The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-09-21
GALyEsToN,s BUILDING METHODS.

There are not wanting limitations from
some quarters that the people OF Calves
ton recklessIy invited disaster by neglect
ing to take proper and ordinary precau-
lions for safety in the manner or con-
struction OF their buildings. For example,
the New York Commercial has this to
say:
\yhne details OF .he terrible disaster at
Galveston are stil mengee, 1t Is quito prom
able that IL will ultimately be disclosed that
most OF the residences aud ctler structures
that succumbcd to the force OF the Storm
Win great loss of life ensuing, were oil more
OF less sham build, or IN the majority OF
Instances. without proper foundations. Whit5
the deep sympathy OF the entire country WIN
70 out TO the people OF this unfortunate CITY,
there will at the Same time he a large meas
urc of conviction In the puplic NINA tha'
Galveston has not learned tho lesson Of eN-
pCIieuce ard Is paying uc"Ny ptnalp
Tor IT,
In the lower latitude of he United States
solid stone and brick founddt ops, with eel
lars are not common. There iG - general
telief that the climate and the character OF
the sol! make a free passag3 OF ar beneath
tho buildings residences OspeCialiy--al
Indispensable TO the health of their oocu-
pants. TO what extent this Is true has never
been clearly demonstrated Considerably less
than twenty years ago residents OF the same
regions would not use wall paper because
OF luCa mat II Dreu leNers ana oluef us
eases; but that prejudice has now passed
away almost entirely, and bare walls no
longer make the rooms look 'nhospitable. II
Is not improbable that the Discrimination 10
CELLARS and foundation walls Is also mere
prejudice.
This is purely ignorant speculation. The
Commercial should know that such things
as cellars. or deep foundations of solid
stone and brick are not possible in such
soil as that OF Galveston island, Even
cemeteries of the ordinary kind. or
underground cisterns are not to be found
there. as in localities on the mainland.
or with a firm or rock bottom.
1t must be remembered that the city
was built upon a sand5ank, piled up by
tho sea. and construction along ordinary
lines can not be pursued there
as elsewhere. There are many
Of tho most substantial structures
on the island. it IS true, but
they have been erected with foundations
OF peculiar character. and that have
been very costly 1t is not possible, for
several reasons, for the great majority Of
the residents to erect costly dwellings
with stone foundations. and the raised
cottages. OF which there was such a large
number. were rendered necessary not
only to meet the finances of their owners
or builders. but to meet in the best and
most practical way the physical condi-
lions of the island,
i II any reckessness or oversight has
been manifested by the Galveston people
1t was in Drawing the exposed position,
and not in neglecting common precautions
and practical suggestions in the manner
OF building For coast city, peculiarly
situated. Galveston was unusually we'll
built. 1t was metropolitan In its appear
ance to high degree. and had more than
once demonstrated that 1t could withstand
all ordinary blows, and even more than
ordinary storm and food,
No city, however built. could havu
weathored such hurricane as that OF the
} sth without great loss OF buildings and OF
life-especially when raging tidal wave
added its destructive strength to the fury
OF wind with possibly velocity OF
ninety to hundred miles an hour. Louis
Vile and st. Louis. solidly built as they
were had wide pathway cut through
them by the wind alone, and travelling at
no greater velocity than the Galveston
storm.
1t is easy enough for outsiders, or those
Ignorant OF the conditions. to make sug-
gestions and find reasons for this uu.
parallelled destruetiveness IN the case OF
]
, that Galveston was built and occupied h,
lust as intelligent and up-t date peopl,
> as any city in the country.