The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-09-16

I height. and a mile long. would require a.
a'S cubic yards Of concrete. As these large
contracts would he let at bottom prices, we
may assume that the concrete could be
made at s. per cubic yard. making the cost
of a mile of wall sl36.S90. Two miles would
protect the Gulf shore at present and #
:. protection on the bay side would be
thought necessary. two miles more might
be required or four miles in all. This
half a million. For four and one-half mil
lion dollars, then. We have the city pro-
tected against f7Od
IT may be said that any site along the
Gulf Coast would he equally as expos. d to
the dangey from a hurricane as the present
IocItlon. The only remedy is 10 build
stronger houses. with broad bases and not
! 700 nigh The experience of the recent
storm shows that the solidly built struct-
GTeS of stone and brick withstcod the gale.
while the residences. many Of rher in Ga:-
weston OF wood and fimsily built. were car
ritd away
What additional expense now is involved
Leaving oct minor details the two priu-
clpai items would lie the raising of build
lnss now existing To the height of the new
SI.lIe ana the repayirg of the streets.
The latter item is not seIi1us one in
Galveston. as only few OF the streets
are wen paved, and most OF them not at
an As TO raising buildings. IL is mostly a
matter of tacking them up to the new
nelGht ana building a higher foundation
w H%i Upon the old. In some cases it may
ing cellar or basement out OF the As:
story and rearrangtng the second story Il,
answer the requirements Of the new grade.
AS Tor new buildings. they would hardly
require any additional expense. They would
be built at once 10 suit the new grade as
established by the city authorities.
The stem railways only occupy the bay
shore and wharves and could be allowed TO
remain at their present grade. The same
might he true of the wholesale business
streets adjoining the wharves. They might
be allowed to remain at their present
grade. But for the residence portion of the
mol 20 IL 1farnl
there is only the remedy | have proposed
- put them above the highest food. As
FOR the street railways. they could be raised
and blocked up a. the fl ing progressed. or
they could be taken up altogether and re-
laid after the filling was completed.
This filing IN would probably be car
ried out in sections. An area OF four or
five blocks in width and length could b.
temporarily abandoned by the inhabitants
while The raising was being done, and IN
the completion of the section. they could
return Z their houses. The cost of raising
the buildings and repavins the streets tS
hard 10 estimate. without more data than
would not be more than the cost OF filing to
new grade and building the sea walls
I'VE have then. at cost probably not
exceeding Slc,Cg0.9Uo. new Galveston on
higher ground. with the added advantage
that a complete sewer system could be con-
Structed; whereas at present il Is impos-
s'hle 10 construct practicable sewers as
they have so little fall that they will not
empty themselves. and are too near the
sur ace.
This cost is entirely within the capactty
Of the wealthy city of Galveston to handle
and probably scme aid could be had from
the State and nation"