Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1890-06-20
ANNAPoLIs Md. FRIDAY EVENING. JUNE 20. 1880
JOHNSTOWN REDIVIyUS.
REMARKABLE RECOVERY OF THE
FLOOD DEVASTATED CITY.

All Trace OF the Disaster Wiped Ont
Enterprising, Industrious, and Happy
A Good Example Of American Pluck
and Enterprise.
That the spirit of American enterprise
is persey ering, stubborn, and not to be
crushed by even extraordinary disasters,
is clearly shown in the history of Johns
town. Pa. A year ago, ON the last day
of May, 1889, Johnstown was practically
swept out of existence by the flood which
bore down the dam of the old South Fork
reservoir and carried death and desola-
tion through the Conemaugh Valley. AS
in the case of fire swept Chicago, the
waveof destruction cleared a site for the
new and better city and made room for
improvements of almost every sort. The
awful sacrifice of life by which the new
Johnstown was made possible is almost
forgotten in the present prosperity of the
place, except, indeed, by those who were
bereaved by the flood.
A little over a year ago Johnstown was
struggling city of unsightly structures,
whose streets zigzagged in every direc-
ton and in which architectural beauty
was everywhere conspicuous by its alb
sence. To-day it is a city in which inn
posing and pretty buildings are the rule,
and there is uniformity In the course
and angles of its streets that could not
have been brought about except by the
destruction of the old town.
The city is larger, too, for it now in
cludes within its limits what used to be
the boroughs of Conemaugh, Woodvale,
Johnstown, Moxham, Prospect, Millville,
and Cambria. OF these sections of the
new city, Moxham has been created since
the flood. 1t had name and perhaps a
score of houses last year. Now it has a
population of over thousand.
From the hillside the valley shows red
and yellow with new brick and new
lumber. The bank statements show
abundance of money. Real estate is
held (and sold) higher than before the
flood. The last vestige of the great raft
of wreck above the bridge is cleared
away.
Johnstown has recovered from its great
blow and is now more prosperous than
ever. The output of the new Cambria
Iron Works for the last six months has
been greater than that Of the same period
of last year, and the employment of labor
has been proportionate. The Gautier
Steel Works, operated by the same COM
pany, have been rebuilt and will be en-
larged. The contract is let for an ad-
ditional building, to be called the New
Gautier, 1900 by 400 feet, and an addi-
ton is being built to the company's store
at cost of $35, 900. Pay day has been
as constant as it was before the food.
The rebuilding of the town has gone on
rapidly. Over 81 ,OO0, 900 have been spent
in the building of houses and bridges, and
there are now in course of erection build
ings costing upward of $141, 900.
Long credit is seldom asked. People
who are building are mostly paying cash.
Many of the men who were in business
before the food have recovered from
their losses and are again prospering.
The dwellings that have taken the places
of the. ones swept away are better In
every way.
The level of what is known as the fiat
is to be raised, beginning with lift of
10 feet at the point where the streams
come together above the fatal stone
bridge, and running out to a level at
Market street, five blocks up. The fill
ing is to be taken from the bed of the
river, thus giving double benefit of ad-
ditional safety. As soon as the grading
is completed new and substantial build
ings will cover this fiat.
Altogether, Johnstown is better city
than it was. Instead of being appalled,
and discouraged by the wholesale de
struction of their homes and property, its
inhabitants seem to have acquired fresh
energy from disaster, and the anniversary
of the fatal 31st of May, 1889, found
them more hopeful and in better condi-
ton every way than they were a year
ago. That they did not fall into the
lethargy of despair is largely due to the
promptness with which the people OF
other cities responded to the appeals for
aid sent out in their behalf, and the un-
paralleled generosity shown to them in
their hour of need has not and never viii
be forgotten.