The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-06
G~ALvEsTON's SEA WALL.
The Tremendous Work II Now Well
Under Way.
New York Post.

New York Post.
Galveston is building an immense sea
wall. which should not only prevent the re-
September s, 1900, when many thousands
lost their lives and much property was de-
stroyed. but will bring confidence In the
n~erstone was laid February % Of this year,
and the actual work was begun about a
fortnight later. When completed the wall
will be OF solid concrete, seventeen feet
high, and extending along the gulf front
for a distance OF three miles. More tnan
one mile has already been completed. 1t Is
built like a basin, being five feet thick on
top and sixteen feet at the base. the whole
extending in a curve. Riprap occupies
twsnty-seven feet in front of the wall. Its
building may be divided into five phases. as
follows: First, driving the round pilin8
foundation; second. driving the sheet pill
ing; third, laying the concrete foundation;
fourth, placing the riprap protecuon IN
front of the wall, and, fifth, building the
wall proper. The round piling varies In
length from forty TO forty-four feet IL Is
driven to the clay stratum, and this varies
in depth below the surface along the beach.
~Soundings were made along the entire
length of the right OF way to ascertain
the exact length of the piling required to
reach the clay. The round piling is driven
In rows Of four and three feet apart the
entire length of the wall. Upon this foun-
dalton is placed the concrete foundation,
three feet thick.
The driving of the round piling is the
first work; then comes the driving of the
sheet piling. The latter is driven outside
of the round piling, or on the gulf side,
board to board, the same as a closed board
fence. and serves as a protection for the
round piling behind II. Following behind
the steam pile-driver comes the small mix
ing machine. This machine mixes the con-
crete for the base Of the wall. All the
material used in the concrete Is loaded
direct from the cars into the mixing ma
| chine, which mixes the rock, cement, a
and water, and then distributes the mix,
fr,rn into the mold Whara If dries and
hardens. The big mixing machine and the
small mixing machine are operated on the
same principle, the only difference being
that the big machine feeds the concrete into
the molds for the wall proper, while the
small machine feeds the concrete into the
molds for the base of the wall, which is
three feet thick, and, of course, the same
| width as the wall-sixteen feet.
After the piling foundation and the con-
crete foundation or base have been finished
the riprap is placed in front of the wall be-
fore the wall is put UP. The riprap consists
of granite rocks weighing from 200 to 1000
pounds each. They are piled three feet
high for twenty-seven feet outside the wall.
This Is intended as a further protection for
| the foundation Of the wall in breaking the
force of the waves. In time this apron OF
| riprap will gradually sink and serve as a
double protection for the piling foundation
behind it. After the piling and concrete
| foundations are finished and the riprap
placed outside, comes the construction OF
the wall itself. The big mixing machine,
L III al SaDa1its Va ~O NooiS satto "a oaS
is moved along on railroad tracks. From
cars loaded with crushed rock and sand
| the big plant is fed. Cement and water are
added. The revolving receptacle soon mixes
these materials, and has the concrete ready
for use. The concrete Is dumped into skids
and hoisted over TO the top OF the mold,
and then dumped into it. These molds are
simply wooden box affairs, built in the
shape of the wall. After the concrete has
been tamped and dried the framework, or
mold, is removed and used again for the
.@rlt, @f 4 OFT LHDa 4 y
tracks are used variously in the construc-
ton of the wall.
Back of the wall the right of way pur-
chased will be filled to q level with the top
of the wall. On top of this 10O-foot strip
a ten-foot sidewalk and a forty-foot drive
way will be constructed in Bermuda grass
1t is proposed to build q railway along the
outside OF the concrete top of the wall and
to construct a double driveway some dis
lance ON the outside OF the wall. 1t is ex-
pected that the whole affair, including the
construction of the wall, the filling behind
the wall and the sidewalk and driveway
Improvement will cost s1,5o,000.