File No. 816.48/9
Minister Long to the Secretary of State
San Salvador, June 11, 1917, 2 p.m.
Your telegram of ninth received this morning; immediately interviewed President Melendez who says Quetzaltepeque, Armenia, Santa Tecla and this city are centers of sections most affected by recent earthquakes; that sufficient food from other parts of Republic are being rushed to these places to satisfy present needs; that on account of damages to railway lines from Sitio del Nino to this capital, Government is opening cart road to connect with La Ceiba branch in order to establish communications with Acajutla and San Sonate where stores of necessities belonging to local merchants are waiting transportation here. He thinks there may be shortages of building lumber and corrugated iron roofing, stocks of both are being inventoried so as to gauge supply. Will advise later Government need for food, lumber, roofing. All vegetation looks scorched undoubtedly due to effect sulphurous acid fumes volcanic eruptions combining with moisture. Some fear this will make short crops, others that there will be no crops from sections affected.
President very grateful for telegrams from President Wilson and Red Cross, he tells me he answered both and referred our Red Cross offer to local organization.
Conference with President of Red Cross reveals necessity for general relief including money and materials with which to provide shelter; clothing, food and medicines are also needed from States. About twenty thousand destitute this city, now living streets and parks without adequate shelter. Rainy season just begun will last six months making conditions worse.
[Page 1217]Corrugated iron is roofing best suited to this country but local stocks of this and all other roofings are practically exhausted. There should be sent from San Francisco on first ship leaving for La Libertad (Grace Line direct sailings are quickest, Pacific Mail has ship leaving San Francisco in a few days) two thousand sheets light gauge corrugated roofing nine feet long or equivalent in other lengths, nails for same and some sheets of thin tin for coping.
Lumber, six thousand two by four twelve feet long, three thousand narrow strips one inch by four approximately by sixteen feet long, three thousand ditto eight feet long, sufficient small and medium nails to construct shelters from above material.
Clothing, two thousand pairs blue drill overalls medium and small sizes, latter for undersized working men and youths, two hundred pieces American prints for tropical use destitute women, assorted thread and needles for two thousand sewing girls.
Food, poor people use mostly beans, corn, rice, flour and lard; any contributions these commodities very welcome especially tinned lard.
Medicines, quantities of quinine in tablets, also bismuth tincture, iodine, ipecac, aspirin, peramidon, castor oil, bichloride of mercury, magnesium sulphate, carbolic acid are much needed. More to follow.