Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-05-29

these had to be purchased anew by hun
dreds OF families. Business became brisk,
and is still booming. When trade even
tually drops back to its normal volume, it
will then be seen how much of this increase
in mercantile houses can be maintained
Some of these stores have been started on q
small scale and may not survive. But on
the whole the prospects are indeed bright
for su ubstantial and permanent increase in
the volume of business in the Conemaugh
Valley.
A great many Of the stores are in the
hands Of newcomers. Last week the Johns
town Tribune said:
NEW FACES EVERYWHERE.
One wear ago Johnstown was apparently
as firm as q rock, and its business houses
were as well established as any in the land.
But the waters came and all was changed.
Many merchants, along with their stores,
were swept away, and in their places are
persons who perhaps a few short months
ago were total strangers, and who, but for
the food, would never have thought of
casting their lot among US; while most of
those who are left are not in their old
places, and only within the bounds of sin
gle square-from Franklin to Clinton-do
we see the familiar landmarks of other
davs"
New faces everywherel So many old ones
missedl Such was the burden of many in
terviews which were had with several old
.Johnstown residents.
THE WORK OF REBUILDING.
To-day the hammer and saw are buster in
the valley OF the Conemaugh than at any
time since the food. Lumber is being
hauled into the various freight yards by the
trainload, and every street and alley is
odorous with fresh pine and hemlock boards.
The rebuilding period began within a
month after the disaster, but it was never
buster than at present. The reason is that
the first half OF the year had to be devoted
TO cleaning up the debris and in the latter
halt of the year the relief money had been
distributed pretty thoroughly among the
people by the State Commission, and they
had it to work upon.
Up to this time close upon 81, 900, 900
has been spent in rebuilding the populous
towns of the valley, and vet the work is not
one-fourth completed. Really, it has only
been begun, as will be seen by reading the
details of construction along each street of
.Johnstown, as given below. Contractors
estimate that 3, 600 houses were swept avay
in the deluge. Probably not more than
1000 new houses have been built in the first
year now ended. A good many frame
shsnties were erected just after the food
which were only intended to be temporary
and which will be torn down. 1t would
not be right therefore to include them in
the better class of structures.
VALUE OF THE WORK.
Six firms of contracting builders have had
She principal portion of reconstruction in
their hands. They are Hoover, Hughes &
Co.. W. j. Rose & Co., B. f. Horner. Lloyd
& Son, Koontz Bros, and j. j. Strayer
Beside these there are several smaller
carpenters and builders who put no a house
or two for neighbors or friends.
Hoover, Hughes & Co. accomplished the
following amount of building in the year
that has passed since the wholesale destruc-
ton:
block. ck........................ ............S 1900
UAOCA.sssss AOsVOV
! oWeLnng..s............... AOOO