The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1900-09-14
The CITY OF GALVESTON.
History of the Island City So
Completely Devastated on
Last Saturday.

Austin, Texas, September 11-Galves-
ton Island rises from the foam OF the
Mexican Gulf, where 1t lashes the
coast of Texas, about so miles south
west from the Louisiana line, a long
narrow bank Of sand, stretching, as
arms from the open sea, leviathan-like,
motionless, upon the heaving waters.
1t lies away from northeast to south
west and has an extreme width Of
three miles and length Of twenty-eighth
and lies so low that a single fathoms
rise of the inconstant Tide might
ca silly submerge 1t. Bolivar Peninsu-
lar, a slender strip Of the mainland, Is
the counterpart Of the island in shape
and general typographical features.
The soil of the island is rich, although
the loan strip is not 30 deep as on the
Texas mainland.
Up to 1917 the history of the Island
was not eventful. Settled by Spain in
the early part Of the eighteenth century.
its history is that Of Texas up to 1905,
when several men Of minor prominence
in American annals CHANGED to land
there. These were Jean Paul Lafette
and the Bowie brothers. originators of
the famous weapon Of that name, who
fell at the Alamo.
FOUNDED THE CITY.
The city of Galveston was founded In
1888 by Michael B. Bernard a French
Canadian, who had been one Of the
most active partisans Of the Loan Star
Republic. He paid the republic $5O,0O(
to confirm him the headlight Of Seguin
1921 acres, the site Of the city, and or.
ganized the City Company, from which
all the land titles descend.
Grim war discovered Galveston II
1860 busy city Of 1900 souls. 1t had 9
practical monopoly Of the cotton trade
Of the gulf and was slated fer grea
boom in the near future. But the en-
barge instituted shortly after the out
break Of hostilities put everything at 6
standstill. The Federals occupied thu
place in October, 1862. and the majority
of the business men were obliged t.
flee or enter the army. Although re
taken by the Confederates in 1868, trad'
was dead. The town lost millions O
dollars by the conflict and was Sc
back ten years.
With peace, however, prosperity re
turned, recuperation thereafter wa
rapid. The steamship lines were re
established. The railroads projected
before the war. from the city as {
aerminus were constructed. TIL,
growth Of the city since in population
trade and wealth Is due mainly to thes
augmented and still augmenting faci
, lities for internal transportation, link
ing 1t to % states and territories Of tn
West.
BEAUTIFULLY PLATED.
, Galveston was handsomely laid out
The streets were wide and strait, an,
there were a number Of parks and gar
dens, and public squares. Tn
thoroughfares running parallel to Yves
Bay were known as avenues and des
ignated by the letters of the alphabet
beginning at the bay, while those a
right angles were numbered. The cit.
owned both gas and electric plants Tn
waterworks plant, which derived 1t
, supply from artesian wells, was valued
at $450.000. et. ay
, The Fire and Police Department
were among the most efficient in tn
, country, and health laws Of stringen
nature were enforced. Galveston es
capped the terrible yellow fever plague
with which New Orleans and othe
goutharp pnrta haua haap ocnuroad
The city was filled with flowers, botl
In the public parks and on privat
grounds, and was a beautiful and de