THE CONGAREE AND WATEREE SECTION.
“After spending Sunday and Monday,” says The News and Courier, in its issue of September 23rd, “in Columbia, whither he had gone to institute, as closely as possible, an investigation into the condition of the flood sufferers, together with making provision to supply their present necessities, as well as to plan for their relief during the winter months, Mr. A. C. Kaufman, President of the South Carolina Branch, Red Cross, returned to Charleston yesterday. ‘I had an opportunity,’ he said to a reporter last night, ‘during my visit to consult with white and colored men from the afflicted section of the Congaree and Wateree Valley, both as to the extent of their losses and the extremity of their condition. Theirs was, indeed, a harrowing story, enough to make the heart bleed. Some of the sufferers are unable from childhood, age or infirmity to labor in any shape or manner. The only kind of work most of those, able to do anything, can do is to pick cotton in the fields. In remuneration for this labor they receive 50 cents a hundred pounds for the cotton which they gather. This will enable them to eke out existence until the middle of November, and then will gaunt poverty haunt them, labor of all kinds, to which they are adapted, being then at an end. Then will come to them starvation and death unless the humane people of South Carolina place in the hands of the Red Cross, working in co-operation with the local committee of Richland County, the means to save their lives.
“‘A committee composed of three citizens of Columbia of the highest character in connection with sub-committees, to be selected by them, have agreed to handle the matter.
“‘The following article from The State, of Columbia, will give a fuller idea of the business-like manner in which the Red Cross and the committee propose to handle the situation:’”
The State, of Tuesday, says:
Col. A. C. Kaufman, of Charleston, the representative of the Red Cross Society in this section, came to Columbia Saturday night and spent Sunday and yesterday in the city, going over the ground in connection with the Richland flood sufferers.
As a direct result of this visit, a central committee has been formed in Columbia, its members taking part upon the special request and designation of Colonel Kaufman. This committee contains but three members—Captain William E. Gonzales, Editor of The State, Chairman; Mr. W. A. Clark, President of the Carolina National Bank, Treasurer, and Mayor William S. Reamer, of Columbia.
The duties of this committee will be to designate sub-committees throughout the entire flooded district in Richland to secure an accurate census of those persons who need assistance, to estimate the cost of relieving distress until another crop can be procured and to receive and disburse funds.
Mr. Gonzales requests that all moneys be sent to Treasurer W. A. Clark, and it is necessary for the business-like and just distribution of relief that those who have undertaken to extend relief in this section shall work with the central committee, and there shall be an accounting of all funds to the central committee.
As matters now stand it is not likely that much relief will be needed from this committee for the next two months. During that time the people affected, or most of them, will be able to earn a living by picking cotton on the highlands, but from about the middle of November until the next oat crop (in May, 1909) can be harvested, scores and scores of families will be absolutely dependent upon assistance, and it is to prepare for that time of need that the central committee and the sub-committees to be appointed will now work. Of course, every effort will be made to get these people to help themselves. There will be absolutely no encouragement to idleness or pauperism, but there is no use attempting to conceal the fact that later on in the winter there will be a real problem to solve in caring for the destitute.
Columbia and South Carolina, it is hoped, will be able to care for these needy people. What they fail to do the Red Cross will be asked to supplement. The central committee represents Columbia and will also act as agent for the Red Cross.
This visit was made on September 20, 21 and 22.