The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-06-08
The Structure One Of The
Poorest in the Country.
An Engineer Severely CenSures Its
Constructor.

Its Weak Points and Shoddy Work
Pointed Out-Ways in Which the
Great Disaster Might Have Been
Easily Averted-No Gainsaying the
Fact That There Is Great Danger of
Sickness-Contributi Still Coming
With Lavish Generosity-Railroa
Getting in Running Order Again.
JoHNsTowN, PA, June fare the hor-
rors of the food to give way to the terrors
of plaguew is the question that is now
agitating the valley of Conemaugh. To-
day opened warm and almost sultry, and
the stencil that assails ones senses as he
wanders through Johnstown is almost over
powering. Sickness, in spite of the precau-
tions and herculean labors of the sanitary
authorities, is on the increase, and
fears of an epidemic grow with
every hour. 1T is our impression" said
DR.. T. S. White, assistant to the state board
of health this morning, ''that there is going
to be great sickness here within the next
week. Fives cases of naglignant diptheria
were located this morning on Bedford
they mean five starting points Of disease.
All this talk about the danger of an epi-
demic is not exaggerated as many suppose,
but is founded on experience. There will
be plenty of typhoid fever and kindred
disease here within week or ten days, in
my opinion"
DANGER IN WARM WEATHER.
The only thing that has saved us thus far
has been the cold weather That has now
given place to summer weather, and no one
knows what the next few days may bring
forth, Even among the workmen and
attendants there is already discernible a
great tendency to diarrh9a and dysentery.
The men are living principally upon salt
meat and there is a lack of vegetables.
have been here since Sunday, and have
lasted fresh meat but once since am only
one of many. OF course, the worst has
passed for the physicians, as our arrange
lments are now perfected, and each corps
will be relieved from time to time. Twenty
more physicians arrived from Pittsburg
this morning, and many of us will be re-
lieved to-day, but the opinion is general
among medical men that there will be more
need for doctors in a week hence than there
snow.
USING EVERY PREcAUTIoN.
DR.. P. L. Sibbel, of the state board of
health, is in charge of the sanitary quar-
ters. ''We are using every precaution
known to science" said he, ITO prevent the
possibility of an epidemic Our Iabors
here have not been confined to any par
ticular channel, but have been extended in
various directions. Disinfectants, of course,
are of the first Importance, and they
have been used with no sparing hand.
Prompt cremations of dead animals as soon
as discovered is another thing we have in
sisted on. The immediate erection of water
closets throughout the ruins for the work.
men was another work of the greatest
sanitary importance and has been attended
to. They too are being disinfected at fire.
quent intervals.
DEEP INTERMENTS.
I'VE have a committee too, that superin-
tends the burial of victims at the ceme-
terleS. 1t IS Of the utmost Importance in
TINS wholesale interment, that the corpses
should be inferred safe distance beneath
the surface in order that their poi
sonous emanations may not find exit
through the crevices of the earth
Another committee is making a house to
mousse inspection throughout the stricken
city to ascertain the number of inhabitants
In each standing house. the number of sick,
and to order the latter to the hospital
wherever necessary. One great danger is
tne oVercrowding of houses aud hotels, and
.hat Is being prevented as much as possible
oy the free use of tents upon the mountain
sloes. So far there is but little contagious
alsease, and we hope, by diligent and sys-
S.iiatlc efforts, to prevent any dangerous