The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1912-04-12
CONGRESS AIDS IN
CHECKING FLOODS
Votes S35o,ooo to Strengthen
Mississippi Levees.
1000 HOMELESS IN HICKMAN
Exodus Starts From Cairo, ILL.,, When
News Comes From Washington
That River VIII Rise
Above bikes.

Washington. April 3.-The senate
and house gave a demonstration OF
rapid legislation, when they by unani-
nous vote passed bin appropriatins
$3.50, 200 10 be Immediately available
for the Strengthening and the exten-
sion OF the levees along the Mississip-
pi river.
The senate broke all presidents by
passing the appropriation bill a lie"
minutes after II had been reported TO
that body under suspension or the
rules which require that all sueh
measures be referred 10 commit
tee. The s350,0c0 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 flood-swept valley OF the
Mississippi and urged an appropria-
ton.
Money Is Sufficient Now.
The appropriation of s350,0O0 In
stead Of the amount asked for by the
president, IL was announced by Repre-
sentative Ransdell, 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 suffi-
cient for the present.
President Taft urged the passage or
the bill in a message TO congress. IL
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, have no hest
tation in asking for an appropriation
of 100000. as recommended by the
secretary of war"
Thousands Are Homeless.
Hickman, KY, April 3.-The flood
waters of the Mississippi river. which
broke the West Hickman Ievee, have
poured a muddy current eight feet
! deep through the business streets. tho
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 III
and tents were shipped I'm by the state
military.
Cairo People Flee.
Cairo, H., April 3.-Cairo wa
thrown into a 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 pu
on trains and more prepared TO leave
All the levees are still holding
The local weather bureau receives
word of the breaking OF the levee a
New Madrid, Mo. The break fioode
about 100 square miles. This relieve
conditions in Cairo somewhat and IN
| city is now considered safe.
i New Record Stage al Memphis.
H Memphis. Tenn, April 3-The MI:
Il sissippi river reached a stage OF Al.
i feet. the highest ever recorded here
II The predicted rise of Al feet al
Il nounced by the weather bureau VT
II add greatly 10 the damage alread
H done. though no new levee breaks ar
i reported.