Johnstown weekly Democrat. (Johnstown, Cambria County, Pa.) 1889-1916, 1889-08-23
A BOOMERS HOUSE,

IuO HlplOSolOu was dlllIOob IdlhluAB
Utmost a shock. In every direction
ttretch the same broad acres o. debris
chat met the eye in the first days after
the food. 1t is unive, sally admitted
~ the scene as a whole haflied
n J9F5ription, and 1t cannot be said that
e frf: contrast is so marked as to render
easier the task of wood-painting the scene
10 be sure the vista of devastation is.
dotted by new roofs here and there. But
50 few and far between are these evil
dences OF rebuilding industry that the iso-
lation is terribly Overwhelming. In
general terms, the traces OF the work of
man are still grimly overehadowei hy the
footiriuts ot the storm. Here and there
can be seen a narrow ribbon OF fair ground
running through the dreary wa ,te uf de-
bris. These are the streets which have
ali been opened by the contractors. But
the territory they inclose is seemingly
untouched
mvoluntarily one propounds the men
tai query What has all the money ac-
complished?' and this question cannot
be answered by a cursory Inspection
nothing but minute and patnataking
tour of the ruined district can at all sat
isfactorily convey to ones mind an ade-
quate idea Of the results OF the eXpendi-
ture, and the conclusion which comes
have been accomplished, miracles yet re-
main to be done.
several weeks since, when Gen. Hast
ing5 formally withdrew from Johns
Gown, he is on record as having said that
the town site was cleaned up; that all
the cellars had been uncovered, and
N that the inhabitants could now proceed
Il in the work of rebuilding the city, un-
hampered by debris or remnants Of the
wreck. This statement was hailed with
satisfaction at the time, but it must be
acknowledged that it had only q slight
4 foundation in fact, for whole square
blocks by the dozen yet remain covered
Fl from three to ten feet deep with every
4 va: ie.y of rubbish. Or it is barely pos
& sible that acre. of Johnstown's business
e and dwelling houses were built without
# cellars. In short, it is Il reasonably safe
cou,lusion that a square half mile of the
heart Of Johnstown has not even bcen
81 disturbed by those in charge of the busi-
ness of clearing up the wreck.
But it must be conceded that in clear.
4 ing up several miles of streets a vast
amonnt OF wreckaSe has been removed.
The streets caught the bulk of the float
ing debris, both from the original onset
OF the flood and tho subsequent back
water from the stone bridge, for the sim
W
the streets, especially those lined with
substantial brick stores, as u natural
y gatet;woy Offering no obstruction to the
curtrnt Main street was thus jammed
with debris, as were Il few other streets.
But those ! orough,arc, closer 10 the di.
rect current of he flood were obliterated,
being covered by -and bricks and earth,
10 ,uc depth OF FROM three to live feet.
The task Of restoring these streets was
no a5 formidable as If all had been
piivd aigh with wleckage as were Main,
Nlnr and Clinton streets.
Where was tie new city built of wood2
Where were the rows of temporary
house? Not visible, certainly. shan
ties. uoots. lean-tos, in some profusion,
bu, rot the solid blocks OF wooden build
ings that were expected TO be seen. 1t
mlist he confessed that outside OF the
biSiEc75 block on the square OF goose
pasjurr in the center a. the city, that used
to rciuice In the appeliation OF The
PARK. and some scattered stores Of the
same descliption-au erected by the
commission. and very useful and val
uable addition, just meeting the wants
pf the community--there a4e II feW new
buildings. There are at least = dozen
gery credltablc new wooden buildings,
either erected or in course of erection by
firms or individuals. Last, but by no
mean least, are the shanties which have
fprnn-, up all over town, in which the
saloon element does business.
Taken "a a whole, the Gimsy character
of hs'buildings. the suggestive heaps of
4fer kegs. the square-sh shoulder"d bar
l&eep"rs the gangs Uf hukinG ruiiians
Htand!n2 about the doo:wdys, and the
kruw2ns in progress in the iIi-light'd in-
ierior, where gummy !nk fuiils the
honie purpose OF sup!o for the drink
kBd drinkers. this element uf Johnstowu
has all i:.e racy color OF thorough min
ing camp in the Rockies.