Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-05-29
JtsprEaBD BY THE FLOOD.


-
The FlrsL Anniversary oil SOhps-
tO.yn,. Fatal 3tst OF Way VIII
Find Its People audustri0us anu
Happy.
JoHSsrowN, PA, May 25.-yhat the
spirit of American enterprise IL perse-
yering, stubborn and not to be crushed
by even extraordinary disasters is clearly
shown in the history Of this city. Almost
year ago, on the last day of May, 1883,
JohnstoWn was practically swept out OF
existence by the food which bore down
the dam OF the old Sooth Fork Reservoir
aud carried death and desolation through
the Conemaugh Valley. Az In the oaseo OF
tire.swept Chicago, the wave Of destruc-
ton cleared Il site for the new and better
city and mada room for improvements of
almost every sort. The awful sacrifice Of
life by which the new Johnstown was
MAIDS possible ia almost forgotten In the
preseut prosperity of the place except,
indeed, by those who were bereaved by
the flood.
One year ago Johnstown was strng-
CLING city of unsightly structures, whose
streets zgzagged in every direction and
in which architectural beauty was every
where conspicuous by itT absence. To-
day il is a city in which imposing and
pretty buildings are the rule, and there
is uniformity in the course and angles
OF it's streets that eonld not have been
brought about except by the destruction
OF the old town.
The city is larger, too, for 1t now in
oluies within its limits what used TO be
ths boroughs of Conemaugh, Woodvsle,
Johnstown, Moxham, Prospect, Millville,
and Cambria. or these sections OF the
new city hoxham has been created
since the food. II had name and per-
hapi acure of houses last year. Now 1t
has population OF over "a thousand
From the hillside the valley shows red
and yellow with new brick and new lum-
be,. The bank statements show abund-
Hnce Of money. Real estate is held land
Sold higher than bsfore the food. The
last ytstiga OF the great raft OF wreck
nboTs tue bridge 10 cleared away, and
CIRCUS has pitched its ten. in the sand fat
down by the Point. Where the painted
clown ~ now cracking his jokes hundreds
OF persons were churnod to death in o
gigantic whirlpool little less than year
ago.
Jphnstown has recovered from its great
blow Rud is now more prosperous than
ever. The output of the new Cambria
Iron Works for tie last six months has
been greater than that OF the same period
of last year, aud the employment OF labor
has been proportiOnate. rbe Gautier
Steel Works, operated by tine me COM
pany, have been rebuilt and will be en-
lsrged. The contract is lot or an nd
dtional building, to be called the New
Gauiier, l 500 by 400 feet, and an addition
ig being built to the company store at
cost Of S3j 900, Payday has been as
constant ~ il was before the flood. The
rebuilding Of the town has gone on
rapidly. Over 81 900, 600 has been spent
ia the building OF houses and btidges
and there are now in coursa OF erection
buildings costing upward OF $l4l 900.
Long credit IL seldom asked. People
who are building are mostly paying cash.
Many or tho men who were IA business
bstote the flood have recovered from
their LOSSES and are again prospecting.
lna dwellings that have taken the places
, OF the ones swept away are better in
every way
: yhe level Of what is known as the fat
/, w 70 be raired, beginning with lit Of 10
T, feet OF the point where the streams come
i together above the fatal stone bridge,
aud running out TO level al Market
: street, hVs blocks up. Tho filling is to
: he taken from the bed OF the rlyer, thus
! giving double ben At Of additional
= safety. As soon as the grading is com
,, peted new aud substantial buildings
Y will cover this ha.
: Altogether, JUhnstown is a better city
]. than it was. Instead of being appalled,
aud discouraged by the Wholesale de.
4 struction Of their homes and property,
Il its inhabitants seem to nays acquired
u fresh energy from disaster, aud the ami
i VersSry OF the fatal 3lst OF SHAY, 1889,
!, VIII Ind the Survivors mgra hopeful and
/ in better condition every way Ilsn they
r. were year ago. That they did not fall
50 into tue lethsrgy OF DESPAIR is largely
due 10 the promptness with whica the
Ia people OF other cities responded 10 the
IT appeals for aid sent ont in their behalf,
a; aud tue unparalleled gNuero ity SHOWN
NJ 20 them Ia their hour Of need has not and
i. n never will be fotgottaa.
g.