Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-10
President Roberts, of the
Pennsylvania Railroad,
at JOhnstoWn.
OFFICIALS MASSED THERE
The Damage TO the Road Appalled, Superin.
tendcut Pitcairn - Every Contractor in
Ohio and Pennsylvania Who Can be OBJ
tained Will be Given Work-Nillions of
Dollars Lost by Delay.

Although the Pennsylvania Railroad people
laid an embargo upon the passage of trains
! over the main line eastward yesterday, an en-
| z inc and a luxuriously-appointed palace car
managed to elude the general order, for the
| very good reason that President Roberts him
| self was on board. The special train slipped
| into the Union depot yard over the Allegheny
Valley tracks at o'clock yesterday morning,
and was switched on to the main line without a
minutes delay, and departed eastward as
quietly as it came, bound for Johnstown. The
Pennsy President was travelling incog, but
DISPATCH reporter succeeded in battling the
mysterious trainmen and obtaining a clear
idea of the causes that prompted President
Roberts sudden journey from Philadelphia.
1t vas in response to an urgent telegram sent
on Saturday night to Philadelphia by Superin-
tendent Pitcairn, which was SO strongly worded
as to leave Mr.. Roberts no alternative but to
come and come at once. With him in the
special car were General Manager c. f. Pugh
and w. j. Latta. officials of the road. The spe-
cial ran to New Florence where it was side
tracked and carriage was taken and the long
drive over the mountains to Woodvale, several
miles beyond Johnstown, was begun. These
tactics were adopted to prevent any of the
people at or near Johnstown from having any
knowledge of the
Massing of Pennsylvania Officials
at the scene of devastation wrought by the
flood. The President and his companions were
met by Messrs. Pitcairn and M'Crea, and a
very important consultation occupied the re-
mainder of the day and lasted far into the
night
1t is well known that Superintendent Pit
cairn has let no grass grow under his feet since
the stoppage of traffic beyond Johnstown. Fif-
teen thousand men have been gathered at
Johnstown, and trainloads of timber and stone
have been forwarded with the utmost dispatch
IN hn fhn 1Ofif iolc horv hooTn
working unremittingly, and since the Alleghe-
ny Light Company succeeded in throwing light
on the scene last Thursday night the laborers
bridge at Buttermilk Gap has been rebuilt and
trestled in parts and few miles of road re-
laid To his astonishment, Superintendent
6aG barely @ade so@@sncement the
magnitude of the job appalled, him. Presi-
dent Roberts was informed by telegraph
that the situation was such as to call for his
immediate presence, and he replied, saying he
would come without delay. At the same time
he directed Mr.. Pitcairn to summon all the
contractors in Ohio ard Indiana who could be
secured and to telegraph right and left for
men and materials in addition to all heretofore
secured. 1t is likely that 1000 more men will
be at work by tomorrow, and it is believed that
several weeks will elapse before the main line |
is open. even with the herculean energies now
at work and the large additional force to be |
put on.
II is a Serious Question.
1t is no wonder that Superintendent Pitcairn |
stood aghast at the prospect. The exigency is |
extraordinary, and is rendered doubly serious |
by the topography of the road between Johns |
town and Altoona. 1t is not like rebuilding |
seven ruined bridges and laying track upon |
level ground. The inaccessibility of the road |
intensifes the difficulties, and the destruction
of the roadbed is the most serious blow Of all. |
Years have been expended in rendering the |
roadbed solid, and itS reconstruction along |
take time. | Every foot | of "G'AS the rosdway way
has to be put in order SO as to |
enable materials to be transported to |
the scene as fast as wanted. Even after the |
temporary work has been completed large |
force of men will be at work for months before |
the former Limited time' can be attained with |
safety. In Johnstown itself there is an infinite |
amount of work to be done Although the |
stone viaduct that breasted the food is appar-
entity all right and is being used for construc-
ton train transportation, a Pennsylvania road
engineer says the bridge must be rebuilt event.
ually, as it has been permanently weakened by
the tremendous strain it withstood.
Manufacturers Kicking.
The Cambria Iron Company the Gautier
Steel Company the Johnstown Steel Rail
Company, apd the immense manufacturing in
terests in the vicinity of Conemaugh have mott
fed President Roberts that they look to the
Pennsylvania Railroad for immediate trans
portatlon Of new machinery and renewal at
the earliest moment possible of switch rea-
tions with the main line, as contracts involving
not thousands but millions of dollars depend
upon the Pennsylvania Railroad for
fulfllment, both in shipment of materials and
finished work. No time is being lost by the
and resumption Of their work
must be antedated by the railroad. Some idea
Of the gravity of the situation has dawned upon
the officials, and there is going to be the great
est hustling on record in the Conemaugh val
ley within the next few days.
Substantial Work Advocated,
1t has been Superintendent Pitcairn's advice
hat permanent and substantial work be done