Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-09-27
WILL RISE AGAIN.
Galveston Will Be Rebuilt, Stronger
and Better.
SITUATION BY C. HERBERT BROWN.
It Is Not All Tears in GaIveston-Les-
sons Derived From the Storm-Ene.
mics Converted into Friends-Work
at Rebuilding Begun.

Mrs. Della Randel of BAT North Clay
street, is in receipt of two copies of
the Houston Daily Post, of recent
date, both of which contain descrip-
lions of the conditions in Galveston,
the recently storm-swept city on the
coast. The articles are from the pen
of G. Herbert Brown, formerly a resi-.
| dent of Ottumwa, but of late resi-
dent of Galveston.
Notwithstanding the almost total
destruction of the city, Mr.. Brown
says that Galveston will be rebuilt,
stronger and better than ever, and
his description of the sentiment and
general outlook there as pictured in
his communications to the Post are
herewith given in full:
Push a cork in the water and it
will bob completely out of it when
turned loose. That's the situation in
a NUTSHELL
SO spoke prominent young in
surance agent, when l asked him
about the feeling in town about the
rebuilding and rehabilitation.
I don't want this to come from
me- said citizen who has always
been leading spirit, but this has
| shaken up the bones of lot of people
who We're dying of dry rot, and it is
taking out of town lot of useless
trash who were detriment to the
| island
Conversation with score of bust
ness men, found every one encourag-
ed, some of them enthusiastic. Their
estimates of the length of time requir-
ed to rebuild, to make Galveston her.
self again, varied from six months to
| five years.
"Col. R. G. Lowe, this morning in
a wire to the New York Herald, says
i. is his belief that in two years there
will exist upon the island of Calves
ton city three times greater than
the one which has just been practi-
cally destroyed
Galveston is noted for her croak-
ers not only on the sea, but on land,
people who continually damn the
/ town, but who continue to stay and
live and do business, Notwithstanding
the numerous lines of railway, each
running several trains a day to out
side points, and soliciting business at
low rates. | have been surprised to
find spirit of hope and usefulness,
and enterprise instilled within these
people. With some of them, croak-
ing has become chronic, but they don't
croak so hard. They are taking hold
of things with others-the others
whom the people in the past have al.
ways depended upon.
Il talked with representative OF
a commercial agency, and he did not
anticipate any failures. People who
/ owe money need not let their debts
worry them said he There is a wave
of deep sympathy for the people of
Galveston in this hour of their DESC
lation, which extends all over the
world, and they will not be pushed
for payment of claims if they show
a disposition to do the right thing.
feel sure that this disposition will
be shown
AN architect, who probably would
not object to having his name used,
tho he was not talking for publica-
ton, said that the storm had it's les
sons, the greatest of which was to
build substantially The people want
$500 worth of work for % cents said
he, and as result, many of the
houses which were swept away were
merely boxes, and crushed like egg
shells. You all notice here and there
over a devasted district, a single
house standing, and will wonder why
that was left and others We're destroy
ed. 1t was simply well built house.
think hereafter builders will have
better work done. The architects
and contractors should insist upon it
Many of the cottages were simply set
upon blocks of wood and went OFF
/ with the first strong wind
The reaction set in Wednesday
evening One man who deserved
a great deal of credit for his prompt
action is j. II. Kemper. On Monday
he had a force of 125 men at work re.
building the Merchants and Planters
compress. 1t was the first effort at
rebuilding. The great majority of peo
pie were still dazed, and looking after
4 their dead. The rumor that chief en-.
gineer Boschle, of the Huntington
works, had left town and had forward
ed the recommendation that all fur.
Their work be abandoned was quickly
followed by a recital of the facts in
the case, which were that he was still
here and that work would be resumed
4 Just as quickly as he could get mer
and material The railroad men met
and decided to jointly build I tenn
porary structure across the bay, and
received permission from the govern
ment thru Captain Richie to construct
1t without draw bridge. The impress
sion left by these railroad men is that
it will be but short time until this
temporary bridge is succeeded by a
double track steel structure jointly
owned by the Southern Pacific and
Galveston, Houston and the Gulf, Col
orado and Santa Fe.
"The streets of Galveston presented
buster appearance yesterday thar
for months past. Drays, delivery wag
ons. hacks, buggies and carriages
have been fitting hither and thithel
like bees after honey The sidewalks
are strewn with books, bags and
bundles drying and miles of clothes
strung in front of buildings to dry
makes one think of certain districts
in New York.
There is not a ,drone in the hive
All are workers. Any one can get
work and have not seen an idle per
son. Business has not yet been re
sumed, altho some are doing business