Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-08
Unless a New Plan of Opera
tions is Formed,
EFFORTS WILL BE WASTED
IN Trying TO Effect a Permanent Cleaning
Up Under Present PIans-such is Com
tractor Films Oplnion-Fully S3,O0O.-
900 Needed to Prosecute the Work Pro.
perlY and Enectually.
rrRoM A srArr conRnspoNp1Nr.l

JoHNsTowN, June 7-Contractor Finn Is
not satisfied with the way the work of clearing
away the debris is being conducted. He says
that it will cost fully 100000 to do the
work as commenced, and it will only
be temporary and practically a waste
of energy and money. To make a
permanent Improvement would cost So. .000, ,000
He believes that a contract should be let for
the work at once. U nlcss something definite
is done within week. he proposes to call his
men off and allow someone else to take his
place. Mr.. Finn last night dictated the fol-
lowing to DIsPA ToH representative:
"There are two ways of looking at the condi-
tion of affairs which exist in Johnstown to-
day, regarding the clearing away of the debris
preparatory to the rebuilding of the city and
putting it on permanent footing. The first is
to look at it in a temporary light, and the other
from permanent business and practical stand
point.
An Immense Amount of Work.
"Is the work which has already been COM
menced and seems to be proceeding to COM
pletion with all possible expedition to be tenn
porary and to end when the present army of
men under Booth & Finn and the volunteers
from the different parts of the country are
is the Finance Committee, which is
supposed to have charge of the matter, to re-
ceive sufficient money from the State Of Penn
sylvania and the entire country to supply the
amount necessary to complete the work of
clearing away the debris, cleaning out cellars
and preparing the foundations Of the demol-
ished buildings, which will amount to some
thing in the neighborhood of $S000 900, or is the
work to end with the expenditure of the funds
already in the hands Of the committee?
IF the latter, it would leave the cellars filled
and the bodies in them permanently buried,
with all sorts of obstacles to be overcome by
the citizens themselves when they attempt to
rebuild on the sites of their old structures. The
matter must be looked at from financial or
practical business standpoint on one hand, or
sentimental or charitable point of view on the
other.
Plans for the Future.
"With this conclusion already formed, no
titled the business men of Johnstown, who are
supposed to act in this matter with authority,
that would withdraw my present force of
workmen unless the matter was decided to be
conducted from a permanent standpoint, in
order to give them time to consider the
matter and arrange for the carrying out of
their permanent scheme. In case they should
decide favorably on that point also stated
that would continue the present work until
the end of next week. The temporary ar
rangement will require Sl,000.000 to
complete it, and would be comparatively
of no value in case the town is rebuilt In case
the citizens decide to carry this work through
to completion it must be placed in the hands Of
a competent and responsible party, just as you
would let contract for the building Of rail-
road or the construction of house."
Superintendent Patton, who was present
while Mr.. Finn was making his statement,
coincided with him In every point. LUTY.