The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1900-09-14
Ruined Galveston.

Galveston is built upon La Elites ISL
and, the headquarters of one of the west
ern worlds most notorious pirates and a
picturesque character in the early history
of the country. The island is about one
mile wide on an average and has length
of about thirty five miles. 1t is in reality
long sand bar no point of which is over
three feet above the sea level. The sea
for years has been making steady en-
croachments upon the island and what
was formerly the water street of the city
is now considerable distance out in the
harbor. 1t is no new thing, flooding Of
the city, for witha high tide and a strong
east wind the waters of the sea play at
will through Galveston's streets.
All of the residences of the city are
"stilted," built on piles driven into the
sand both to obtain foundation and to
shield them from the periodical floods.
Two feet down water may be struck at
any point in the city. The water for
drinking purposes is had from the rain
fall, preserved in elevated cisterns, which
look like huge beer watts up in the air.
Artesian wells supply water for fire pur-
poses.
Galveston bay is about three miles
wide, separating the Island City from
the main land to the north, while to the
south is the Gulf Of Mexico. At the
mouth of the bay is constantly shifting
sand bar which has for time immemorial
been constant source of danger to YES
sells. The government has lately erected
jetties stretching out miles into the gulf
whick keeps the ship channel in fairly
good order.
The four bridges which connected Gal
weston with the main land have all been
washed away. Three Of them were rail
road structures while the fourth was a
foot bridge. All of them were over three
miles in length.
Notwithstanding it's peculiarities Gal
weston is one of the best commercial
cities of the Gulf coast. With popula-
ton of about $4,000, it disputes the po-
sition from year to year with Houston
and San Antonio for the metropolis hon
ors of the Lone Star state. tits impor-
tant as railroad point, vast export ship
ments of grain being made from the
fields of the southwest. The late Coils
p. Huntington seriously contemplated for
time making Galveston the eastern ter
minal of the Southern Pacific, and there
is no doubt but that the possibility OF
such disasters as the present had much
weight with this far-sighted man.
The United States government has
been constructing defences at Galveston,
but has made none against such hurri-
canes as that of last Saturday and Sun
day night. Two jetties have been built
across the bar into the ocean. The chan
mel runs in an easterly direction from the
main land and passes the island upon
which Galveston is situated. The forti
fications are built of concrete on the
sand and could easily be seriously dam
aged by great storm.
The foundations are carefully prepared
for the guns but there has never beer
funds available for constructing break
waters and protection against inunda
ton. There are in the Notifications al
Galveston eight and ten inch modern
high power guns, 15-pounder rapid tirt
guns, 7 10 rapid guns, 6-pound and II
inch breach loading mortars. The gov
eminent is much interested in the har
Dor improvements. Three years age
congress appropriated 100000 for i'm
proving the harbor at Galveston. This
money has been expended in construct
ing jetties and building revetments fol-
the protection of the channel.
Galveston is one of the most beautiful
cities in the nation Its residence street.
are lined with the fragrant oleandel
hedges which has given it the name O
the "Oleander City, The sweet scented
cape jasmine abounds and no place il
the world does the moon shine brighte
than in the city which has been over
taken by such great disaster. Thu
beauties of night in Galveston, will
the fragrance laden air and the mockinl
bird contributing it's tuneful notes, ha
become almost legendary among glob
trotters.