Durango semi-weekly herald., 1903-02-09
LETTER FROM GALVESTON.
Especial Correspondence


For the past two years Galveston
has been the mecca for sightsecrs
desirous OF viewing the wreck caused
by the great tidal wave OF little over
Two years ago. although now and then
very timid people are afraid to even
spend one day on the island for fear
Of similar disaster. 1t Is not ne
cessary to reach the city to note the
ravages of the storm. The city is on
an island and the bay is about one
and half miles wide at the point
crossed by the railroad on trestle
work. AT the present time only one
line Of road is operating across the
bay the Santa Fe, all other lines. or
rather the other two roads reaching
the city. using the same track. The
great tidal wave washed the track
away like so much straw. Not only
was the track and top planks carried
away. but the piling was warped
and twisted In very direction. the San
Ia Fe suffering the least Of the three.
and all roads joined in repairing It
Immediately after the storm and con-
tinuc using the same entrance. After
the grade rising along the frontier is
completed, It is supposed the roads
will rebuild their bridges. Prior to
the storm a fine iron bridge crossed
the bay for the use of vehicles and
pedestrians. but it WAS swept away.
half of the piling going with the
debris. Therefore, one encounters
the effects OF the storm before enter
Ing the city.
The heart OF the city does not show
any III effects OF the disaster. how
ever. as buildings damaged have been
repaired 1t is only when one visits
the outer sections, and more especial
ly the portion fronting on the gulf
coast from whence the waters came,
that one Is forcibly reminded of the
greatest food disaster In American
history. Although a large majority
OF the residences have been replaced
and repaired. vacant blocks were
pointed out to us which were covered
with houses where entire families had
been wiped on the face OF the earth
and where ownership Is still In dis
putc Only n few buildings remain
that were topplcd over. Galveston Ia
noted for having one OF the finest sea
fronts In the country. The beach af-
fords fine driveway for twenty-five
miles. and rs hard as can be. Fine
summer hotels and resorts graced a
portion OF the driveway. as bathing is
enjoyed to the fullest extent seven or
eight months of the year Here the
storm did not leave a yestige. not
even n landmark 10 tell the story of
its fury. Since then only temporary
| shells have been erected and no per
manent improvements are contemplat-
| ed until the breakwater is completed.
Fear relgned In the city for many
months. but confidence has been re-
stored and enterprises are being push
! sd lust az though no danger threat
encd In the future It WAS our good
fortune to fall In with ID. y. Hender
son. chairman of the board of county
| commissioners, who has charge OF the
grade raising along the coast for the
city and county. This work Will cost
/ upwards OF n million dollars, and con
| tractors are pushing the work with all
possible haste. The work consists OF
wall seventeen feet high encircling
the city The foundation Is obtained
| by excavations eight or ten feet and
the driving OF piles to the depth OF 30
feet on an average. The sca wall Is
| then constructed OF concrete. well ce-
mented. with base OF 10 feet. This
/ wall will be seventeen feet high and
| the space facing the gulf will be filled
! in so that the full force of the sea
| will not damage 1t in case OF another
| tidal wave This will AFFORD the city
| protection of a twenty-foot raise above
| the level OF the water. which will pre-
vent inundation in the future. 1t will
| take some time to complete the work
and until this Is done 1t is not eS-
| pected that permanent improvements
| viii be made along the coast The ex-
/ pcnse of this work is borne by the
city. or county, which Is one and the
same thing. but the Legislature now
| In session has passed bill rebating to
the county all state taxes for the en-
| suing fifteen years-that Is. the regu'
lar state tax will be levied, but the
money thus raised will go into a sink
Ing fund for the payment of interest
/ and principal OF the bonded Indebted
ness for the sea wall A similar
measure was introduced two years
ago but failed to pass. This time 1t
went through with big majority
word being received of its passage
while we were with Mr. Henderson,
inspecting the work.
Mr.. Henderson then accompanied
us through the residence section of
the city, which is certainly attractive.
especially that portion occupied by
the well.to-do classes. Mr.. Hender-
sons residence is nearly on the oppo-
site side OF the city from the point
whore the storm struck. and his de-
scriptions of scenes on that fateful
night was heart-rending. His resi-
deuce fortunately withstood the tenn
pest although all windows were blown
in and chimneys down. Buildings on
all sides were toppled over, Water
was sweeping through the streets four
feet deep and the first waves carried
wreckage and floating bodies Of men.
women and children. With his son
they wadcd In the street and grappled
bodies, some dead. some alive and 9th
ars nhout daad He Allied HIS house