The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-05-13

49, 40 oiu, ldullildT, S0CCleQ m0LlOQS
OF life and employment. When we
have done this for the flood sufferers
IN community, we have also done it
In large measure for the community
itself. To accomplish this the Red
Cross uses the utmost elasticity OF
method. 1t asks the question, What
does this family most need to set it
going?' And when the answer is
found, the Red Cross tries to provide
exactly what is required.
Throughout the flooded country to-
day, the answer to this question is
being sought in relation to fully go.
900 families. 1t has been found and
answered in perhaps 10000 families,
and the relief funds which have been
given SO generously by the American
people are being poured out through a
hundred channels to provide the new
start for which all are waiting. And
what is the answer? Sometimes 1t is
an outfit of tools; 1t may be sewing
machine, or a wagon, or a small stock
!! of merchandise or peddler's pack
or repairs to a damaged house, or a
railroad ticket or hospital care or the
temporary payment OF rent. or any OF
the hundred other things which fit
the individual needs of families and
set their usual wheels of life grinding
again. Because this particular dlsas-
| ter was a flood. it is, of course, neces-
sary in almost every instance to pro-
wide simple furniture in addition to
whatever else is granted.
In one town dealer in butter and
eggs lost his stock and fixtures and
with them his ability to make liy-
ing. BY buying him an ice box, a
pair of scales and some shelving and
advancing him few dollars for a
new stock of goods, he was made en-
tirely independent and promptly be-
gan serving his cid customers. A bar
her lost ali of his equipment. A new
chair, some razors. towels and fix
lures solved his problem. A hard
working laundress received some fur
nitnre and to her great joy new
juncts. An industrious and deserving
boarding house keeper was re-estab-
llished with the furniture. dishes, ETC.,
necessary to enable her to take her
former boarders back to the old
| place." careful old German cabinet
maker lived comfortably from his
trade His heart was almost broken
Iby the complete loss of his tools and
he could see the poorhouse straight
1 ahead. The relief fund bought new
tools and already the old man Is con-
ltentedly at work repairing the brok-
| en- furniture of his neighbors.
These actual experiences are men,
/ toned simply to give an idea of Red
Cross methods and to let Tom Jones
and John Smith and Susie Thomas
know where their contributions went
/ and for what. There is no arbitrary
list to the varieties and forms OF
help carried on, except the limit to
! the amount of funds available. The
| fund to be expended in Ohio, which
! has suffered more than any other
state, at this time seems likely to
amount to total OF about $1,750,000.
/ This Includes the contributions to the
Ohio Flood Relief Committee, the ap-
preparation by the legislature and the
Red Cross fund assigned to Ohio. All
/ these funds have been consolidated
and will be expended as one.
Everywhere the people are recover
ing from their depression and are
catching step with the forward
movement Industries In the flood
districts are nearly all in full opera
ton again; regular employment Is
open to workmen and much extra
| work in cleaning and repairing streets
and public utilities is offered. The
motto scrawled upon the door OF a
refugee shack in San Francisco soon
after the terrible earthquake and fire
might well be adopted now. 1t was:
rMake the best of it; forgit the rest
/ OF It."