Evening star., 1927-05-02
S10,ODl,0DD FLOOD
RELIEF IS ASKED AS
HOOVER REPORTS
Red Cross Appeals to Nation
TO Double Fund for De-
vaStated Area.
SECRETARY PRESENTS
= FACTS TO PRESIDENT
Danger Far From Past, He Says,
But Doubts Likelihood Of
Further Deaths.

The American Red cross loudy
flashed an appeal to the Nation to
increase its contribution for the
stricken people in the wake of the
Mississippi flood TO a minimum of
$4,000. GOO, and called upon all local
chapters TO double their original
quotas.
With S5,040,000 in hand this morn
ing, Americas 8 great agency of mercy
had gone cover the top" in its original
plea for five milliOns, but after hear
| ing a f1rst-hand description of con-
ditions in the flood zone from Secre-
tary of Commerce Hoover and James
L, Fieser, acting chairman of the
Red Cross, who just returned today,
the central committee concluded that
at least twice that amount would
be needed.
President Gets Report.
Mr.. Hoover, who went into the
water-swept area as the personal rep
resentatiye of President Coolidge, also
visited the White House this morning
and made a report to the Executive
on conditions as he found them and
outlined his views as to prospective
: needs.
The new call will place Washing
tons quota at 100000 and the host
of workers under the banner of the
District Chapter of the Red Cross will
turn at once to the task of meeting
this new obligation. AS the announce
ment of the increased need came from
the national headquarters contribu-
tions in the District of Columbia had
mounted close to $4,000, according
10 an approximate calculation by Vic
tor Deyber, local treasurer.
Those who attended the conference
of the central committee of the Ameri-
can Red Cross, at which it was de-
cided to double the quota, were: Sec
retary Hoover, Mr.. Fieser, George E.
Scott, Cornelius n. Bliss and Miss
Mabel t. Boardman.
Hoover Gives Facts.
A brief but comprehensive outline
of the extent of the disaster in the
Mississippi valley was given at tic
White House by Mr.. Hoover, = who
stated that the flood is not yet over
and that no doubt there win be fur
Their breaks in the levees. He does
not look for any further loss OF life.
however.
1.-THE rescue machinery of the Fed
eral Government" he said, "the Red
Cross and the States, in the flooded
area has now been established so as
TO meet any emergency in the matter
OF saving lives and in furnishing food,
shelter and supplies to the homeless.
1t is utterly impossible to estimate the
exact loss of life to date, but l am
satisfied that the number of persons
made homeless now exceeds a quar-
ter Of million"
Nothing on the face of the earth
can be DONE" Secretary Hoover con-
tinued. "that the Federal Government
and all the other agencies are not now
doing to give aid and comfort to the
sufferers"
In carrying on the relief work, the
Red Cross, which is standing the en-
tire expense, is depending solely upon
the good will and support of the
people of the United States, Mr..
Hoover said lin connection with the
need Of additional funds. He pointed
out that without reckoning the cost,
the Red Cross had gone ahead with
its relief work, feeling certain that the
public would readily and literally
respond. He stated that the Red
Cross had assumed responsibilities
calling for the spending of millions
Of dollars and that the deficit it is
now facing is tremendous.
AD8E Is IEUDIeItldtkCdAs
Because breaks in the leyees are
still going on Mr.. Hoover said, lit
is difficult TO formulate any definite
idea of what the relief work is going
10 cost. 1t is also impossible to
formulate any definite program to
follow. However, the relief agencies
are well established now, and for that
reason principally, / do not expect
any loss of life from now on-at
least, 10 any extent"
Secretary Hoover emphasized tia
fact that the organization program
thus far has been perfected to the
point where there is no dang of a
plague or pestilenee. He said the
State Boards of Health and State
sanitary officers have been placed in
complete control over the sanitation
in the flood districts and that they
have taken effective and drastic steps
10 prevent outbreaks of disease. He
added that many thousands of people
are being vaccinated and inoculated
s precautionary measures and that
the State guards are being used to ex-
cellent advantage.
1t is the opinion OF Secretary Hoover
that, despite the havoc wrought by
the floods, the farmers, except those
in the lower section Of the Mississippi
River country, viii be able to replant
their crops this Summer. He stated
that 1t is impossible to estimate now
what will be needed in the matter of
aid during the reconstruction period.
He explained that the extent of the
damage and the extent OF the neces-
sity for aid, must first be determined.
Because of the uncertainty Of this
phase of the flood destruction, he said
he would rather withhold his judg-
lnent as to what the Federal Govern
ment should do TO assist during the
reconstruction period. He did init
mate that he did not think it neces-
sary or expedient to call an extra ses-
sion Of Congress at this time.
Urges Stronger Levees.
Speaking as an engineer, Secretary
Hoover told the President that to pre-
pare for the future the major problem
in the Mississippi River section, in his
opinion, is the building of larger. wider
and stronger levees. He stated that
the construction of reservoirs in the
upper reaches of the Mississippi River
and It's tributaries, and the cutting of
spillways along the river, are, accord
ing to his judgment, of minor import
ance.
He declared that the first thing TO
do to protect that vast region is to
guard against the levees breaking in
the future when the rivers are
swollen. and to prevent high waters
= from flowing over the tops Of the
up Column &