The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1912-04-19
APPEALS
FOR FLOOD FUNDS
AS RED CROSS HEAD HE ASKS
CONTRIBUTIONS TO RELIEVE
SUFFERING.


on behalf of the Red Cross for fun!s
to aid the flood sufferers in the Mis-
sissippi Valley was made to the pub
lie today by President Taft, who $
president of the society. The pres
ident states that conditions are so
acute as to require Immediately "e-
sources far in excess of those now
at command.
"The national director Of the Red
Cross" said the president. "aftar
careful survey of conditions al1ng
the river, has reported that the facts
as they exist are even more d"sp"i-
ate than have been described in press
dispatches. Reports from the army
officers stationed in the flood dis
tric:s confirm the report or the ma
tiona director in every particular.
1t therefore becomes my duty as
president of the American Red Cross
to lay these grave facts before the
ever responsive people of the entire
country, urging that from their never
failing sympathy they contribute
promptly and effectively to tae crea-
tion of an adequate relief fund.
In the appeal for relief money the
president states that conditions of
suffering and destitution in the dis
tricts inundated by the Mississippi
have assumed an intensity asd magni-
tude which demand prompt help. The
d. 900 persons Temporarily homeless
and dependent, he says, will soon be
threatened with epidemics unless
prompt measures of protection are
taken.
The army is doing everything pos
sible to provide shelter an food to
meet the immediate emergency says
the president. "Eut the equally i'm
portant task of conducting the relief
camps. maintaining health and re-
storig the flood refugees to their
homes. under conditions which Will
enable them to return to normal con
ditions Of life. rests upon the local
officials and the Red Cross. Ques-
tions of health which inevitably arise
from the gathering of great numbers
into camps, are already becoming
acute and to those will be added
others, even more serious when the
water subsidies. Typno,c, sma::poX.
malaria and other diseases, threaten
and must, if possible, be prevented
by prompt and vigorous measures
The people in the flooded districts
are reaching the limit of human en-
durance: money is giving out and
the exposure and hardships is telling
os them. This is the summary OF con
ditions received from Major Nor
movie at Memphis today. He report
ed 600 destitute people at Luna, Ark,
/. 900 each at Pennsylvania and Hen
derson. La: 1000 at Tallulah. La;
900 at Delhi, La: and $500 at Milli-
kens, Ia. Almost all of the refugees.
including the 1000 at Vicksburg, are
negroes.
The steamer Herman Papke left
Helena, Ark. today with barge load
ed with 600 bales of hay and $4,000
rations for various points along the
Mississippi river below the city and
the steamer Wyanoke left Mariana,
Ark. with $1,000 rations for refugees
below that place on the st. Francis
river
Major Normoyle has requested that
eight more commissioned officers be
sent TO Helena for relief work.
The flood in the Mississippi and
the tributaries will cost the govern
ment S1.137.S79 This estimate was
submitted to congress today by Sec
retlrN StlUlSOn. l lie dHlOuHl lll''"u'N
the sS5O.0OO and the 100000 appro
priatidn ny congress: S275.OOO for
tentage and other Quartermaster sup
plies distributed
Surgeon General Blue of the public
health service today issued orders t.
officers stationed at Evansville, Ind
Cairo. H.; st. Louis; Memphis
Louisville; New Orleans, Vicksburg
Natchez and Paducah, to report floo'
conditions. that probable effect on tn
public health and measures be takel
to combat unsanitary conditions.
DR.. Blue stated tonight it was fear
ed the flood might infect the waite
supplies and thus produce an epiden
. ic.