Johnstown weekly Democrat. (Johnstown, Cambria County, Pa.) 1889-1916, 1890-04-11
STATE BOARD OF BEALTH,
PHILADELPHIA. ADril 4. 1890,


knowledglng the invitation of the Honorable,
the Mayor-elect, council and citizens Of Johns
town to be present at the Inauguration OF the
City government on Monday, April 9TH, While
appreciating deeply the honor thus conferred |
| ain reluctantly compelled, owing TO the pres
sure OF professional and olicial engagements, to
forego the qualification OF attending. The occa-
sion will be one not only fraught with intense
interest to the friends Of Johnstown, but OF most
/ happy augury TO her citizens, They have my
hearty congratulations on this auspiclous open
ing of their new municipal life. When l remem-
Der Johnstown as first looked down upon 1t,
ten short months ago, city wiped out-a DESC
late waste of sand and water, with fringe OF
ragged topplng ruins, half buried under noun
talns OF densely packed and tangled wreckage-
without homes, without streets, without roads,
without bridges, without horses or vehicles with
out tools or utensils-when l think---and shud-
der as / think--of the survivors OF her catas-
trophe, crushed by the appalling consciousness
OF their absolute and sudden destitutiou, crazed
by the abrupt sunderlng OF the nearest and
dearest ties, stupefed by the grandly awful
spectacle which their unwilling eyes had been
compelled to witness, wandering about in a
sort OF aimless horror in the sad hope of discov-
covering at least the lifeess forms OF their
loved ones; when, l say, recall all
this but OF yesterday, find 1t
difficult TO believe that it is this same city.
which, now purified by her baptism of woe
springlng up again in new beauty, her disen-
tombed thoroughfares re-echoing to the clang Of
hoof and the clatter OF wheel, and thronged with
crowds OF hopeful, self-reliant, energetic lnen
"a nd Nph m hau ua hrnv lu a haf
fortunes in the face and risen superior to their
private grtefs, summons her friends from all
parts OF The Commonwealth, to rejoice with her
in her assumption Of the civic crown and the
extension OF her borders. The step which you
are about taking in the consolidation of the
numerous boroughs OF the Conemaugh and
Stonycreek valleys, all bound together by a
natural community OF interest, must commend
itself to the approval of every thoughtful bser-
yer. If there is any feature OF my official con-
nection with the work of renovation in those
devastated valleys on which look back with
satisfaction, 1t Is the fact that 1 persistently
urged the necessity for conjoint action on the
part of all the borough authorities in sanitary
administration.
The evident waste OF energy, dissipation OF
force, and frequent interferences and frictions
incident to the existence OF so many municipal
tiles within comparatively limited region, be-
came painfully apparent under the stress OF a
common disaster
II could feel that my representations in this
regard had in the least degree contributed to
the present happy consummation should be
more than grateful. Johnstown has furnished an
obJect-lesson to the whole civilized world on the
grandest scale ever witnessed, of the value OF
scientific sanitary precautions. No other city has
ever had so thorough drilling in the details OF
sanitary work. Let not this painful education be
lost upon her Let one OF the earliest acts OF her
Councils be the establishment OF a Board of
Health, and another the adoption in all It's fe =
lures Of the model ordinance set forth by the
State Board OF Health, for the -" bet
ter protection of life and health" copies
OF which, as also of the compendium OF the laws
OF the state relating to public health and safety,
issued by the Board, l take the liberty of here
with transmitting. This important branch of
civic administration cannot be initiated too
early or established on too firm basis In con-
cluslon, trust that shall not be transgressing
the bounds OF propriety If / express the deep
personal interest which shall ever feel in the
prosperity of your beautiful mountain city. Sent
spiration, coming to me in the Lords House, on
the Lords Day. the work which was begun un-
der strong sense of duty was continued as a
labor OF love. The examples which / there saw
OF heroic endurance and calm devotion TO tho
public good on the part of those who in one
agonizlng hour had been bereft of what they
held most dear en- earth, commanded my admi-
ration and elected my warmest sympathies.
t1,to
tions prevented my sanctioning measures OF re-
lief which would gladly have inaugurated.
Gazing down through the dim glitterlng
mine OF future years. ! foresee for the new
born city brilliant career. Fed by the two
great commercial arteries OF the country In the
midst OF illimitable mineral resources. her
plains resounding with the hum of industry, her
nights blooming with the gardens OF suburban
homes and resplendent with palattal residences,
washed but never again wasted by her beautiful
torrents, the health of her people,
without which riches are but apples OF Sodom,
zealously guarded by her intelligent and ener-
getic Board OF Health, she shall reign for gem
erations to come, Queen of the Mountains.
- Peace be within her walls and prosperity
within her palaces"
have the honor TO be, gentlemen, your obedi-
ent servant, BENJAMIN LEE,
Secretary.
Regrets were also read from Geo. G.
Croft, NJ. D., President of the State Board
Of Health VIM. McCallin, Mayor of
Edward McSweeny, Mayor
Of Bradford; VIM. II. Welhey, Burgess
or Somerset; S. S. Marvin & Co.. Pitts
ourgh; the Somerset Bar Association,
through A. II. Coffroth; Abe Schwab,
New York; Reuben Miller, Pittsburgh,
md Hon. John Dean, Hollidaysburg.
The rain was at this time falling rapid
y, and wind helped to make things dis
agreeable. In the midst of 1t the Mayor
,lect was introduced, and in a clear voice
endered his inaugural as follows;
Gentlemen QrGte Select ana Common Council OF |
the Ctty Of JoI,nsto,en ana FellotG Cittzens:
We have now reached the partial accomplish |
nent of the dream OF many thoughtful men fa- |
niliar with the condition Of the people who |
well in and around the site OF the ancient In |
ian village, "Conemaugh Old Town" While 1t |