Johnstown weekly Democrat. (Johnstown, Cambria County, Pa.) 1889-1916, 1889-07-05
Democrat.
The
FRIDAY, JULY 8, 1899.
How the People Were Fed and Clio thed d
the Commissaries.

How the People w srs Fed and Clio thed II
the Commissaries.
The call for help which went up from
the survivors of the great disaster OF May
81, 1889, in Johnstown and vicinity was
responded to by the people OF the whole
country in such manner, as, for chris
tian charity and liberality, to stand un-
paralleled in the history of the world.
The large contributions of food, clothing
and household supplies sent here are be-
ing faithfully and impartially distributed
among the needy. This distribution is
now so thoroughly systematized that to the
deserving poor these supplies are easy of
access and to the impostor public expos
ure is reasonably sure. The manner OF
distribution may prove interesting TO many
contributors who are unable by reason of
distance to come and see for themselves.
The city and adjoining towns are diyld-
ed into proper Commlssary districts,
which the distribution is made. For eX-
ample Just opposite the Pennsylvania
Railroad passenger depot, is Commissary
No. 3, known also as Prospect ilill Depot.
This Comm issarY is in charge of Lieut.. w.
It. Richardson, of Mahanoy City, Pa, as
sisted by Commissary Seargeant d. Il.
Brindle, of Carlisle and II, 5, Magee,
Quarter Master Sergeant, of Wightsville,
and an efficient corps of assistants. The
contributions are sorted out at the
railroad stations and portion sent
here for distribution. The Commissary
named is so divided that there
is separate apartment for gro
ceries, meat bread, flour and other pro-
visions, as well as for boots and shoes,
gents clothing, ladies wea and house
hold goods. Daily distribution being
made from each department. In the gro-
Gerry and provision department OF Lieut.
Richardson's commissary, tickets are
given To such persons as are entitled to
relief, these tickets have the name, res
idence and number of persons III the fam
ily, and the days of the month beginning
with the 10Th and ending with the Both OF
June. The holder of the ticket is entitled
to receive provisions daily for the num-
Der of persons named upon presentation
of the ticket When the provisions are
supplied the date is punched out and
nothing more can be gotten on the date
designated.
In the clothing department competent
man is in charge of the passage way who
ascertains the present and former resi-
dence of the applicant and such facts as
are necessary to detesmine whether or not
the relief should be extended. II the APP
plicant is entitled to assistance he or she
is given ticket upon which is written
list of articles wanted, which the holder
takes from department to department,
until all the articles are obtained. when
the ticket is lifted. In case all the articles
can not be obtained, the holder retains the
ticket, the articles supplied having been
stricken off.
The household goods are distributed by
receiving the applications for articles
needed, and, if after proper examination
the applicant appears to be entitled to re-
lief, the goods are delivered at such
places rs are designated and receipt
taken therefor
A complete list is kept Of all such per
sons as hold tickets together with the
number of person, comprising the family
and the number of persons housed who
were flooded ont as also of all persons re-
.cciving household supplies.
When Lieut.. Col. spangier, now As.
sistant Commander General of Pennsyl-
vania, took charge of thcsupples on June
2d all was confusion and excitement, and
il was impossible to systemelize the dis
tribution at once, but II few days brought
order out of chaos and when depot No.
3 was placed in charge of Lieut.. Rich
ardson, who is an experienced grocer, it
was fortunately placed in the hands of IN
energetic man possessing rare executive
ability in this direction, and through
whose efforts this commisSary has gained
.the respect and admiration of the whole
community.
.
Fire Limit Ordinances.