The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1880-06-11
TnE RuINs OF MlLroN.


The following extract from an article in
Mondays Gazette & Bulletin gives fair idea
of what is being done in that unfort tunate town:
1t was just three weeks last Friday since the
great fire swept away three .fourhs OF the pretty
little town Of Milton 10 about four hours and
laid waste all its hotels, churches and business
houses A look over the ruins Saturday
showed that the people are slowly recovering
from the terrible shock they received, and are
beginning to rebuild their ruined homes The
spectacle yet presented is sad one. The
streets are blocked up on all sides nth piles of
brick, broken columns, twisted iron pipes and
shattered blocks of granite and marble, all Civ
ing evidence of the crucial test through which
they passed when the fire ragged in all its fury
from block to block and from street to street.
The process Of rebuilding will be slow and ie.
dious, on account of so much time being re-
quired to remove the debri', restore the founda.
tons and get new material on the ground. Tenn.
porary light frame buildings are springng up
all around the ruins for shops and places of
business, until better ones cau be built, The
sound of the saw, the rowels and the hammer
are heard on every hand, giving evidence OF
the pluck and enterprise of the people, and it is
predicted that in few years Milton will be re.
built and handsomer than before.
The number seeking relief has dwndled
down to small proportions, as all those who are
able aud willing 10 work, can find il The
commissary department is still kept open, and
small corps of clerks is still on hand to re.
ceive and deal out provisions. Contributions
are still coming in, and they are being faith.
fully and judiciously distributed. In some in.
stances consignments of clothing have been
stored away for use when cold weather sets in
The people appreciate the liberality of the
country in contributing to their wants, and
have made the most careful distribution of pro-
visions and goods among the sufferers The Ia.
dies relief society has been very active in sup
plying the wants of women and Children and
it is well differed 1t has done world of
good The organization will be kept up for
sometime, and no pains will be spared by the
excellent ladies having it in charge, to do the
largest amount of possible good for the needy
and deserving. They still solicit contributions
of clothing of all descrip ptions, which they prom.
ise to faithfully distribute. They will gladly re,
ceive calicoes, muslins, cloths, and everything
in fact that can be worked up into clothing for
women and children
CASH CONTRIBUTIONS.
| 1t ia not yet known what the amount of en- III
contributions v i'll be, but it is thought that the
total will reach nearly SIS, 900 Nearly $50, ,OOC
of this money is in bank in Milton, and no eff
fort has yet been made to distribute it. 1t is q
grave question how to divide it up among tn,
sufferers in proper manner. Many think tina
when all the money is paid in committe,
should be appointed from the cities contrbu
ting the largest sums, which should visit Milton
and after carefully examining into the condition
OF the sufierers, make division. BY pursuin.
this method it is thought that better saisfac
ton will be given. 1t Ia not deemed iudicion
nor wise to eptrust the distribution OF so mucl
money TO local committee alone, as tker
would be suspicion of favoritism and dssati4
faction, no matter how faith fully the worl
might be performed. With a foreign commit
tee there would be less cause for pickering Ant
as Philadelphia has contributed nei.rly $50, ,0O(
to the fund, she should have the largest nun
Der on the committee. Profoundly grateful 70
the kindness showered upon them in the hou
of their ditress, the people of Milton feel tn.
their bene eactors should have the largest say i
the apportionment of the money, so that non
can assert that there has been anything bu
honesty and fair dealing. Such noble an
appreciative people deserve all they have IT
ceived from the public, and they will neve
forget the friends who came to their assistanc
when they sat weeping amid the ruins of the
beautiful town.