The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1891-01-14

operations Of this commisor has leen
made public and its experaures aldit-
ed by committee OF genfnen cetify-
ing to the correctness Of itsseeo1nt. A
small balance remains in he hasds Of
this commission awaiting he de'elop
ment of the necessities Of ertin leedy
class Of sufferers, or exigencis famore
general character which ma, igitinate-
ly demand relief from a funi dedicated
by the donors to pure charity.
The calamity in the Conen1gh valley
was so startling and overwhelming thet
the Pittsburgh relief committe began It's
work of sIleviating suHrin at once.
making no distinction leteen that
which was purely charitable and that
which was for the general -ehne Of the
community. The living les fed and
clothed, the dead were IcUereI and
buried. In order to do tbs, woik was
commenced upon the mss IF lebris
which covered the entire valey in some
places and blocked the stress # Tohns-
town and the other municipalities such
an extent as TO prevent Intercourse
among them. The State Bord ofHealth
was early upon the ground nc scok in-
mediate and energetic stepsc~rds the
preservation of the public hsih.
On the sth of June, after aing a for
NAL proclamation to the pefle of the
world appealing for their chsSable help
for the distressed within or Common
wealth, and arranging for th.rsceipt and
careful account Of the charit,vhish was
sure to follow the appeal, lade a per-
sonal visit to Johnstown and thorough
inspection of Sll its surrounings. The
Pittsburgh relief eommitteewas pTacti-
eally in charge of the diribution of
charitable relief, Of the burisof the dead
and of the abatement of nuIRces which
seriously threatened and fected the
public health. Although theiate Board
of Health, under the provions Of the
sixth section IF the act Of th8d of June,
1855, had powder and aIhoFity @in
cities, boroughs, districts nd places
having no local board Of kalth, or in
case the sanitary laws or realations Of
any place where boards o health or
health officers existed should . inopera-
tive, to order nuisanees or Z cause of
any special disease or morfity 10 be
abated or removed, and to eSorce quar-
antine regulations as said boai Of health
shall direct, and the power tus confer
red seemed to be absolute anmnlimited
yet no appropriation having seen made
by the Legislature in view + such an
overwhelming calamity, and D sufficient
funds being available for eGorcing the
authority conferred by thesaid act, it
was practically helpless t. anthori-
ties of the Pittsburgh relief ommittee,
however, recognizing the Il that the
State was bound 70 abate circumstances,
which not only threatened th health Of
the entire community, busabsoiutely
blotted out municipal authory, and in
some cases municipal existenc, demand
ed that work should be unertaken at
once by the State Board of Helth. The
justice of this demand was ccognized
and the only queation in the HnS Of the
Executive wSs as TO the mAsiHef inshioh
it could be done most speedily ans effect
lively.
1t was urged that il would reaire at
least three millions Of dollars to Gear the
valley of these threatening nCsanees,
and that in order to provide te funds
for this purpose the Legislator, should
be Immediately assembled in speial ses-
sion. A careful examination oithe dis
srict convinced me that the aDunt re-
quired to discharge the duty " ich the
State owed TO the community VS. great
ly exaggerated, and that the wck conld
be done for about what It woai cost 10
assemble the legislature in spciai ses-
sion and secure the necessary legislation
therefor. The work was Of irmediate
and Of pressing Importance. TIE food:
had 50 intersered with telegrahie and
railway communication that was not
then possible to reach some partsof Penn.
sylvania and the Legislature Guild not
have been assembled in timeto afford
the needed relief, even If he been
deemed desirable to provide for in thi:
manner.
Upon the representation of be State
Board Of Health that nuisanees prejudi
cial to the health and safety ofth people
existed IN various parts Of tie State
proelamations were issued reguing then
10 be a5ated at the expense of he Com
monwealth. In personal couultatior
with members Of the Pittstrg reliei
committee and Of citizens Of Jonstown
agreed ths. the State would tae charg'
of the strictly sanitary work Johns
town on Wednesday, the 18th of June
1889, and in order to carry cut tbs agree
ment authorized the State bard o
Health to take charge Of the mrk, snC
to employ such means as were eeessary
to carry il into effect. The Adjutsn
General of the State, who wlsupon the
groand, was authorized to o-operat'
with the State Board of Heslh as n,
imneiiate representative.
As mode Of providing fdl.ii for car
rying on this work, It was at int pTopos
Ell that the State Treasurer should de
posit with me whatever sun Of money
might be necessary for that psrpose upoI
my giving him bond signec by citizens
of the Commonwealth, in 3 un not ex
ceeding one million Of dolars, for tn
return Of the money whenenr il snoul'
be required. Although this sas in ssric
accordance with law, and iundreds o
the most reputable and responsible peo
pie of the Commonwealth responded &
my appeal for bondsmen, tbs public dis
cussion of the question les to 8 wide
spread belief that the law vas to be vic
lated and the funds Of the reasury use
/ without LEGAL warrant. Beliying that
would be unwise to carry OF this plaI
in view of the popular belef as to it
iIlegaIity, l abandoned it ans secured tn
money from the Peoples Bnk Of Phils
deIphia, upon aa obiigatia drawn b
the Attorney General, specifying the OF
ject for which the money VS. to be uset
4 s.;4b <r - C,,, +,,e.,,