New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-09-11
GALVESTON AND ITS HISTORY.
FAVORED BY ITS SMALL EIaE-
WALTON ABOVE THE SEA.

WALTON ABOVE THE SEA.
Galveston stands at such slight elevation above
sea level that she always destined to be par
ticularly susceptible to floods and tidal waves
driven upon her by those terrible tornadoes which
have their origin in the region OF the West indies
The city Is built upon the northeast extremity OF
Galveston Island. at the mouth Of Galveston Bay
This island extends east and west for twenty-seven
miles and seven miles is it's greatest width north
and south No part Of the city is more than six
feet above the sea level. Where the city is built
the island is only and quarter miles wide.
The island is intersected by many small oayous
and bordered through It's whole length on the ocean
side by smooth. hard beach. forming fine drive
and afrording good bathing The bay Is irregular
branching out into various arms II has total
area Of $50 square miles Its entrance is guarded
by a bar through which the present deep water
channel is constructed The jettes hanking il
are five miles long The city proper. being or the
inner side OF the island, is naturally protected
from the sweep OF the storms. but the level
OF the island Is so little that OF the bay that
foundations have more than once been threatened
The bay shallow in most parts, and the railroads
reach the city on a two mile trestle from the
mainland.
In point Of population Galveston is rated as the
third city in Texas and the first connerciaiiN-
Since the improvement Of its harbOr by the United
States Government II has become one OF the chlet
ports of the United States. an immense amount 'l
export trade which formely came East having been
detected 10 that point. The harbor Improvement
made by the United States Government consisted
Of the construction of system OF jettes at cost
| Of s. 10000 BY means of these jetties depth or
twenty-nine feet Of water was obtained at caves
ton thus permitting OF the largest size ocean GONG
| vessels loading and unloading there The city Is
connected with the entire railway systems OF the
United States ard Mexico. and has a dozen direct
lines Of steamship communication Alta NeW-forN,
| Morgan City the coast ports or the STATE ana
with Liverpool Bremen and other ports The trade
of Galveston. import and export IS In the neigh
/ borhood Of S1o0,ocoooo a year
In 1899 Galveston had become the first cotton eN-
porting point in the country. handling $50 per
cent OF the crops The city ranks fifth among the
~ foreign exporting points Of the United states
In 1889 Galveston exported $50 per cent or the nier
| chandse that left this country. Its exports m
creased SO5OOOCO or % per cent in that year. The
| imports have shown greater variety in the last
| few years owing the fact that the demand Tor
import goods through Galveston Is from a gre7tlE
widened territory Galveston has recently become
| great lumber port. The export OF lumber anu
| wood manufactures for 1S9S-ss amounted 20
Sl2F,sI4 this business having been built up Almost
entirely since deep water was secured Inc eNpVt-
tation Of hog and dairy products. eggs and Poui-
| Try is also business which has developed
rapidly. ,-., .,,.. ~, thu citv Is the
commercial section with wharyes s5rStcaed . 6Gr
nearly miles. lined with sheds ana ta6ge , SS
8 Msre thre elevators one Of 100000 bushels ca
10 0S6 bushels The island from the north side was
connected with the mainland by raiE t T 5S
and probably the LONGEST wagon nrl1ss ~ I'm
world nearly two miles In the ex5reme S saSyss
/ of he
Built on piHne end standing from eight 10 ten fef{
from the ground a precsution against noois =
| possible for the water 70 sweep mug
The south side OF the city begnninS WllnII - 80
ards OF the medium Gulf tide, IS the best
| nnrt one home cost the owner more than SIVVe,S,
| there are many OF and brick Inc StIeSIS
| srs wide and straight and the residence quarters
| abound IN gardens shaded with maSnohsts anu
| oleo nders Among the principal ouiIdinsS are ~ ~
| were the Custom House ana gIT 'I,ras
| cotton Exchange. the Courthouse. the ban Ere
| school the Free Public Library ana the fSoii'di
/ Catholic University of St Mary
The CITY has gas and electric IisIlt pLit.5
| vaterworks system valued at $4,000 ana sGppiisu
| from arteEian wells and numerous hotels IN
| riudinS one OF the largest in the South on thr
| beach In 1898 the gross city valuations W.
S95 OO0 O1O the debt was 81 10000, the city hau Si
tbortv TO issue additional bonds 10 the anoulI ..
| 81 200 COO for permanent Improvements. anu
owned property 70 the vale OF SIS St .a1vss
diton 70 being the great port OF the SOUTH GeIvT
TON is also an important manura cturiIs ceniTy-
| There are cotton congresses and cotton HiLl.S
there which represent several millions invest
In the last few wears United States GONerIleIt
/ has spent $4,000 in the construction OF CoaS
| Fortifcations at Galveston and the equipment or
| them The census figures for Galveston Iot ~ 49,
! as made public by the Census Bureau a lew SHdyS
SSo are a 7S9 Thousands OF pleasure seekers tIuu
ali Dsrts of the South visit Galveston IN the sum
| nler months enjoy the eXcelleht suII "A'iii''7
| which the beach affords -, a.. - ~ 80.
This is NOT the first though II Is by far the mos
| severe disaster which has oefallen the cltSs II
/ IS79 rha entire east end swept away y
| tiJaI wave that followed a terrific storm, WihCu
swept the Gulf coast for three days ne SdStsL..
awav The city founded in lSSt In the IN ~
War the Federal forces occupied the toWll on
tober S 1862 but II was retaken oN INC OON
federates January /, lSOS