Johnstown weekly Democrat. (Johnstown, Cambria County, Pa.) 1889-1916, 1889-08-30
BOARD OF TRADE.
Important Letters Read and Resolutions
Adopted.

cusslon
WHEREAS, The Johnstown Board of
Trade is composed of citizens of the sew
eral corporate municipalities, and it
deems proper that it should take some ac-
tion by which the citizens may be assisted
to rebuild their homes with comfort and
safety to their families, and that our COM
mercial interests may be restored. To
that end we believe that these declarations
are truths that will solve the problem of
the present situation:
First We admit that the benevolent
people of the world have done more for us
than suffering people could expect and
it is now time that we turn from the con-
sideration of our personal affairs to those
which affect the public interests
Second; We believe it is essential to
consolidate under a city charter for these
reasons Neither borough can raise a suf-
fcient sum to restore its public property;
the severalEeparate municipalities seeking
public aid to dredge our rivers and pro-
tect their embankments weaken Just
claim consolidation would enable us to
better protect our rivers and prevent en-
croachments upon their banks; therefore,,
and for these reasons, consolidation is a
necessity.
Third II we operate under city char
ter we will then be able to negotiate q
loan, payable within thirty years. This
fund can be used to build all necessary
bridges within the proposed city limit !;
to construct all public buildings and
school houses to open and improve the
highways, rivers, sewerage system, and
the fire departments.
Fourth: That competent engineer be
employed to make proper surveys and
estimates.
Fifth That our present temporary
bridges will not stand an ordinary rise in
our rivers, and it is necessary we should
| be insured that communication will not
be cut Off either in the winter or spring.
Our fordings must be opened, and either
pontoon or other suitable passage ways
| should be provided for now.
! Sixth: That this Board appoint q COM
mittee of fifteen persons to meet with the
! Councils and citizens of the several muni
! cipalites with view TO cause these dec
| laratious to be adopted, and that said
committee counsel with Senators Gamer
on and Quay and with Congressman Scull
and prepare to provide proper matter to
procure aid from our National or State
Governments in dredging our rivers and
protecting their embankments.
| Res0lgeG, Thata committee of fifteen be
appointed to present these declarations to
the several corporate bodies and persons
for execution.
| The following was offered:
ReS0lged, That the President, with w.
| II RogcEsteel, S. j. Canaan, and the Sec
retary, be authorized to appoint the Com
mittee of fifteen,
The Secretary read the following letters
from Gov. Beaver and DR.. Lee.
HARRIsBURG, August %, 1889.
Janes Quinn, Esq.,, President Board Qt
23ude, J0haSt0mH, Pa.
My DEAR SIR: Your letter of the Goth
inst, enclosing resolutions of the Board
of Trade over which you preside has been
received. The subject therein referred
! to has given me much anxiety and has
been The subject of very careful thought
aud inquiry for some time past. | had a
consultation upon the subject with
DR.. Lee several weeks ago.
| His opinion hen was that the ma
terial which had been worked over the
towns of Millvillc and Woodvale was
clean, and in no sense of an unsanitary
| character.
lie could not, he informed me, con-
! scientlOusly condemn the localities as I'M
| healthy, and therefore had no power un.
der the law TO order work done. Inas-
much as have no authority in the prem
ises, except as it is derived from the
action of the Board Of Health, | could
take no action. / am this morning in re-
ceipt Of letter from the Doctor in which
he sends me a copy Of his letter of the
29d inst, addressed to you.
1t is somewhat impertinent for an en-
tire outsider to make suggestions as to
the future of Johnstown. feel so much
interest in the subject, however, and have
given so much thought to it that | cannot
but express to you my conviction that the
future of your town-that is, the stabil-
ity of its future-depends upon your ele-
waiting the grade of the entire valley.
This, under ordinary circumstances,
would be herculean task You have
such unrivaled facilities, however, for
obtaining the best kind of filling that it
would be neither eXpensive'nor a matter
Of very long delay. If the persons who
live on your main streets would elevate
their buildings so as to provide for the
filling up of streets, and the Cambria
Company were furnished with bridges for
conveying their Stag and other dumping
material into the town, you would soon
have your principal streets filed
This, of course, would be a matter of
great inconvenience for the present, and
it would take some time to accomplish
the desired results, but, in the end, your
town will be beautifed, made more
healthful, would present greater barriers
to the encrOachments of the floods, and
present many more attractions for new
corners.
have followed with deep interest the
proposition to establish the towns. so far
as the dwelling houses are concerned.
upon the hlli-tops. Having occupied
tent upon the hillside lately there, was
struck with the beauty and apparent
healthfulness Of the location, 1t seems to
me that the future of your town is settled
if the plan of building dwelling houses
upon the hill-tops is followed out and the
valley left for business and manufactur.
ing purposes. People who are anxious
for homes could then build upon health
ful and cheaper lots, without danger
either of malaria or floods, and the whole
future of your region thoroughly assured.
With this project, however, / have
nothing to do, as | have already intima-
ted, but if it were carried out the filing
up of the valley would be very much
easier problem and capable of a practical