Johnstown weekly Democrat. (Johnstown, Cambria County, Pa.) 1889-1916, 1890-04-11

whole slsterhood OF boroughs in the Valley OF
! the Conemaugh from becoming united into one
goodly city, we still congratulate ourselves on
the fact that seven divided and
diverse governments are now become a
City of compact territory, and united
people, whose interests are IDENTICAL and whose
opportunities are to become a model OF honest
faithful government. Born out of the necessi-
ties OF the greatest calamity OF the Nineteenth
Century, we have every incentive to urge the
union OF our people into brotherhood, closer
and more lasting, than the bonds that
bind the frateInities OF men who vow TO be true
and loyal to each other, in the line OF their Or
ganization.
Rock-ribbed Prospect alone escaped the line OF
the mighty sweep Of the flood OF May 3lst, AMI
stood above the track of desolation tnat TOOK
the lives, destroyed the homes, obliterated the
landmarks and vanished out of sight the Inn
pTovements of the dwelleTs in the other bor-
oughs. Poor stricken WoodvaIe was practically
blotted our OF existence and her fair houses, the
homes OF Industrious, frugal mechanics, were
displaced by the mad wave and the line of
streets are now only marked by heaps OF sand
and the ruin of two buildings.
These are the extremes OF our united people.
While parts of the other boroughs were desc
lated, yet parts remained. All the people suf-
fered.
Although, before our calamity, we were known
by different municipal names, we were in reality,
one people--yet now that we have accomplished
union, we must begin new political life.
Many difficulties confront us. We can only Or
ganize and put In operation the machinery OF
our City, by violating the letter of the statute
that controls our official actions. Our condition
is so anomalous that there is precedent to guide
us. We must rough-hew our own way, and mark
out our destiny, governed mainly by the
light OF reason and legal analogies. II we wish
to achieve success in our new relation there
must be not only tact in managing, but dscre-
tiaD In planning and prudence in execution of
the law under which we have organized. The
officers selected TO organize the City Government
must be Jealous, INDUSTRIOUS honest, and im-
partial in the execution Of the trust confided to
them by the people.
With our bridges, the very arteries OF commu-
nication between the several parts of the City,
swept away : our streets torn by the flood no
municipal buildings to cover our heads the
water courses which thread their devious ways
in serpentine coils through the very heart OF our
domain, encumbered by debris, cncroached up
on by cupidity, until they stand, to-day men
ace of danger to us all: with no funds in our
treasury, and an assessment so scandalously
below the" actual value In cash which the as
SCISSORS swOre they would value at, that it
startles the conscience Of the average man ; we
have much to discourage us in the start toward
the restoration OF things to the condition we all
desire TO accomplish.
our rivers mist be cleaned out and widened to
nearly, If not quite their original breadth and
depth OF channel, If we wish to escape the an
noyance and peril OF spring and fall floods. We
have quietly trespassed upon the domain
Nature marked out for herself for the line OF the
flow OF waters-with roar she will smite us for
our temerity. The weakest laboTer, the strong
est corporation must alike bow to the power of
Dame Nature when she moves TO assert herself.
Let u.s. now, before the wild terrors OF destruct-
i've food sweeps over US, yield back the lines of
channel nature provided for the flow OF the
waters which dash down our mountain sides
and which win brook no restraint. distractions
which will, on the slight st provocation, form
gorges OF timber or ice and construct dam that
will back the water over large portion of the
City, must be gotten rid Of, II the application
OF the law to the cause of the menace will or
crate to accomplish the removal.
our great Industrial establishments must not
be closed down at every rainfall by reason OF
impediments to the free flow OF the water in the
channel, throwing out OF employment hundreds
OF our people, upon whose wage-earnlngs so
many depend.
our bridges must be speedily bull, our streets
put in good condition for travel; and public
buildings for the use OF our muninipal officers at
once constructed. Short broken and narrow
streets must be heightened, extended and
wtdened; useless highways vacated and aband-
oned cobble stones must give way TO a better
material for paving sewers must be laid on
large and scientific scale antiquated notions
abandoned and modern views adopted. COM
plete survey and plot OF the City must be made.
New names must be given TO many of our
streets in order that location may be found and
not cOnfounded and new and better system
OF numbering houses than now exists in severa!
wards adopted. wholesome and prudently con-
ceived ordinances for the government OF the
City must be adopted and when adopted. faith
fully and mpartially enforced The rough ele-
ment that gathers on several prominent corners
and highways ana offers rude insults TO passers
by must be dispersed, and the time hastened
when lady can, unattended in proper hours
visit all parts Of the built up portions OF the
City without fear OF interruption or afIront.
our sidewalks must be cleansed and put in
respectable condition for pedestrians. An or
dinance designating the limits in which wooden
structures may not be constructed should as
soon as possible be adopted, as the fire-lmit Or
dinance adopted by Johnstown borough, seems
to have either been improperly enforced or else
treated as obsolete, and has just been repealed
as it would not have been proper now to enforce
IL since many innocent people would have to
suffer the destruction OF their buildings erected
in good faith, believing the ordinance OF no
effect. The inflammable buildings on the Park,
a standing menace of danger must, as soon as
possible, be removed and steps taken to restore
the Park to its former lines of beauty.
A Board of Health under the law governing
Cities OF the third class, should be at once
created to save us from the perils sure to flow
from the waste and unhealthy condition we
were left in following the sweep Of the flood.
our fire department should be organized and
so as to have a recognized head and
TO the end that dlscord, strife and
detrimental to the purpose for which
iremen are organized, should not exist.
A large revenue is derived from license paid
by legalized venders OF liquors vigilance on
The part Of the .oficers must be maintained to
keep the speak easy from flourishing to the