The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-06-28

From the Kansas City Star. sl
 An example of pluck and energy in the face of calamity. is that of the people of Galveston. Tex. On September 8. 1900, storm and tidal wave almost totally de- stroyed the city as well as all of the coast country of Texas. Nearly 2o,eoo lives were sacrificed.
 Today the world knows little of the achievements gained by these survivors of disasters. Their task was the provis- ion of a means of protection against the recurrence of such combination of wind and water as has been experienced. Counting the cost was of minor import anee. as permanence and stability were the two factors necessary to restore con- ndence in the stricken city and invite eapitalistIc investment to it's. enterprise.
 The city of Galveston is on the eastern end of an island of the same name, which Is about three miles wide by thirty-one miles iong, in the Gulf of Mexico, and about five miles from the mainland. Gal weston bay affords one of the safest har- bors on the Gulf or Atlantic seaboard, and has sufficient depth of water to float any ship. The city and federal govern ments have done much toward its im- provement, the latter having expended more than ten million dollars in jetties dykes and other deep water improve ments besides the erection of three mod ern forts, and Is continuously improv- ing other natural facilities. The port ranks first in the export of cotton, cot ton bi-products. and exports annually millions of bushels of wheat and corn and thousands of tons of other commodi- ties.
 Sea Wall Proposed.
 For a means of holding and protecting this enormous business then, there can be little wonder that following close upon the heels of even so great a caiam- fly, the surviving population should pro claim even greater things for the city s future For this protection sea wall or breakwater was proposed. Few there were who realized the stupendousness of such a task. The opinions of expert engineers were asked, and from the hum dreds offered the plans possessing the most desirable or ideal features were, or course, adopted One and half million dollars were required to execute the plans selected. For this an issue of per cent county refunding bonds was deemed most expedent, and sea wall bond election was called for. The re- suit of that election is the greatest tes- timony to the real spirit of protection that could be imagined. Out Of a possi- ble population of 60OOO In the county, there were only three votes cast against the proposition. The issue was made and subscription books for their sale opened. Bonds in denominations of from $l0O to s5.OOO were printed. The population, al- most to a man, bought the bonds. one purchased according to his ability and before the expiration of two years the full amount had been subscribed and the actual construction of the wall inaugur- ated. The first piling was driven for the wall proper on October 27. 1902
 Above the Flood Mark.
 The specifications and plans as sub mitted by the board of engineers, com- posed of General H. M. Robert, United States corps of engineers; Alfred Noble of Chicago, and H. c. Ripple of Ann Arhor. Mich all engineers, called for solid sea wall over three miles, or to be accurate, 17,593 feet long, extending rom the south jetty westward along the gun beach to Thirty-ninth street; to be con structed of concrete, seventeen rect ahove mean low water, or 1S feet higher than the highest point reached by the water In the storm of 1900. Its width at the bottom to be sixteen feet and at the ion five feet. The sea face of the wall to be curved so that it's upper portion VIII be vertical. The foundation to be built on piles protected from undermining py sheet bling and riprap To be located back from the high water line, where the ground Is about three feet above mean low tide Back of the wall to be filled Tn on a z00-foot level On top thirty-nve feet to be laid with vitrihed brick' 10 nrovide A driveway of thirty feet and a ,romenade pavement of nine feet. includ- ing four of the five feet of top wall. Rack of the pavement sixty feet of the level embankment to be sown In Bermu- da grass.
 This. they said, must constitute the kind of wall needed to encircle the east ern end of the island and gulf side of the city. and not impair the beauty Of the magnificent beach.
 To more clearly understand the build ing of the seawall, 1t may be explained that there are five distinct phases of this i important protection work, eacn or which. while conducted independently of the others, is dependent upon the others in forming the whole defense of this port and citv against further attack by wind and wave The first work Is driving the long piling for the foundation. These billings are driven to the clay stratum. which varies along the beach from thirty to forty-two feet below the surface. soundings were made all along the route, | and the pillng cut the proper length to reach clay bottom. This is the first sec tion of work.
 The second section is the driving of 1 sheet bling, which to be clearly under stood. is heavy timber that is driven in | a straight line outside the round piling | on the gulf side and serves as the pro- lection from undermining by the gulf. The sheet piling is close together, and | may be compared with a heavy board |