The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-04-05
Object Now Is to Re-
habilitate Stricken
Communities.
AID MUST BE GIVEN
TO INDIVIDUALS
In No Other Way Can Towns
Ruined by Floods Be Put on
Self-Sustaining Basis-All
Contributions Generous
People Can Give
Are Needed.


American Red Cross has undertaken
the rehabilitation of home and busi-
ness life in the flood stricken districts
of the Middle West and In what man
ner that organization met the first call
| for relief from the sufferers in this
disastcr-probably the greatest with
which it has ever been called upon to
deal-were described in a comprehen-
sive statement issued tonight by Miss
Mabel T. Boardman. chairman of the
Red Cross National Relief Committee
Must Consider Individual.
Rehabilitation of the individual suf-
! fcrer, 4o2iarrG Miss Roar6mar, iR .what t
is necessary to restore normal condi-
tions ITO continue merely to give
out food and clothing she said. will
| mean the continuation OF the paralysis
of the all-important business life of the
community. In many of the flooded
districts the merchants have lost all
their stock. and have no insurance as
! In case of fire. Unless an effort is
made to aid them make n start again,
unless the people are assisted In such
a way as TO enable them to resume the
normal condition of buying, the bust
ness OF the community will remain in
a hopeless condition. To accomplish
this the individual must be consid-
D
mean that OF the whole city. town or
village.
While factories are closed for re-
pairs mon can be given work for which
they will be paid for the clearing away
of the immense amount of debris, such
cleansing being necessary for sanitary
and other reasons. Thus a purchasing
power will be given them again. They
may be aided In the repair of their
houses. and thus employment provid-
! ed for others.
The establishment OF his market
! Will enable the merchant 10 re-employ
his stan. and thus again others can
return to a normal existence. Where
men women have been paying for
their homes by monthly instruments
they can be assisted in such payments
for q time 30 as TO prevent the loss
OF their homes and possibly the fall
ure of mutual building associations,
which would be disasrous to many OF
the working people. All this great
work the Red Cross. with the generous
contributions of the American people.
is undertaking.
Need of All Contributions.
This work Of individual rehabili-
Ia tion will lead to the rehabilitation
of the entire community and the set
ting again in motion of the wheels Of
normal life Will be the greatest helm
fortunate victims Of the flood. So
many thousands have suffered. so many
cities. towns and villages in Ohio In
diana Kentucky and Illinois have been
affected that there will be need of all
the generous contributions received
With the courage OF the American
people on the side of the disaster
and on the other hand. with the gem
erosity of our sympathetic public, the
Red Cross believes this can and will
be accomplished"
Telling of the emergency relief work
of the Red Cross Miss Boardman said:
SO rapidly and almost completely
was Dayton cut off from connection
with Columbus that the first intima-
tion that the Governor of Ohio re-
ceiTed OF the calamity there came from
the Red Cross ut Washington Imme-
diately the first flood relief measures
were set in motion by the State, res
cue work and police protection. largely
by the National Guard. Sanitary mat
ters under State and Federal officials
with the aid of the army physicians
next were in order. About 100 Red
Cross trained nurses were Immediately
sent 10 the flood country and are as
sisting not only In caring for the sick.
but in cooperating with the sanitary
inspectors In house-to- house visiting
Major Charles Lynch. United States
Army. OF the Red Cross first aid depart
nent, Is giving assistance In this sani-
tary work to Surgeon General Hall. OF
the National Guard of Ohio Where
necessary, small emergency HOSPITALS
were established Food clothing blan-
kets and cots, with medical supplies.
were rushed to the devastated dis
trlcts by the War and Navy Depart
mcntS under experienced and competent
officers. Later. without notice from tho
lted Cross, other supplies came from
more remote localities. Kitchens wore
put into action. and later from relief
stations In schools and other suitable
places food and clothing were dstri-
buted. These were constantly replen-
ished from the carloads coming in from
all parts. Coal also was given out. I
saw one or two carloads dumped at
the side Of street in the flooded dis
trict of Columbus for any ones use.
but as yet little or no inroad has been
made upon it,
Immediate Aid offered.
The Red Cross. Immediately upop
information of tho disaster. sent tcIe
grams TO both the Governors or Ohio
and Indiana offering assistance, and
began to movo into the field its per-
Sonnel of trained agents as we'll as the
nurses. These agents arc mon con
heotod with various phianthropic as
sociations. and who have had special
experience and training in disaster
relief work for tho Red Cross. The
national director. Ernest T. BicSnell.
on his way to Omaha for tho cyclone
relief was recalled. as the Red Cross
agents sent from Chicago and st Louis
reported the work there well in hand
Governor Cox. acting as president
of the Ohio Stale Red Cross hoard an
pointed special relief committee "
such members OF the board as were N
the state and others as substitutes fer
n Ok VI. -