The story of Johnstown : its early settlement, rise ... - JohnstownCafe

2So
T/fE STORY OF JO//.\STOU:\'.
ance of Dr. Matthews, whom 1 appointed Chief of the Sanitary Corps The comparatively
small amount of sickness found bv the inspectors is sufticient evidence of the value of this work.
I have, therefore, less fear of any serious epidemic in )ohnstown Its water supply is, fortunately,
pure. Much, however, will depend on the rapid destruction of deliris and cleaning up of the
place. For this a lart:e force of men is neetled
The most pressing proiilt-tn now het^re the Board is the protection of the water supplies of
cities on the rivers below In i^rder to render more efficient service in th'S matter. I came to
Pittsburgh cm June 6th, leavin.i; I)r Grotl, whose sound judgment has been of the greatest assistance
to me, in charge at Johnstoun,
Here 1 am organizing gangs of wreckers to go up as far as Johnstown and down as far as
the State line, reclaiming ail bodies and destroying all putrefying matter. There still remains
a drift-heap of many acres in extent and man\' feet in depth, i!ie greater part of it under water,
which covers the Conemautih Kiver from the stone bridge of the I'ennsyhania Ivailroad up tc3
the junction with Stony Creek and extends a considerable distance up Stony Creek,
This mass
is jammed tightly against the bridge The river flows under it, entirely concealed from sight
It is covered to a considerable extent with earth To burn it as it stands would be an impossibility.
It must contain some dead bodies of human beings and many carcasses. These are
already putrefying and becoming offensu e
the contamination of the water
E\er> day renders the situation worse and increases
I. therefore, after a careful personal inspection of the entire situation, by virtue of the authority
conferred upon the State Board of Health b\' the .\ct of June 3d, isa;. and delegated to
me as its ii.\ecutive Officer in Regulation First, declare the condition of things existing at Johnstown
and neigfiboring bLrri.'U:;hs, and esoecialK of the drift-heap above describe',1 and of tlie
waters of the Conemauih and Ixisidmiiictas Kivers. to be a nuisance dangerous to the puldic
health ; and, inasmuch as '.he extent of this nuisance is so great that the local authorities cannot
atiate it, I call' upon your Excellency as Chief Executive of the Commonwealth to at once
employ such force as may lie necessary to remove and abate the same
I have the honor to be, Your Excellency's most obedient servant.
Henj.\mi.s Lee,
Sc'irt'tary and Ii.XtClltl- , Orfucr.
Acting upon the reconiinemlations embodied in this report, the Governor
issued the tollowioL; proclamation, which mas' be viewed as the first oflicial
step in the direction ot State control :
In the X.\me ami y.\ the .^ithoritv ok the Commonwe.alth of I'ennsvlvani.\.
Executive Defartment
P K O C L A M A T I O X :
Whereas, the State Board of Health thniugh its secretarv and executive officer, has this
day made to me a report in writinc. bearing d.ite the -th dav ot June, iS,sq, in uhich. after reciting
the action taken bv said Board in reference to the recent tiocds which have devastated
the Conemaugh \'alle\ , and the work which has been done by the said Board in providing, as
far as possilile, for purityini; tile streams and maintainin,; the health of the pei iple, the condition
now existing along the Coiiemadtih Kivt-r at Johnstown and in its vicinitv is fully set forth
.
.\mi Whereas, the said I'oartl: through its executive officer, as aforesaid, has made call
upon the Chief Executive of the Commonwealth to take action in reference thereto, as follows:
'/, //itVi/ivv, after a careful personal inspection ot the entire situation, by virtue of the
authority conferred upon the State Board ot Health by the .Vet of June 3d, 1SS5, and delegated
to nie as its executive olricer in Kegulatiou First, declare the condition of things existing at