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

288 THE STOKY OF JOllXSTOWX.
ilton assumed control of operations. I desire here to acknowled>;e the tintirini; zeal and energy
displaced by thoseolTicers in the discharije of their .irdiious and re^p'.msible duties, the uniform
courtesy with uhiih nu instructions uere received, and the lidehty with which they were carried
out The work \shich has been accomplished mav be brielly snmmel up :
The ri\'ers ha\e been scrurulnush patrolled from the State line on the Ohio to South I-'ork
on the ConemauKh. a distance of not less than 120 miles, with tlif result of recovenni; hundreds
of bodies and destroyiui; laii^e numbers of carcasses The immense masses of wreckage under
which Johnstown was buried have been entirely removed, and numerous dead bodies of human
beinijs and animals thus e.\iricated. disinfectants havin:; been freely u--ed to prevent these from
becoming a source of 'disease while still out of reach of the laborers
Many miles of streets have been excavated, and tens of thousands of tons of earth carted
away from private properties and cellars in order to remove the tilth with which it w.is saturated.
An idea of the extent of this labor may be gained when it is stated that an area of several
acres on which this earth was dumped has been raised fil:teen
feet above the pre\ ious level
Disinfectants were also lavishly used during the prosecution of this difficult and dangerous
work. In fact, but for the constant and unsparing application of these agents, the only resource
would have been a general condagration. Hundreds of wrecked buildings which harbored filth
or were dangerously insecure ha\"e been torn down and remo\ed The vast and densely packed
drift at the stone brid-e has been rent asunder by dynamite and dragged out, with the result of
removing much putrescent matter v. Inch was poiluting the stream Substantial bridges have
been built to aftord an opportunity for the transportation of I'llth and w reckage. The mouths
of all the sewers have been opened, and the channels of the rivers freed from impediments to
the ready escape of sewage. The heated term which was so much dreaded has passed witli but
little serious illness, and the advent of frost brings increased security.
Whatever of imperative sanitary work remains to be done is now quite within the means of
the residents, who. encouraged bv the generous aid and sympathy which has been extended to
them from ,ill parts of the civilized world, are now resuming the responsibilities of citizenship.
I, therefore, in the name of the State Board of Health, declare the nuisance in this district
removed and abated, and request that the State forces be withilrawn from and after Saturday,
the twelfth day of October 1 have the honor to be your excellency's most obedient servant,
Scirct,i:y n,i,/ £t.rir'i:r Offufr Sl,ilj l-liHUd ,'f
Il,::!lh
Benj,-\min Lee,
./ P.ninyizuuii,:.
All application to the IVcsitlent of the United States for pontoon bridges,
to be tised in crossint; Stonv (reek, was granted, boats nse