The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-02-16
Of This Sum Belgium Itself
Will Furnish One-third as
Needed
Twenty Per Cent
Have No Resources
One Million Four Hundred
Thousand Persons Must Be
Fed Until Employment Can
Be Furnished Them

New York, Feb. 1.-THE relief com
mission sent abroad by the Rockefeller
Foundation 10 report concerning the
effects of the war upon the noncomba-
tant popult!on of beiligerent countries
reports from Rotterdam. Holland, IN
der date of January /. that all agencies
engaged In Belgian relief must for the
present occupy themselves with these
immediate tasks:
/. To supply bread to the whole
population of Belgium. There are at
present in Belgium about 100000
people and so per cent OF them are able
to pay for their bread. but the grain
must be purchased in foreign coun-
tries, must be transported into Bel
GUM and distributed under the protec-
ton of the American government to the
communities
Q. To supply all food---bread. soup.
and coffee-to about 100000 people
who are wholly dependent upon chart
table aid.
}. To supply clothing of all kinds
to certain communities where the peo-
pie have lost their clothing through
the burning or looting Of their houses.
4. To supply temporary shelter for
families whose homes have been de-
stroysd,
B. To give employment as far AZ pos-
sible TO the unemployed.
NillseH s.d Haif Helpless.
The repSrt Gays Of the sevea nstlItsn
people new nvlaw In Beisfun, Il IL
Estimated that ahout 50 PER cent are 1t
present abie 10 pay for their bread
and ether supplies. while about 70 per
cent, or I.<O0.0oo are wfthout resources.
and are dependent upon charitable re-
lief for the whole Of their supplies.
or - -Sn 0nO Ia it,frU In rx,o
sells. 100000 are now in the soup line.
Of the 10000 people now living In Ma
lines. $4,000 are in the soup line IT
is estimated that one-third OF the pres
emit population of LieEe is already de-
pendent upon the "canteens."
The chairman Of the Belgian nation III
committee has estimated that In the in
dustrisl towns and cities OF Belgium
about one-third of the present popula-
ton is now being supported by charity.
In the rural communities conditions
are better. Most of the farmers have
some resources. From the few remain
Ing cows they get milk and butter.
From the land they have some supplies
OF potatoes turnips. and other vegeta-
bles. In some of the more favored ru-
raj communities the proportion of the
population wholly dependent upon
charity is at present small.
Their Homes DESTROYED.
In other communities where the de-
struction of houses has been great and
their requisftion of cattle and food
supplies has been heavy, a much larger
percentage of the people are dependnt
upon charitable aid
Combining the surveys of both the
industrial and agricultural communi-
ties, the chairman of the Belgian ma
tional committee estimates that at
present about 30 per cent of the popu-
iation, or 800, 600. are unable to pay
for their food, clothing or other needs
II is estimated that TO provide for
these 100000 persons. who are with
out resources. will require a daily ex-
penditure OF thirty centimes per per-
son for food--bread. soup and coffee
and ten centimes for other needs, such
as clothing. shelter. medical attention,
etc.
For the 100000 persons to be aided.
this represents a total expenditure of
about $4,000 per day. or In round
numbers. 100000 per month.
Three MQlisn q Month.
or this sum OF "a. zoe, 900 required 10
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