Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-07-29
A NEW JOHNSrOWN.
Continued from First Page.

blocks, were pretty well shaken up, but es
capped total demolition. They are being
rapidly made habitable by the indiyidua
owners, who are displaying there, as a
other portions of the city. most creditabl,
energy and enterprise. Cellars are being
pumped out, and the few stores totally de
molished are being rebuilt.
An interesting sight was that near the
corner of Washington and Clinton streets
On just completed foundation sat an Ell
derly man talking with pretty girl, hi.
daughter. A third party Joined the group ano
unfolded parcel Of thin oilsilk paper. The
plans for new store came to light, and the
owner looked at them and laughed aloud
while his daughter hid her face in her hands
and cried. 1t was an illustration of the
power OF emotions to act in widely varied
ways.
SEARCHING FOR vALUABLES.
A few feet further on a wallpaper store
used to exist. The first and second floors
had fallen into the cellar, and the stock was
a mass of pulpy paste. Here were man
and his wife and two children, stirring
vigorously in the ruins and vainly striving
to tish something of value out of the foul
mess. On the opposite side Of the street
was handsome brick residence, from which
the whole front had been separated. Masons
were just closing in the yawning gap up
under the mansard roof.
From Clinton street several hundred feet
back to the hillside was a considerable ex-
tent of debris, apparently untouched. On
upper Main street the only new building in
two squares is the large double store being
erected by Foster & Zuin and Gels & Schry.
On Clinton street, which takes an oblique
angle toward Stony creek, is Swank Bros.
large new wooden store, The father was
drowned in his residence on the same site,
but
THE SONS ARE PLUCKY
and have already good trade. Next door
is George Schrader's new grocery store.
Back of these buildings, and covering the
space between Clinton street and the Fourth
ward school, for a long time the CHASTITY re-
ceptacle of the dead, there is another ex-
panse of ruined territory upon which no
work has been done.
At the corner OF Main and Clinton streets
is a nest of booths. One of them purports
to furnish every creature comfort, including
"French oysters" whatever those may be.
Main street is now reached. The powerful
bulwark of brick stores which lined each
side of this street and retained huge mass
Of wreckage, is being rehabilitated. 1t was
right in the squares bounded by Franklin
and Clinton streets that
THE GREAT JAM oE DEBRIS
was carried by the backwater. Photo
graphic views of this feature of the flood
have been sold all over the country, and
have adorned the pages Of nearly every
illustrated paper in America. This enor-
nous mountain of debris has been cleanly
removed by the contractors, but its traces
remain upon the buildings on the street.
Not q ground floor window remains intact.
In fact, in all the stores which yet stand in
the business streets, plate-glass is conspicu-
GUS by its absence. 1t must have cost the
plate-glass insurance companies pretty
penny to settle its Johnstown losses.
The stores on Main street have been ener-
getically reclaimed, and the former occu-
pants have put in board fronts, and are
making heroic efforts to transact business
under difficulties. Cellars are being cleaned
out, and one instance of the character of the
beneath the first floors was
doubly instructive. A wagon was being
loaded with slime, which literally ''smelled
to Heaven"
CAUSE ENOUGH FOR TYPHOID.
1 managed to get near enough to ask
whittier the refuse was being conveyed. Itwas
then discovered that all the refuse, garbage,
filth or decayed matter of every description
was being carried to the point between the
Conemaugh and Stony Creek, and incor-
porated in the big dump. This fact will in :
terest consumers OF Pittsburg or Allegheny
City water, for some hours later a stroll was
taken down to the dump, and the slime was
seen trickling down the slope of the en-
bankment into the water. Every rain or
freshet will disintegrate enough poisonous
matter to have considerable effect upon the
waters of the Conemaugh. Not only is this
refuse very generally existent in Johnstown,
but every fresh excavation seems to unearth
fresh deposits.
1t is depressing to reflect that the supply
of filth is considered
PRACTICALLY INExHAUSTIBLE.
Hardened as the workmen are they fire.
quently are compelled to quit work and go
elsewhere to catch their breath. In drug
store on Main street the whole contents Of
the store are yet reeking in the basement.
1t is a marvel that everybody is not pros
trated with typhoid fever. Disinfectants,
however, are in general use. with the effect
Of somewhat mitigating the prevalent nui-
everything that could burn should have the
torch applied, and all other debris should
be carried to the dump.
One of the melancholy "reminiscences of
the flood is the music store of Hohmann
Brothers. Dismantled and ruined, inside
and out. the pluck OF the owners sticks out
forcibly. On a muddy window sash is
tackled up copies of Blaine's "TriumphaI
also Cleveland's Luck and Love"
march. with the features of the great politi-
cal leaders sorely splashed with mud.
ADMIRABLE ENERGY DISPLAYED.
Along the two blocks of the chief business
street are the largest stores in Johnstown,
and the proprietors are displaying most ad-
mirable energy in their efforts to get started
up once more. Huge canvas signs an
openings" are displayed. right
and left, and people hurry around with rest
less energy and determination written upon
every feature.
AT the corner of Franklin and Main
streets is evidently the business center of
the new Johnstown. The northern corner
is the site of the solid block of admirably
business houses put up all
around the four sides of the city park by
The commission. Every store is taken. and
nearly all are open with new stocks, and
prices are very reasonable in most instances.
The stores are two stories high, SO feet deep,
Is feet wide, and the front OF the third story
is almost wholly of glass. No better move
could have been made than the erection of
.hese stores. The upper portion serves to
shelter the families OF the shopkeepers, who
gain access by means of stairs at the back.
The first story woodwork is painted green
n every instance.
LOOKS LIKE NEW STREET.
Franklin street looks quite new when
7iewed from Main street toward the Balti-
more and Ohio depot. The two squares are
airly we'll lined with a little better class Of
temporary stores than are seen else where in
he city. Among the new buildings is the
Democrat Office. The NJ. E. Church is being
placed in applepie order, both inside and
'ut, by Boston Methodists, who are bearing
he whole expense of fitting up the church