Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-06-12
IN CHARGE OF THE STATE.
Change i'm the Control Of the Work
in the Conemaugh Valley.

THE NEW CONTRACTOR SURPRISED AT THE SLOW
PROGRESS MADE-THE OLD FIRM WILL NOT
LET HIN HAVE ANY MEN AND DELAY
MAY DISQUALIFICATION HEALTH REPORT.
About six thousand laborers who have been
employed under the direction of Booth and
Flynn, the Pittsburg CONT actors, in removing
the debris and clearing up the Conemaugh
valley, took their departure from Johnstown
last night and to-day the work begins under
state control, with Adjutant-General Hastings
In immediate charge.
Gov. Beaver yesterday sent John B. Nc
Donald, of the firm of Ryan Mcdonald, rail-
road contractors, of Philadelphia, to Johns
town to look at the work. He was accompanied
by Mr.. McClain, who has been associated with
him in business for many years. They hur-
riedly ran over the ground, looking at the
ruins in the town and adjoining boroughs and
spending some time examining the fatal drift
at the bridge. Mr.. Mcdonald had a long inter-
view with Gen. Hastings, and while this was in
progress Mr. McClain
GAVE HIS VIEWS on THE SITUATION.
II am surprised" said he, ito learn that so
many men have been at work here so many
days and have made such small impression
Only small part of the town has been cleaned,
and the drift at the bridge looks as if it had
hardly been tOuchad. 1t will be a hard thing
to get men here quickly. If we undertook
the work 1t could not be done in a day or
two days. We ought to get five thousand men
here inside of a week. / think a mistake
has been made in cutting down the wages
to S1.50 a day. / do not think we can get
the kind of men we want for that price, We
could get Italians and Hungarians, but they
won't answer. On that drift for instance we
will need trained workmen, bridge builders and
lumbermen. They can't be got for any such fig
ure. and they ought to be paid an extra quar-
ter OF dollar a day for working in that stencil.
First of all a channel should be cut right up
through the raft. That will take at least a week
If were to undertake it and had my way I
would put about 500 barrels of petroleum in
there and fire the whole thing. 1t will take two
or three months to do all the work needed to
put the place in good sanitary condition, but
do not think that it will take anything like
Il, 900 OG0 1t might be done for half that slim
MIR. Mcdonald and Mr.. MeClain hurried away
from headquarters when the interview with
Gen. Hastings ended. Gen. Hastings saws
he does not expect to begin active work at
once. but as soon as he can get the men he Will
begin at three points. The first will be at the
bridge. the second will be along the river in
kernville, and the third will be in cleaning up
the center of the town.
The trouble that had been brewing came late
last night when VIM. Flynn. of the firm of
Booth Flynn. who secured nearly 1000 men
to work IN the ruins around town. had long
consultation with Gen. Hastings. who told him
that Ryan Il Mcdonald had been given the con-
tract. Mr.. Mcdonald was introduced to Mr.
Flynn and asked him to get him 1000 men
and to work the contract with him. Mr. Flvnn
Indignantly refused to do so. and unless the
governor helps and makes some concessions it
Is believed that every one of the Booth q
Flynn men will march out OF Johnstown in the
morning. That will leave Gen. Hastings and
Johnstown worse OFF than had been anticipated.
THE NEW SANITARY COMMISSION.
Much interest is manifested among the re-
lief people here over the probable composition
of the commission that Gov. Beaver will name
to take charge of the relief and sanitary work.
Gen. Hastings is to remain at the head of the
work as the executive officer and as the gov
ernOrs representative. 1t is his WISH and the
wish of everybody here. that Mr.. Scott be made
a member of the commission. Thos L. Coch-
ran. OF the Guarantee Trust company of Phila-
delphia, Is spoken of as a member of the COM
mission. Ex-Gov. Pattlson and Col. Jennings.
OF Harrisburg, are also mentioned. The Red
Cross continues TO do great work. The free
baths that Gen. Hastings requested Miss Bar
ton 10 open will be ready in day or two.
twenty bath-tubs for that purpose reached
Johnstown from Philadelphia last night
A blessing to Johnstown is the general health
that continues. Dr.. G. Croft, of the state board
of health, says it is phenomenal The doctors
are still so thick that they would find time
hanging heavy on their hands if they devoted
themselves to work within the line of their pro-
fession, but they finding and doing well
plenty Of work aside from drugs and plas-
tiers.
THE DOCTORS USsELFIsH WORK.
The physicians are working without hope of
compensation, and are defraying their own
personal expenses. They endure the same
hardships that everyone here has to put up
with, and many of them announce their inten-
ton to neglect their practice at home so long
as they are needed here.
Miss Hinckley, representing the Children's
AID society, yesterday received letter from
DIR. W. II. Bennett. of Philadelphia which
contained an offer from the Seaside Home at
Atlantic City to take charge, for a month of
twenty mothers and fifty children. Their offer
Is most welcome one. AZ -:iany delicate women
and children here are greatly in need of "a
change of scene. and it is likely that this oppor-
tunity will be taken advantage of at once A
mother and ner SIX little ones will probably be
sent to Atlantic City to-day.
ENCOURAGING HEALTH REPORT
What debris was loosened and not moved
was burned, and the burning will continue
nightly until the whole mass has disappeared.
The pulling machines are beginning to demon
strate their value. and with another supply of
workmen the clearing up will progress rapidly.
Inc BOARD OF health Issue yesterday the most
encouraging report it has thus far promul-
gated. A careful examination has been made
of the water supply, and experts pronounce
that drawn from the mountain reservoir and
springs as being absolutely free from pollu-
ton. The river water and that contained
III wells, are. of course. tainted. but it il not
allowed TO be used. The health of the people
Is said to be excellent considering the exposure
and scanty food supply they are obliged to en-
dure. A few cases of diphtheria have been re-
ported, not more than half dozen. and all the
physicians here are surprised at the small num-
Der Of patients they have. They are kept busy
tramping around and examining every nook
and corner where contagion is likely to arise
but the actual patients are now few and many
OF them are suffering simply from nervous
prostration.
One woman has been pronounced insane but
IT Is known that she has been so at times be-
fore, and that her case is not entirely due to
the shock occasioned by the disaster. Gov
Beaver on Sunday assured the health officials
that the state would defray all expenses neces-
sary to enforce all proper sanitary measures.
The board has audited no bills as vet, and can
form no idea how much money has been ex-
pended. Much disinfecting material has been
expended. Much disinfecting material has
been contributed, but tie greater portion of it
has been purchased and the bills will aggre-
gate quite a large figure.
The Pennsylvania Open to Williamsport.
The bridge over the west branch of the Sus-
quehanna at Williamsport, carried away by the