Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-20
every Building Damaged"

Every Building Damaged"
Believe original estimate of property
damage of $30,000,000 not overstated,
as every building is damaged with pos
sibly 20 to IS per cent of buildings a
total loss.
General condition of absolute desti-
tuition existent in all lake region, and
also among middle class of people in
cities and towns. Okeechobee City and
vicinity property damage practically
complete. Medical and other supplies
IN ADEQUATE quantities being brought in
from Fort Pierce, Tampa and ST Pc
tersburg No change in report of 81
deaths in this section"
The following wireless message was
received at headquarters this morning
from Disaster Relief Baker at Porto
Rico:
AT noon today motorcade of food
supplies left San Juan for various points
OF emergency. Second big motorcade
leaves today, carrying food and clothing
supplies to interior points.
In reference to the health situation,
1nsular Health Officer Ortis today
stated: The situation now. due to lack
OF 1000 and proper shelter, Is serious,
and II proper measures are not taken
speedily it might be possible that trans
missible disease could develop Strong
preventive measures are being enforced
everywhere
THE entire population is working
heroically in support of the Red Cross
program"
Rotary, Club Votes $500.
At its meeting yesterday the Rotary
Club voted an appropriation of $500
from the club treasury for the Red
Cross relief fund.
The District Commissioners Yesterday
afternoon issued the following proclama-
ton:
The President Of the United States
having publicly called the attention of
the people of the United States to the
Overwhelming disaster which has over
taken the inhabitants of Porto Rico, in
the Virgin Islands and Florida as a re-
suit or devastating West Indian hurri-
cane, and as president Of the American
Red Cross having urged the American
people to contribute promptly and gen.
erouSly funds to alleviate the suffering
incident to the disaster. the Commits
sioners of the District OF Columbia ap-
peal 20 the people of the District to
contribute as far as Is within their power
to provide money for the needful as
slstanca OF the inhabitants of these 10
calitles. Our people have never failed
to respond to such call and our record
of libcrality in this respect should be
maintained"
Personal Appeal Suggested.
A government employee has suggested
to The Star that Red Cross workers
be stationed in the Hobbies of all FEEDER
al department buildings to receive con-
tributions. She asserted there were
thousands OF employees who would give
% or 30 cents or more by such a per-
sonal appeal, but who could not find
time to write letter and mail the
donation.
In his direct report to national head
quarters of the Red Cross, Henry M.
Baker, national relief director, who is
in San Juan, Porto Rico. stated that
information coming into San Juan in
dicates that far graver" conditions ex-
list In the interior than In the city Of
San Juan, and that the situation on
the Island OF st. Croix of the Virgin
group Is very bad"
Caravans of Army motor trucks are
being rushed to all interior points with
food, clothing and medical supplies,
he said. Baker radioed that the great
est damage in San Juan appears to
have been done to<huts of the poorer
class. Water and light systems are
only partially functioning. Health con-