The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-06-24
PittSburg Members of the Relief Commission
Visit the City and Find the Published Re-
ports of Losses Highly Exaggerated.
Instead of S20,OOO,OOO, as Stated, less
than 100000 Will Foot the Bill.
This, However, Does Not Include the Loss to
the Railroad Company and the Cambria
on-WOrks-Health of the District.
FIGURING THE COST.
What It Will Take to Restore Johnstown
as 1t Was Before the Disaster.

ds lt was Def0re the Dfsaeter.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
JoHNsTowN, Pa, June "a collision
between the Johnstown citizens commit
tee and Governor Beavers commission over
the matter and manner of restoration of
this city, and its environs is probable.
Johnstown people have an idea that with
the hundreds of thousands of dollars do
mated for their relief by the sympathetic
people of this and other countries,
something approximating the pris-
tine condition of affairs should
result. The Governors relief commission
thinks differently, and its idea viii likely
90. Its members desire to place the means
at their command in such a manner as will
render comfortable all those entitled to as
sistance until such time as they can, by
their own efforts. make permanent the i'm
provements they desire.
The Pittsburg members of the relief COM
mission took look over the grounds to-day.
They have been rot little amused at the
exaggerated reports of losses caused to real
and personal property by the flood. A Pitts
burg paper to-day published statement
that the losses would run from $2o.oOO.0Oo
to S20,000,OO0. This statefnent set the COM
mission at work today figuring on the
matter. and the situation is summarized as
follows: According to the estimate of
James Mcmillan and other prominent bust
ness men of JohnstOwn, the aggregate loss
of houses was about 1,s00. This includes
the losses in the Conemaugh valley. In
figuring up what it requires to furnish
house, including all necessary articles, but
N xrrrN hnAW
frills, it takes about $780, excln-
siye of carpets. But, for the sake
of argument and compilation, let us
say that these 1,S00 houses wonld require
$500 each to furnish them. OF $500. 900: but,
to give all the margin necessary. let Us call
1t S500,00O. So much for the furniture.
Now, the average of replacing these 800
houses wonld not be over $1,000 each, or
600; and. again; to give q margin to
the people who may be incredulous TO these
figures, let us put this at g, 900 900, plus the
5000 for loss of furniture, and you have
nearly what the aggregate cost of the flood
Is.
Of course, these figures do not include
the losses of the Pennsylvania railroad or
the Cambria Iron Company, but we have
nothing to do with them. From this it
will be seen that the real estimate will not
reach 25 per cent. of the amount published
this morning. We very much doubt If the
assessed valuation. of the property. IN
Cambria county is S200000O0. We will go
further, we very much doubt If Cambria
county is worth S20,000.000. However, il Is
bad enough, and the necessities of the peo-
pie must be looked to and alievlated at the
earliest possible moment. How Is this TO be
doneg Let us figure.
When Governor Beaver pays back to
Pittshurg the $4,000 advanced from the
relief fund to pay off the laborers under the
volunteer system, Plttsburg Will have about
$500, 900 with which TO go TO work 10 relieve
the wants of the people. BY relief now we
mean giving them houses, and lifting them
up for them. This is what we propose TO
do. In addition to this $500, 600. there is
probably half a million dollars in Phila-
delphia; Governor Beaver has in his
hands like sum; Mayor Grant, OF New
York, has over S30O000;. the people
of Johnstown themselves have Sl50.O00,
and there are other large sums in
the hands of heads of municipali-
ties throughout the country which
are available at any moment re-
QUESTION is made for them. Now. as To
rebuilding and furnishing houses for the
people, Pittsburg has ordered leo houses
at 800 each. with Punishment at $50 each;
Governor Beaver has ordered 100 houses at
$500 each; 100 others at Sl25 each, and there
will be 100 stores put up, on the public
square at a cost of $3.50 each. The cost of
the erection and furnishing of these houses
already named. Now. what will these
buildings aggregated One hundred houses
at 500 each will cost $4,000. Their furnish
ments will cost .. 900 additional: 100 houses
ordered, at $500 each, will cost 81, 900, with
s., 600 more for their furniture, and 1oc
houses at SIPS each, with same furnish
ments, S125O0. This will make $4,000 for
the erection and furnishing of 800 houses.
There yet remains 500 houses to he sup
piled. To do this will cost S225 OO0 with
SIS, 900 for furniture. These figures show
that it will cost about $4,000 in
round numbers to do this building. but ir
will be found that great many of the
citizens will want TO put up their own
buildings and this, of course, will tighten
up the expenses of the general relief COM
mittee materially. But TO be liberal. let us
say that the cost of completing this scheme
of rebuilding and furnishing houses will be
S5OO,000 We intend TO carry it out on this
basis.
OF course. some people will not be satis-
fed. but they must remember the circum-
stances under which the work is being
done, and that we are trying 10 do the
greatest good for the greatest number.
and in the end all will feel that we have
| been honest and sincere in our efforts in
| their behalf. We don't believe il will cost
over S5oO.0O0 to clean up the streets and
cellars OF the city. With a force of
| 20O0 men at work. IL VIII re-
| quire about $4,000 a week TO pay
| them off, and with this force il will require
| not more than from ten 10 twelve weeks 10
| finish up the work. lt will be seen by these
| figures that the work of clearing up the
| streets will fall far below $4,000. not for
| getting to include in this the $4,000 put
| up by the Pittsburg relief committee 10 pay
l off tha ya1up teer force