LAW OFFICES
HARKINS & VAN WINKLE
9-10-11 HARKINS BUILDING
ASHEVILLE, N.C.

August 5, 1916.

Hon. Locke Craig,
Governor of North Carolina,
Raleigh, N.C.

My dear Governor:

I have received from your office two or three communications from farmers outside of Buncombe who have appealed to you for assistance. We have in every case that we have learned of where there was immediate need of provisions furnished the same, but in no instance have we gone outside of Buncombe to try to rehabilitate losses to crops and property. The Committee of which I am Chairman does not feel that they would be warranted in doing this.

We are now considering to what extent we should go in the matter of furnishing relief to the farmers in Buncombe who lost their crops. I am enclosing herewith a statement which was prepared by Mr. Miles of our Committee while I was absent, but I approve its contents and from it you will get an idea of the Committee's attitude and situation.

I think Mr. Weaver, the farm demonstrator, should go over the flooded districts of Buncombe and make an appraisement of the damage to crops and a report of the farmers who will have to have aid. I fear that if we go into this work without knowing the extent which we would ultimately have to go that we might get ourselves in deep water. The result of this flood will unquestionably be reflected into the situation next winter and if we exhaust all the funds which we have now we fear that the Associated Charities, the contributions to which will no doubt be much smaller this year on account of the contributions already made to the relief committee, will find it impossible to obtain means to run on through the winter.

I would like for you to write me your opinion about this and just how far you think we should go in the matter of extending relief to farmers who have lost their crops, and if you know I hope you will advise me whether or not this class of sufferers may expect anything from the appropriations that are being made by Congress. Also whether or not they will be considered in the distribution of the funds collected by the Central Relief Committee over whose work you have immediate charge. It seems to me that the sufferers in the various towns should be looked after by the people of the town and that the funds of the Central Relief Committee should be devoted principally to the relief of the small farmers who have lost their crops and winter's support and who have neither the means nor the credit to obtain the means to run them through the winter. I merely offer this as a suggestion for you consideration.

Assuring you of my high esteem and that I will be thankful for any suggestion you may give me, I am

Very truly yours,

T J Harkins

Enc.
TJH/MP.