Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-05-29

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BILE of producing more varied products
than perhaps any portion of the globe of
the same extent. The island on which
Galveston is located is separated from
the main land by Galveston bay, a
body of water which resembles some Of
our great northern lakes. The island
is about thirty-fve miles long and an
average of three miles in width at the
eastern point whereon the city is built.
The streets are level and many of them
paved with cedar, sawed into blocks
about three inches wide by six and
eight inches in length. These are laid
in uniform manner, edges upward, on
gravel and tar foundations, making a
smooth and durable paving, much of it
having been laid for twenty years past,
and yet it still is in fair state of pres
ervatiOn.
The residences along the southern
half of the island, back from the bust
ness portion, are, in many instances,
marYels of elegance and good taste.
Perhaps no southern city can claim as
many wealthy men as are to be found
in Galveston, and as a result the mum.
Der of palatial houses are here most
noticeable. The lawns, yards and
flower gardens are poems of beauty.
Tropical fruits and plants add a most
strikingly interesting feature to the
seine, which, with the soft emerald
carpeting for a back aground, makes
the picture complete. 1t should be
remembered that the beach on the
Gulf is the one superior attraction TO
Galveston. The incline is very slight,
being only about six feet to the mile,
and the rushing of the waters as the
breakers wash over the great extent OF
beach is fascination to every MIND
that enjoys natures grandest express
sions OF power and force. For thirty
five miles the beach presents bathing
facilities unequaled by any other point
on the continent. The weather is al
ways cool and pleasant on the beach.
The Gulf breeze is as constant as the
flow of its waters, and in the heat OF
summer the thermometer rarely regis
tiers eighty-fve degrees. Along the
streets on either hand grow in luxuri-
ance the oleauders to height OF from
twelve to fifteen feet, many of them in
full bloom, while the banana, the
orange, lemon, date, fig and other
tropical plants and trees are to be
found in abundance, thus presenting
scene of rare loneliness such as must
be seen to be fully appreciated. The
architecture of many of the houses here
is peculiar, and found OILY III the
south. The large gothic pillars sur
rounding the front and frequently
either side of the houses run from the
ground to the topmOst story of the
building, frequently four stories in
height. From each of the floors bal
comics supported by these mammoth
pillars are approached by means OF
French windows where the long tWl-
light evenings and summer afternoons
may be pleasurably spent, as the occu-
pants are refreshed by the cool sea
breezes which come constantly from
their play from over the waters of the
gulf.
Business properties are daily chang
ing hands, outlying additions are be-
ing plated and placed on the market,
while the manufacturing interests are
being pushed forward with a rapidity
which speaks volumes for the stability
and genuineness of the progressive
movement in Galveston. Over So, 900,
600 is now invested in manufacturing
interests here, and this, too, largely
within the past year, and the outlook
for the future in this line is brighter
than ever.
Under the care of the Galveston
Progressive association the editors
were shown the city, the island and
given a ride on the Gulf. Nothing but
kind words can be said of the Calves
ton people and their hospitality, and
when the party left the Island City it
of