The Savannah morning news., 1900-09-10
now GALVESTON Is SITUATED.
Condition of People May ne Horrible
Bcyond Description.

Hrtouu prescription.
Indianapolis. Ind. Sept sd. r. Clark
son OF Galveston. whose family Il prob
ably swept away. was an anxious inquirer
al Associated Press headquarters to-
niEht. Speaking Of the sunken city. is
location. population. business interests
and former Goods that have swept over
the city. he said;
Galveston Is situated on an island ax-
tending east and west Tor twenty-scven
miles. and is seven miles In it's greatest
width north and south No city could be
In greater danger with such a horrible
In no part OF the city with It's 6s.0oo popu-
lation. iS II more than six feet above the
sea level The FIAT condition not only
points TO the desperate situation OF the
people at such a time as this. but their
danger may be considered when Il In
known that exactly where the city Is
built the island Is only one and a quar-
ter miles wide.
ION the bay or north side OF the city.
Is the commercial section with wharvss
stretching along for nearly two miles.
lined with sheds and large storage houses
Then. Ia ttat portion OF Galveston there
are three elevators. one OF 10000 bushels
capacity. one OF i.Ooo.oOo and the third 750.-
90 The island from the north side Is con-
neeted with the mainland by railroad
bridges and the longest wagon bridge Ia
the world, the latter nearly two miles IN
length.
In 1877 the entire east end OF the city
was swept away by the tidal wave that
followed a terrific storm that swept the
gulf coast for three days. Then the east.
ern land on which buildings stood was IT.
orally torn away. The work OF replacing
IA has since been going on. Fort Points
which guards the entrance 20 the harbor
has since been built and on its parapets
are mounted some Of the heaviest coast
defense ordnance by the force Of the
storm OF 1872 six entire blocks OF the city
were swep, away.
Wealthy Residence section.
1T Is on the south side Of the city, be-
ginning within my yards Of the medium
Gulf tide. that the wealthy resident por-
ton OF the cisy II located and which wis
the first part OF Gaifeston to be stricken
by the fun force Of the recent storm and
food. All OF the eastern end OF the city
must certainly be washed away, and in
this quarter. between BROAD and street,
some OF the handsomest and most expen-
sive residence establishments are located.
There was located there one home which
alone cost the owner over 100000 Most
OF the residences are Of frame. but there
are many Of stone and brick In the ex-
trsme eastern end OF che city there are
many OF what we call raised cottages
They are built on piling and stand from
eight 10 ten feet from che ground as q
precaution against foods. u being possi-
BITE for the water 20 sweep under them.
The only profession thai has ever been
provided for the Gulf side Of the city has
been two stone breakwaters. but many
times with ordinary storms. coming IN
from the Gulf. the high tide water has
been hurled over the low stone walls right
20 the very doors Of che residences. From
Virginia Point. Elk miles from Galveston,
IN ordinary conditions OF the atmosphere.
tua CITY tAN We piaihif seen. III " ~ true
thai Galveston cannot be now seen from
the Point then the condition OF che peop,e
in the city must be indeseribabiy horri-
BILE"
GaIvesten's Great wealth.
Concerning the wealth OF some Of the
principal business quarters Of Galveston.
Mr.. clarkaon said:
Many millions Of dollars are invested
In the wholesale and retail business Of
the city. on strand street alone there
are ten blocks Of business establishments
that represent an invested capital Of slz7.-
100000 Market street Is the heavy retail
street. and there IN the heart OF the FOOD
ed district. the losses cannot but reach
way into the millions. The fact. as indl-
Gated by the dispatches that water Is
standing six feet deep Ia the fremont 10.
eel furnishes startling evidence 10 me ihat
Galveston has been indeed dreadfuliy de-
vastated. The hotel Is In the center Of the
city. For two years Galveston DID the
heaviest shipping business IN cott6n ana
grain OF any Southern city. When I was
az home two shlploada Of cattle were leay-