New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-08-06
THE MILL RIVER VALLEY.
JOHN PAUL AGAIN AT THE SCENE OF THE
GREAT FLOOD.


PROGRESS TOWARD RESTORATION OF THE pEvAs-
rArEp yIIIAGEs-MILIs TO BE REBUnT-A NEW
STORY OF THE OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES VIEWS
OF THE BROOKLYN scANDAI~-soME REFLECTIONS
ABOUT DAMS IN GENERAL
IRON AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBuNki
WILLIAMSBURG, Mass, Aug. 1. - You have
heard very little OF Williamsburg lately. Fires an
foods in other localities seem TO have swept away all
memory Of the Mil River disaster; the seven days
wonder and compassion has long been over and already
several "nexs" have had their turn The pnohe curl
csty seems satisfied regards dams and mention OF
Mil River lust unnecessary. But in some respects
I am unlike most men-and some women. my in'eios'
or sympathy excited Is not easily anayeu au"
was never known desert frend-so long as ne hao
cent left Thus ii that on hearing that the most
eminent wooden manufactures OF this veiny-the ony
one In the vicinity. in fac-sl had cellar under ms
feet as well as a roof his head, to say nothing OF
credit at the grocery, flew to share his fortunes-what
remained at least. The report that there was sun
email balance OF the relief fund undsposed or too may
have influenced my coming.
Very little change far has been made IN the race Vi
the country over which the food swept Still II is
SCARED scanned like the face OF man VINO mas hau
n bad attack OF the smallpox The cnannels cut oh
every side by the turbulent waters are unified as yet
Sand and powders still make wilderness OF once
pleasant lanes streets, and fields and but 10" houses
are thus far building Where houses once stood you
ind wooden erected which are rudey painted
suggestive legends like these: " DR.. J0hneon's, all
drowned (sevenl" "Birminghams, all lost (nVe6
Seventeen Sept away and drowned between mere ana
The m &c Naturally enough there is an indsposluon
TO rebuild until properyowners know whether they are
building on sand or rock, and the question OF
boundaries and the future Of the village are little
more definitely settled The only mill really running IN
Williamsburg at the present time is the james WOODEN
Mil You perhaps remember that just above TINS nlii
tbe swollen river cut new channel for ITSELF and for
av.af1 oh nd
belonging to it filed with sand its lower stories ais
mantled and disarranged, but the machinery COM
parativey uDiDjured The boarding houses ior inc
operatives were swept away, well as large STOCK OF
wool but latter loss the enterprising proprietor
remedied 10 SEINE extent by claiming and gathering all
The wool that could found in the fields and pastures
for ten miles round-not holding back from carting II
Of believe even If the wool happened TO have sheep
under it! That enterprise like this must have It's re-
ward sooner later evident enough More as soon
as It became demonstrated to his practical mind that
pond full of sand very little use so far as Running
mill was concerned he set men busy about the work
Of excavation and by mproyised dam of brush, junk
bottles and old bed-cothes very soon had enough OF
The stream turned back into its old bed to start the ma
chinery with and again grind out cloth and flannel IN
STRIPS OF astonishing length. When assure the world
that there is no fear of its being compelled to
languish in an and rowseress condition for
want OF the Champion Mill wooden goods, do service
which can only be repaid by gratitude the one side
md the RETAINING from sending bolt or two OF the
goods on the other.
BUILDING Up THE WASTE PLACES.
II has been varoasly Published that Mr.. skinner in.
tended TO build his silk works at HOlyOke deserving the
old site at skinnervie. do not rebuild for OF his
mill YOU must understand. there nothing left to
build over house still stood in a dsconsolate and
dsoluted condition, and susceptible OF either re-
pairs transportation but for the MILL OF that there
was not foundation stone leftthe work on such
have 10 he de Everything
seemed 10 be settled with the inhabitants OF HolyOke,
and the details published, but this morning
LEARN that MI skinner has determined finally to bald
upon the old And am heartily glad TO hear It, for
This of course improves the property all around as well
Be redeems Skinnervie from the waste OF desoatlon
which would have settled upon II had contrary
decision been made Ii seems fitting, too,
that those who were associated in interests when
the waerbOt struck should abide together and stand
shoulder to shoulder in the work of restoration Thus,
too with Haydenvie. Ny friends, Hayden, Gere Co..
after exploring and investigating in different directions
and asceraning that other county would give more
Than half the Of its real and personal property
valuation 10 have them build within its limits concluded
10 build where their old works Stood and the new ones
are already under contract handsomer and better APP
pointed buildings these are 10 be than were the old
opee and these latter were the state.
Having seen the plans and fully approved them, speak
IN this literally by the card III was my lnten-
ton indeed TO give yon details of the dimensions but
The memoranda furnished by the architect, Mr. Luce
being lost can call mind only one fact, gathered
from description The Springfield Republican,
and this perhaps, would have been forgotten
had il not been for the fine rhetoric in which was
stated aude 10 the fact that the chimney OF the
new building will proudly tower 70 feet heayenward
From this infer, aud think the Inference justha1e
one that the chimney will be 20 feet high! As further
instance OF enterprise under dseouragement, you must
know that the business of Hayden, Gere Co. suffered
no interruption, simply because of the unimportant
incident fouudery patterns, and stock in store
beng all swept away. few barns and shanties were
left standing the higher ground OF Haydenylle and
these were pressed into service, patterns we're
whitfield out of the drift-wood floating around, ladies
and soup Kettles. aud spinning wheels were borrowed
from the neghbors and ia something less than "a hours
the work ,o moldng, and casting, aud silyerpst2s,
and polishing was again going on, not as Drisky as
ever but still with considerable vim.
While at Haydenvle cannot resist the temptation OF
repC YOU an anecdote connected with the food which
i heard from a bright lady yesterday 1t shows that
there are few events terrible not TO have some
thread OF the ludicrous interviewer with them A
brother OF the late Gov. Hayden at the West a
visit when arrived of the swift ruin which had
come upon 1.-THE family village. 10 company with his
daughter at started for home. AT one OF the
stations newspaper procured, containing full par
sicuars OF the disaster. Putting his spectacles the
old gentleman proceeded TO read the particulars aloud,
with the most provoking elaboration, stopping 10
weigh aud turn every statement carefully IN his
mind as he went along. " Let me have the paper,
Yather" begged the young lady. all impotence TO
know the extent Of the calamity NO. daughter. have
patience; will read it to you" said the old gentleman
and he went slowly almost spelling out every word
At last he came statement which arrested his atten
ZION: -Of-the-foundry- hoated-away-
on-the-fOod and-was OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
door-steps-O y.-Haydens-bonse." This he read
over very slowly. twice apparently astounded by the
audacty of thing, and unable 10 take It In its full