The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1889-08-14
,v.rn rHr srATg wIrapRAws.
Time to Face the Condition that
soon Must Come.
rDom The I.,ln.,aun Tnbnne.

From the Js,iinstown Tribune.
The time is approaching in fact, isaimost
here--wEesl the citizens Of Jobnstown must
face their condition as it viii present itssif
when the State shall have Withdrawn is
workmen snd its health officers-
Under orsiers from the Governor, the work
Of the Board Of Health viii practically cease
here Tomorrow All the laboring foFce OF
the Sanitary Corps, viii be laid of, except
about ten men, who win be retained to at
tend to the distribution of disinfeetants. The
number OF men relieved will be about
seventy five.
foreman and nuisance inspector, two
teams for distributing disinfectants, and the
sprinkIing cart will be retained. Camp
Mack, on BANNER street, will be abandoned,
and the buildings will be used for storing
the surplus collins nov at the old Miivilie
Morgue. The Prospect Hill Cemetery men
viii also barelievsd. The Office force will
likewise 0e reduced DR.. W. E Matthews,
Chief Medical Inspector Or. G. w. Wag-
oner, Medical Inspector Tor the South Side
Mr.. NJ. E. Bennett, Chief Clerk Mr- Rob
inson, the Accounting Clerk cook, one
messenger. and a policeman viii siiIi re-
main on duty. though probably for short
time only.
Dr. Benjamin Lee, Secretary Of the Board
is now at Long Branch with his family.
After rest of week or ten days he will
again visit .Iolnstown. but only for a day or
50, his work here having practically ended
II may, therefore, be said that the State
Boari Of Health will virtually Withdraw
from this city after tomorrow, although the
assurance is given that careful supervision
of the sanitary condition Of the valley will
be maintained for some time, and, in the
event Of any manifestation Of an epidemic,
all The energy and resources of the Board
will at once be applied to stay t.
In connection with the virtual cessation ef
operations by the State Board Of Health
there comes also the information that the
work OF cleaning streets, alleys. etc, by the
State is about concluded. A rumor preva-
lent in town this morning was to the effect
that Captain Hamilton had orders to with
draw his forces on and after Saturday, Au-
gust 18th.
Inquiry at the Captains headquarters did
not confirm this report. The Captain was /
not in his tent, but gentlemen who were
there and who claimed to be in position to
speak for him. said that no such order had
been received from the Governor, although
il was said, ''the time is near at hand, no
doubt, when work Will cease
There are now about five hundred and
forty men and over two hundred teams under /
Captain Hamilton. The force is engaged at
present principally in opening streets, which /
branch of work is nearly completed. Orders /
from the Board Of Health for the cleaning Of /
about one hundred and fifty cellars yet re-
main to be executed. This done. there will |
remain nothing further for the State to do |
within the range of its constitutional func-
tions, and il will retire.
Just how soon this will happen nothing |
is known officially. There are not wanting /
reasons to believe that it viii be within the /
next ten days In what condition we will /
then be left every citizen fully realizes.
Orr bridges are insecure, our rivers filed /
up, and the sites of our former homes COW \
cred with disease-breeding filth and debris
Upon ourselves viii devoIve the expense
and labor of removing the latter, but are 4
we able to with the two emergencies first I
mentioned? The general judgement is that
We are not and DR.. Lee, of the Board Of 4
Health, recognized this fact when he appeal +
ed to the President in our behalf on these [
points.
As to our prospects Of assistance in the
dredging and opening up of the rivers and /
the building OF bridges, there are various
ideas. but there can be no difference of opin-
ion among US as to the necessity of urging
the matter on all possible and proper occa-
sions. In this proceeding we can count on
the unceasing and determined assistance Of
DR.. Lee, of the Board OF Health.
lie. it is already known, has made appli
cation to TIE General Government for a por-
tion, at least, of what is known as the Con-
tingent Fund, which is maintained for use
in National emergencies involving the public
health, and a letter has been received from
Surgeon-General Hamilton inquiring wheih
er or not an overflow Of the rivers, which
the Doctor stated in his appeal TO the Gov
eminent is likely tooecur at any time. would
result disasirously in a sanitary point Of
view To this reply has been made that
such an event certainly would have a ten
dency in the direction indicated-in all
probability would result in an epidemic
Basing our hopes on this strong presenta-
ton of the case, and on assurance frcm
other influential sources, it would seem that
there is at least fair prospect Of some as
sistance from the Federal Government.
In the meantime We must do the best We
can, always remembering that help general
ly comes to those who manifest a disposition
to help themselves.