Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1885-12-19

Galveston Island ID several miles vide
ano about % miles long, and With the
fespfion OF coarse grass, Hns coIIec-
tion OF rst,iesnskes and Galveston City,
oss not aos anything on II. II - CON.
posed entirely Of sand, and At no plaee
10 u hisher tnan four feet above the level
OF the Calf OF Mexico. except where i.
10 10 MEASURE protected By the natural
, sandhfils formed by tue aston OF the
wihos ahd waves these sandhilis CO
casiouaIly soar Up to the siddy hight
OF sight or ten fest; ethervlss the
isisod 10 as f.t as q boarding house
pancake
On thts island the city Of Galveston,
named after spaui-h hidslgo by tie
name Of Gslvsz. 10 situated Il vas
here sast Latte had his headquarters,
and took merchant ships in cot Of the
yet. Galveston IL q large and beauti-
foi city, Of not less than 5000 people,
and Is Is also she principal seaport of
Texas.
Ii q strange TO think that all the ma
teriAl for this large city, with its large
business hosses, Its handsome private
resldences, churches. and an unfinished
.rteslan well, bad to be brought over a
tresfis bridge q mile long, from she
mainland, but such is the case The
unfinished arteslan yell Is the only To-
stitotion the materials for which we're
obtained OF the spot.
The streets of Galveston are straight,
broad and shaded BY rows of clean der
bushes that grow twenty fest high. and
nil the air with their delicious perfume
For this reason Galveston il called the
Oleauder CITY.
For fresh water Galveston is entirely
dependent on the rainfall, which II cap
tured In cisterns snd kept on tap. Occa-
sioRaily the clsterBs run dry and some
incoavenleDos II experienced by temper
anc- fanatics and milkmen.
The beach at Galveston is said to bs
the best IN the world for sea bathing
IL slopes very gradually, and the surf Is
not very heavy. liz Is said to be supe-
rior 10 that of Long Branch. Among
the attractions last Summer vas a schoGl
OF devil FISH, one of which WAS captured
ls measured sixteen feet long, and like
San Antonio alderman, Was broader
than It was long.
The climate Of Galveston is warmer
IN winter than that of any other Texas
city. Like most islands, Galveston Isl
aod 10 surrounded by water, which iu
this case envelopes the islsRd in q warm
atmosphere. When the Texas Dortksr
which IL colder than public charity
svoops down on Galveston, it bounces
over the warm atmospheric influence
For tsis reason oranges and lemons ma
turo At Galveston. Elsewhere in Texas
they are killed of by northers, unless
they are taken IN after dark and put BY
the stove.
/ Galveston, like the house Of the foolish
man mentioned in the New Testament
10 built on the SAID; but, as the city
does not fall, toe infsrenos Is that per.
maps the sand on which 1t 10 built is of
different kind from the New Testa-
ment sand. The people of Houston,
which IL a rival Of Galveston, say il ID
the heavy mortgages on the Galveston
houses that prevent them from being
washed away.
Salt water Is reached by digging few
inches In the sand. The foundations OF
the houses are actually laid In water
but that does not affoc cir stability
Galveston 10 the only city where q mas
san and vatery grave without having
to be drowned first. The water has to
be baled out of tie grave before the
coffin can be pat IN it.