In the meantime the committee issued its own circular appeal to all local authorities, business houses, boards of trade, religious institutions, charitable corporations, social and business clubs, organizations and societies generally in every State of the Union.
The question of transportation and its cost now became one of vital importance. If full freight charges were to be paid on all consignments to the committee to the Atlantic coast, the expense of shipment might in many cases equal the value of the supplies, and in any event would be a serious burden upon the treasury. Accordingly, negotiations were carried on with the principal railway and steamship transportation lines, and with the Joint Traffic Association of New York, one result of which was that the association shortly afterward issued its general circular of instructions, the substance of which was:
That, responsive to the request of the Central Cuban Relief Committee, appointed by the President of the United States and acting under the direction of the Department of State, it shall be permissible for the railway companies, parties to the Joint Traffic Association, to forward free of transportation charges, from points subject to its jurisdiction to or from New York, New Orleans, Mobile, Montgomery and Tampa, shipments of food, clothing and medicines, and other necessary supplies intended for the use and relief of the inhabitants of the island of Cuba who are suffering from sickness and famine.
Through this generous action on the part of the Joint Traffic Association, comprising the principal railroads east of Chicago, with branch lines extending north and south, all contributions were carried to the Atlantic and Gulf ports free. The Ward Line from New York, and the Plant System of railways and steamships had already taken similar action, then the great trunk lines of the West, the New England companies, the Southern railways, and all the coastwise steamship companies and the Munson Line united in furnishing free transportation to the ports of Cuba. Of the steamship lines whose kind assistance did so much to further the work of relief, special mention is due to Messrs. James E. Ward & Co., of New York, owners of the Ward Line, whose steamers running to Havana, Santiago, Cienfuegos and ports along the southern shore of Cuba, not only carried the larger amount of provisions, but unloaded it and delivered it on shore without charge.
No single agency did greater service than the press. By the daily and widespread dissemination of news concerning the actual conditions in Cuba, by the reports of their own representatives in the famine-stricken districts, and by the persistent reiteration of appeals the great heart of the American people was reached, and the response was prompt and abundant.
Operating over such a large territory, communication by mail would have often been too slow to be effective, and it was constantly necessary to resort to the telegraph, and the cost of such service would have ordinarily been very great. But the Postal Telegraph Company and the Western Union Telegraph and Cable Company, in order to assist the work, extended unusual privileges, the first company transmitting all messages free, and the second accepting messages at the government rates. The Central Cuban Relief Committee in their report to the President, extend their thanks to many other companies, and individuals, for whose kindly assistance they are indebted, and special mention is made of the valuable service rendered by the United States dispatch agent, Mr. I.P. Roosa, in the receipt and storage, the purchase and shipment of relief supplies.
In the latter part of March a conference was held at Washington, between the Secretary of State and the Central Cuban Relief Committee, which resulted in bringing the committee into relationship with the American National Red Cross, and the designation of the Red Cross as the distributing agent in Cuba, acting for the State Department and the committee. As told elsewhere, the work of distribution in Cuba was scarcely begun when friendly relations between the United States and Spain were suspended, and upon the advice of the Consul-General at Havana, the Red Cross retired when the President called all Americans home.
In the meantime the committee, upon the advice of the Department of State, had chartered the steamship “State of Texas” of the Mallory Line, and, loading her with a general cargo of food, clothing, medicines and hospital supplies, dispatched her, under the flag of the Red Cross, to Key West.
The purpose for which this good ship was dispatched, and the conditions under which she was sent, are best explained by the correspondence exchanged at that time by the Departments of State and Navy, the American National Red Cross, the Central Cuban Relief Committee and the naval commanders:
The Central Cuban Relief Committee,