Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1889-06-14
The Conemnmgh Flood.

While no definite figures are yet attempt
ed, the general tendency of the week has
been to lessen the estimate of the number
lost in the great Pennsylvania flood rather
than increase it, The most conservative
estimate is from 5000 to 5000, while others,
equally reliable, perhaps are still in the vi
entity of 10000. Several thousand men
have been at work on the ruins at Johns
town, but the progress in clearing away
the wreckage at the railroad bridge is slow.
Dynamite has been freely used, but the in
PRODUCTION of portable steam engines, with
hosting apparatus, has done more to adj
vance the work than anything else. The
recovery and burial of the dead goes stead
lily on, but the bodies have become SO far
advanced in decomposition that little at
tempt is made at Identification. Bodies are
constantly found in the mass of wreckage
at the bridge, sometimes singly and some
times in groups. They are saturated with
disinlectants and buried as speedily as pos
sible Every known means is taken to
prevent the outbreak of an epidemic, and
the health of the stricken community re-
mains reasonably good, though there are
numerous cases of pneumonia, diphtheria
and fevers Outside aid in the way Of
food, clothing and workmen is freely fur
nished, and the survivors are made as COM
Portable AS possible under the circumstances
Gov. Beaver visited the scene of the dis
aster ON Sunday, and at once decided that
it is the duty of the state to assume the
work of cleaning up the valley and putting
it in proper sanitary condition. The cost
is estimated at 81 600 600 in round num-
hers. This will he taken from the state
treasury without calling a special session of
the legislature which would involve an eX-
pense of quarter of this sum and as an
indemnity for the money, in case the legis-
lature should refuse an appropriation at its
next session, bond has been prepared
which will be signed by 200 citizens in the
sum of $1,000 each, GOV. Beaver explains
that he takes this action ON the part of the
state as a matter of public sanitary precau-
ton, In other words" he says, 81 ope-
rate under the police powers of the state,
declare the Conemaugh river public nuis-
ance, and direct that the nuisance shall be
abated as quickly as possible"
Contributions of money have been made
without stint in every part of the country.
The Philadelphia Record prints list which
shows a total amount already of more than
$1,000 600. Gov Beaver announces that
these outside contributions will be used en-
tirely for the benefit Of individual sufferers,
and that no part of this money will be
expended in the police aud sanitary work
that comes within the province of the state
Competent engineers who have examined
the broken dam say that it was in every
respect Of very inferior construction, and
Of kind wholly unwarranted by good en-
gineering practices Of thirty years ago.
Both the original and reconstructed dams
were Of earth only, with no heart wall, but
only rip raped on the slopes After it was
rebuilt the dam settled in the centre SC
that its lowest part was there. When the
overflow began, therefore, it was in the
centre instead Of at the sides, and the whole
structure was quickly broken up aud un-
dcrmned
Since the state took charge on Wednes
day, the whole flooded district has been
placed under strict military rule Up "a
Wednesday night ll92 bndies had been re-
covered, of which Cos had been identified