The Montgomery Advertiser
- Cotton damage in latest reports
- Four million set as immediate need for storm relief
- Storm-swept area in serious condition; appeal for aid
The Alabama cotton report separates crops beaten into mud from damage to seed and the staining that lowers lint grades. Its county estimate puts Montgomery’s loss at 3,000 bales against a pre-storm crop estimate of 18,000. A national appeal gives preliminary donations and the Red Cross chairman’s warning that even the minimum sought will not meet relief needs. The Florida account describes rescue work accelerating as receding water exposes more bodies, while the earliest surveys show greater need than first reports suggested. The selected passages preserve these estimates as contemporary assessments.
Translation
Cotton damage in latest reports
The commissioner stressed that losses in cotton were a combination of three important factors, namely: losses to the seed, absolute losses to cotton from being beat out in the mud, and damage to the lint resulting in lower grades, caused by staining and other well-known causes of deterioration.
The cotton crop in Montgomery County was damaged to the extent of three thousand bales by Monday’s storm, according to an estimate made Wednesday by L. A. Edmonson, county agent, after a survey of crop conditions in rural sections.
The estimated crop in this county, prior to the storm, was 18,000 bales, he said. About half of the cotton was open in the fields. Of this, he said, about thirty percent was ruined.
He also estimated that 4,000 tons of hay were damaged about fifty percent. Sorghum also suffered about twenty percent loss.
Four million set as immediate need for storm relief
Efforts will be made to collect $1,000,000 daily until the total is reached. National chairman John Barton Payne said preliminary responses to President Coolidge’s appeal for funds had been “gratifying,” but reports from Red Cross workers in the hurricane area indicated that a minimum of four or five million dollars would be required. Contributions so far approximate $800,000. Even the amount set as a minimum will not come close to meeting relief needs, judging by reports received here, Payne said. “Conservative estimates inform us that as many as 60,000 people are homeless,” he continued, “while thousands of homes have been demolished beyond repair.”
Storm-swept area in serious condition; appeal for aid
With the National Red Cross firmly at the helm, rescue and relief work in the storm-swept sections of Florida is advancing rapidly. Hasty surveys reveal conditions even worse than the first news had indicated, and appeals to the nation for financial assistance, nurses, medicines and supplies went out yesterday from Miami, the center of the district hardest hit by the storm. As floodwaters receded and rescue parties were reinforced, additional bodies were found at Miami, Moorehaven, Fort Lauderdale and other places; with the certainty that still others were buried in wrecked buildings and trapped in debris-covered waters.
Context
Cotton could lose value without disappearing
The account separates seed loss, cotton beaten into mud and fibers downgraded by staining. That distinction explains why counting destroyed bales alone would miss part of the economic damage. A crop could still be harvested yet earn less because its quality had deteriorated.
A national collection for local recovery
Payne’s daily fundraising target turned the scale of destruction into a task for donors across the country. The appeal linked money to people without homes and houses beyond repair. It addressed a recovery that would continue after immediate rescues, as households tried to rebuild ordinary life.
Why needs grew as access improved
The hurricane had damaged communities around both Miami and Lake Okeechobee. As water receded and rescue teams expanded, more places could be searched and more losses discovered. The worsening reports reflect that expanding reach of relief work: better access could make the known scale of a disaster grow.
Original
COTTON DAMAGE ON LATE REPORTS
The commissioner stressed that
losses In cotton were a combination
of three Important factors, naipely:
Losses to the seed, absolute losses to
cotton from being beat out In the
mud, and damage to the lint resulting
in lower grades, caused by staining and
other well known causes of deteriora
tion.
The cotton crop in Montgomery coun
ty was damaged to the extent of three
thousand bales, by Monday's storm,
according to an estimate made Wednes
day by L. A. Kdmonson, county agent,
after a survey of crop conditions In
rural sections.
The estimated crop In this county,
prior to the storm, was 18,000 bales,
he said. About half of the cotton was
open in the fields. Of this, he said,
about thirty per Cent was ruined.
H® also estimated that 4,000 tons of
hay were damaged about fifty her
cent. Sorghum also suffered about
twenty, per cent loss.
FOUR MILLION SET AS IMMEDIATE NEED FOR STORM RELIEF
Efforts will be made to collect $1,
000,000 dally until the total Is reached.
John Barton Payne, national chair
man In making the announcement said
preliminary responses to President
Coolidge's appeal for funds had been
"gratifying" but reports from Red
Cross workers In the hurricane area
Indicated a minimum of four or five
million dollars would be required. Con
tributions to date approximate $800,
000.
The amount set as a minimum will
not be even approximately adequate
for the relief needs. Judging from re
ports received here, Mr. Payne said.
"Conservative estimates Inform us
that as many as 60,000 people are
homeless," he continued, "while thou
sands of homes have been demolished
beyond repair."
STORM SWEPT AREA CONDITION SERIOUS; PLEA MADE FOR AID
With the National Red Cross
firmly at the helm, the work of
rescue and relief in the storm
swept sections of Florida is mov
i mg-apace.
Hasty surveys reveal conditions
as even worse than first news had
indicated and appeals to the na
tion for financial assistance and
for nurses, medicines and supplies
went out yesterday from Miami,
the center of the district hardest
hit by the storm.
As tha flood waters receded and
tha rescue partlea were augmented,
additional bodies were found at Mi
ami, Moorabaven, Fort Lauderdale and
other points, with the certainty that
still others were buried in wrecked
buildings and held captive by debrlg
covered waters.
Source: Holding institution