Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-05-06

LETTER FROM TEXAS,

|
GALVESTON, Texas, April 28th, 1873.
10 the Editor Of the Journal
Many of my friends in Maine and else
where wished me to report to them from
time to time my impressions of Texas. To
90 SO, to each one separately, would be al
most impossible. So give my experience
with Galveston to start with, hoping that
you will give the same place in your
paper. Many Northern people, and l
might say the mass of even well read peo-
pie throughout the United State at large,
seldom form correct impressions of remote
countries and places. They hear rumors
and sometimes facts and oftentimes one is
mistaken for the other. This is especially
true in the case of the city of Galveston.
Although for young man have travelled
much DER land and sea, on this continent,
still was taken aback with what saw
and personally experienced; the opinion
that had formed from what had read
and heard, was nearly altogether changed.
do not pretend here to give a history
of Galveston a6 initio, but merely to give
few impressions of things as they are.
and as they look in the future. / am much
indebted to Messrs. Austin, Jones, Shaw,
Metcalf, Butler and others for valuable in
formation, also to some of the government
officials. Some of the first named gentle
men have grown grey in this State, and
were with and fought with Gen. Houston in
the days of the Texan Republic. Others
are in the city. Galveston is located
on the northeasterly portion of an is
land bearing the same name. Said island
issome thirty miles long by two in breadth.
1t is low and sandy and is raised above
the sea level but few feet. Underneath
the upper stratum of sand is stratum OF
tough blue clay. This island was evident
ly raised from the Gulf of Mexico by the
action of the waves. which threw up the
sand into small bar originally, and the
sand drying was blown up into ridges by
the winds and gradually has taken the al
titude it has al present. The city Of Gal
weston is beautifully and regularly laid
out. The streets cross each other nearly
at right angles, with an alley way through
nearly every block. There is no commu-
nication between the island and the MAIN
land save by the railroad bridge. The
good as they ought to be. The supplies
oftentmes the beef is scarcely eatable.
But the city is full of fine, comfortable resi-
dences and has an air of prosperity seldom
seen in southern city Of its size. 1t has
fine post office and some fine churches
The streets Of the resident part of the city
are not paved, but the streets of the
business portion are paved with kind Of
shell concrete, made by filling in oyster
and clam shells with the sand. This forms
a very durable smooth pavement, and is
one of the characteristic features of the
city. Many of the sidewalks are similarly
paved. and some of those in the business
portion are handsomely tagged. some
with stone from Mass, and again with
| kind of artificial stone made here from shell
and cement. The latter stone has the ap-
pearance of enerinitical limestone and is
excellent. The 'Strand," the main busi-
ness street is planned on a grand scale,
and within the past four or five years many
elegant and costly buildings have been
erected, and many more are contemplated.
When the city grows as it will grow, this
Strand will be the finest business street in
the world. fremont street, two miles
long, commences at the "Strand" and runs
across the island to the finest, smoothest
beach in the world This street is paved
the whole distance with shell concrete,
with fine residences all along on each side,
and forms in conjunction with the beach
most magnificent drive. There are but
very few large trees on the island. Those
having deep root will not live for any.
where few feet beneath the surface there
is brakish water. But shubbery, flowers,
and trees whose roots grow laterally thrive
No wells or springs are found. The water
for domestic purposes is rain water and is
collected in tanks and cisterns. The sup
ply generally appears to be ample. The
citizens of Galveston insist upon it that
their city is very healthy, contrary to the
idea largely entertained in other places.
1t is quite evident that yellow fever is not
generated here, as there is nothing to
cause miasma or breed cOntagion. In old
times it ragged here severely. but since the
quarantine regulations have been rigidly
enforced against Cuba, the West Indias
and certain South American ports, it
seems to be little dreaded. The climate
is mild the entire year; in the summer
months. it is hot, but the mornings and
evenings are nearly always cool. and
when the "Northers" blow. 1t is positively
uncomfortable. Galveston's chief STUN
bling block is the sand bar that obstructs
the entrance to her harbor; vessels and
steamers OF comparative light draft can
only enter, and most of these are COM
PEELED to await flood tide, and the tides are
very irregular. Sometimes when the
winds blow fresh from tho southeast for
few days, the tide Is so great that portions
of the business part of the city are food
ed
There is fine line Of propellers from
900 to 1900 tons measurement running to
| this port from New York, via Key West.
Also new line has been put on between
| Liverpool, the steamers Of which average
about 1900 tons. The steamers Of both
the above lines were built expressly for
this trade. They are long, and have fair
breadth of beam, but less comparative
depth. There is also fine line of iron
side wheel steamers running to New Or
leans. They are strictly first class boats.
and bring the city almost into daily COM
munication with New Orleans.
Without any doubt Galveston is des-
tined to be large and perhaps gerry large
city. The many railroads that are project
ed, as well as those that are built, will
bring to its doors immense trade and com
merce. And when the obstacles to hel
harbor are removed SO that ships of nj