The Michigan Sufferers—Proclamation by Governor Baldwin.
On Monday Gov. Baldwin issued the following proclamation: To the People of Michigan: While you have been occupied in the noble work of furnishing relief to the sorely afflicted people of the neighboring City of Chicago, large sections of our own State were being devastated by the same terrible scourge of fire. Several counties have been almost entirely ruined; thriving cities, towns, and villages have been reduced to ashes; mills giving employment and support to hundreds of families, whole townships of valuable timber, dwellings, barns, crops, and property of every description have been totally destroyed. The destruction of both life and property has been appalling; thousands of our citizens have been rendered houseless and homeless, and are destitute of the absolute necessaries of life. The calamity which has befallen our people, terrible as it would be at any time, is doubly so, at the commencement of the approaching inclement season of the year, and calls most earnestly upon every citizen of the State, who has escaped this sad disaster, to contribute promptly and liberally toward the relief of these, our suffering fellow-citizens. While contributions for the afflicted people of Michigan have been, and probably will continue to be made from other States, such cannot be depended upon. Reliance must be placed mainly upon the people of our own commonwealth. I therefore appeal to the people of Michigan to meet the emergency with a promptness and liberality measured only by the urgent necessities of the case. In order that contributions may be distributed judiciously and wisely, it has been deemed best to appoint two “State Relief Committees,” one of these located in the city of Detroit, and composed of the following named persons: C. M. Garrison, Chairman.
Charles Kellogg, Treasurer.
Wm. G. Thompson.
George McMillan. The other in the city of Grand Rapids, composed of the following named persons: Hon. Thomas D. Gilbert.
Hon. Wm. A. Howard.
Hon. N. L. Avery.
Hon. Henry Fralick.
Capt. Robert Collins. It is requested that money, clothing, food or bedding be forwarded to one or the other of the committees, as may be most convenient to the donors. The State committees will appoint one or more persons in the several counties, to whom contributions from the townships may be sent, and by whom they will be transmitted to one of the State committees. Let us remember “That it is more blessed to give than to receive.” HENRY P. BALDWIN.