The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-07-27
Calls on Citizens to Give
Aid to Sufferers From
Floods
$4,000 ARE DESTITUTE
AND NEED HELP NOW
Says 100000 Acres of Cultivated
Lands Are Under Water and Farm
ers and Tenants Have No Way
to Recuperate Fortunes

Montgomery, July 26.-(Special)
With 10000 people of Alabama home
less and in a destitute condition as
result of the recent floods. Governor
Henderson this afternoon issued proc
lamation calling upon the citizens OF
the state to aid those in distress.
."The greatest disaster that has be-
fallen the state in half "a century," are
the words used by the governor in
describing the stupendous loss to the
people of Alabama. The chief execu-
tive chilled attention to the fact that
In II counties of the state 100000 acres
of cultivated lands are under water.
In his proclamation the governor
named John w. Durr of Montgomery
rs chairman of the general relief COM
mittee, and Gen. w. C. Hooper of Selma
as treasurer. The probate judges of
the state are named as chairmen of
the various county committees.
PROCLAMATION
The governors proclamation follows:
you have generously, responded to
calls made upon you for the relief of
distressed and destitute in foreign
lands and now misfortune has overtaken
our own people. The incessant rains
for the past 20 days have affected to
some extent every citizen of the state
and for the farming interest even in
the most favored sections all pros
poets of gain from that industry have
been blighted for the present year
This condition is lamentable, but with
that perseverance and brotherly spirit
for which our people are noted, in the
course of months the damage will be
largely repaired and we will go on to
subdue other difficulties.
There are large number of citi-
zens. however. who are less fortunate
They have lost not only prospective
gains or only part Of their possess
sions but have been rendered desti-
tute. The floods have left them with
not even bread sufficient to sustain
life. The rivers have swept every
thing. Their all consisted of the stores
laid upon their premises and in their
growing crops. For the past 10 days a
wide expanse of waters is the only
Bile it may have been. once was hal
lowed
TWELVE COUNTIES FLOODED
"From official data gathered in 20
counties of this state, there are $780,
600 acres of farm lands Hooded which
were being titled. The crops ON these
lands have been absolutely destroyed.
The damage from these foods are esti-
mated MT more than $5.OOO,OOO, and &c.
600 people are left absolutely destitute
and dependent upon the balance, who
have been less unfortunate, for their
daily bread. This Is the worst disaster
that has befallen the state in half a
country.
1t is a condition that no one could
foresee and thereby protect themselves
The citizens of the counties on which
the hand of misfortune has been so
heavily laid have been providing for
the destitute as best they could but
they are unable to successfully cope
with the situation. I believe it is only
necessary to make the actual condi-
tions known to you for you to respond
literally as you have ever done to the
call of humanity. Aid should be prompt
and generous. and I ask that the pro-
bate Judges of the different counties of
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