Daily Sitka Sentinel And The Arrowhead Press

President approves many millions for flood relief

WASHINGTON (AP) President Eisenhower today approved a multi-million dollar emergency flood relief program. It calls for using existing government funds with the approval of congressional leaders, thus avoiding a special session of congress.

The White House mentioned no specific figure in announcing Eisenhower's action, but Rep. Cannon (D-Mo) had described it earlier as permitting expenditures of up to 100 million.

Presidential press secretary James C. Hagerty said the White House staff had been in touch yesterday and today with legislative leaders of both parties "and without exception they have agreed to the desirability of utilizing the present resources of the government in helping to alleviate the suffering in the flooded areas."

He added:

"This means a special session of congress will not be necessary."

Worst confusion over in flood-hit northeast states

by The Associated Press

The worst confusion was clearing up today in flood-ravaged sections of the northeastern states.

Even in the most severely wrecked communities, where life was still badly disrupted, there was new hope from President Eisenhower's promise of massive federal aid for rehabilitation.

Pennsylvania solved the problem of providing for children in flood-damaged and isolated summer camps by shipping them home.

In sodden, prostrate factories at Woonsocket, R. I., workmen energetically tackled the job of getting things in running order again. Management representatives were "amazed" and gratified by the turnout of volunteers for rehabilitation work.

"We knew some would turn out but this is a happy surprise," they were quoted as saying.

The death toll came in for a recount, revising the number of known dead from 180 down to 176.

The death figures by states were: Pennsylvania 100, with an unknown number still missing; Connecticut 49, with 71 known missing; Massachusetts 13; New Jersey 6; New York 4; Rhode Island 1; Virginia 3.

Bit by bit further repairs were made. Here and there another road was opened. The New England Telephone and Telegraph Co., reported 50,000 of the approximately 66,000 telephones put out of service had been restored.

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Worst confusion
Voluntary contributions of clothing, food and money came to the aid of flood victims. The Red Cross launched a special flood relief with the strong backing of President Eisenhower, who handed his own personal check to national Red Cross chairman E. Roland Harriman.
"His gift was a generous one - an example to others who have not yet acted," Harriman commented later.
In Washington the CIO opened a flood relief fund with an initial allotment of $100,000 to help an estimated 50,000 members made homeless or jobless by the catastrophe.
Tentative damage estimates by the various states totalled around three billion dollars.
Connecticut figured its losses at more than one billion; Rhode Island and New Jersey, 100 million or more each; New York, 15 million.