of the
remnant of our city.
Aside from the relief station, our
flood sufferers have had no help
from the general fund and as it has
almost caesed growing, We know
that they never will have any help
from it.
The Civic League has constant call
upon its funds for shoes, rubbers,
underwear and other articles of ap-
parel not in stock at the relief sta
ton. We have also spent about six
hundred dollars for fuel and about
two hundred dollars towards tools
for our workingmen who lost same
in flood. In spite of this help. many
of our workmen (such as plumbers,
tlnsmiths and blacksmiths) carry
mortgages on their new tools. The
fuel we have sent out is exhausted
long ago, and we find that a large
number of citizens are unable to pay
their coal bills, and thus are entire
ly dependent upon the mercy of the
coal and wood dealers.
Our business men are located in
temporary shacks, churches and
barns, and are suffering considerably
in this continuous severe weather.
Many Of the families who lost their
homes are crowded in with other
families, while many are living in
places unfit for human habitation.
The city poor-house was one of the
buildings that went out in the flood,
and, since the city has been bankrupt
since the flood, the city's poor have
been looked after by us.
We find, upon investigation, that
many of our merchants are unable to
meet taxes upon their homes, and
some are letting their life insurance
policies lapse because they have
not the cash with which to pay the
premiums.
These conditions are not surprising
to US who know that our merchants
besides losing their all, were also left
heavily in debt on fall stock which
went out with the buildings; but to
outsiders, it must be hard to realize
our true condition.
A great majority of our citizens
who, in a few hours, saw their life
earnings swept away are gray haired
men and women. They have begun
business anew, under the most unfa-
Yorable conditions, but with remark
able courage; and yet the traces these
few weeks have left upon their coun-
tenances tell a story of mental suf-
fering more forcibly than any amount
of whining could.
Many wholesale houses have ex-
tended credit to our merchants, while
many have refused to do so.
Foreclosure proceedings were be-
gun against one of our merchants
this past week. This seems a hardI
act, when the wholesalers know that
goods Of their brand, of more value
that the amount Of Indebtedness, were
on the shelves the day of the flood /
This merchant, who is thus being !
forced into bankruptcy, lost all his /
stock in the flood. A firm Ito whom /
he owed more than double the amount |
he owed 20 the firm that forecIosed) /
extended credit to him, and he began /
business again in his residnece-I
all of which, with the exception of
the kitchen and sleeping rooms, was
shelved and turned into a grocery
store. This case is particularly sad,
as Mr.. Mower and his wife are past
middle age, neither are physically
strong, and they have q family to e
1ucate. This foreclosure is the first
but how many viii follow is hard to
tell.
It has long since occurred to some
Of the club women here that, as so
many Of the heavy losers are hus-
1ands or fathers of club women, the
Federated clubs would respond to an
appeal for help. We have been en-
in this idea by yours and b.
II har cvuouafb1tfc La+tarc aud dopo |