New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-03


ere hghtng 10 keep out the sea Too many times
has a moving green wall swept over their
borders This time they intend TO keep IT out for
eli time They propose TO improve upon the plan
OF the Dutch. Not only will they have a diEe but
they VIII raise the foundation OF the city above the
level which the tidal OF September s. 1900
attained
Nothing that VIII lift Galveston beyond the posi-
brity Of destruction from the source which so
nearly accomplished Il three years ago is 10 be
left undone by the indomitable business people OF
that city. Quick 10 perceive that the city had
the promise OF future that made the effort worth
while and quick learn the lesson, they promptly
Set about rebuilding OF the city. and sought
ont preventive OF a future catastrophe OF the
character of the one which visited them The
awful event branded itself upon the memories OF
those who experienced II. and before the impress
sion has been eroded the work or removing the
city from this danger Will be accomplished. Hav-
ing built a seawau the side OF the key fronting
the Gulf. they now preparing to elevate the
surface OF the city area OF two square
miles, more than one-quarter the area OF the en-
tire city from eight twelve feet. at cost Of
a trihe over 50 100000 Not only measures being
taken in this direction. but steps looking TO an
aggressive development are being considered 1t is
proposed TO connect Galveston Island with the
mainland by a causeway several hundred feet wide
for the use Of railroads and teams For nearly
year, work the concrete seawal has been in
progress. On December II. last the grade raising
board Of Galveston let the contract for raising the
grade of the city
When the great wave swept up the beach from
the Gulf into the city and its into Gal
weston Bay the other side. wiping out between
five thousand and seven thousand lives and prop
erty valued SIS 600 0Oo the street level was
about six feet above the mean tide level Previous
TO this time extraordinary tides had overlooked
portions OF the streets. The crest OF that
bic wave was from five 10 eight feet above the
level Of the pavements. After much consultation
with board Of engineers, IT was decided TO erect
a concrete seawan the beach where the white
crested waves % the Gulf OF Mexico come rolling
up that should be seventeen feet hgh-higher than
the crest OF that disastrous wave. II to begin
the south jetty and follow the line OF the shore
for distance Of more than three miles-severteen
thousand feet I'm all 1t is expected that il Will be
finished by August / 1904 Then. IN order not TO be
caught like rats in hole should the water ever
rise above the seawall II was proposed 10 I'LL in
the island behind the wall grading It down from
the level Of the wall toward the bay. It is esti-
mated that 800 cubic yards Of materal-nearly
three and one-half times the amount of material
taken from the New-York subway-will be required
for the filing, and, under the terms Of the con-
tract. the work viii be completed within three
years. This elevation Of the city, with q gentle
slope toward Galveston Bay, will solve the sewage
and drainage problem. On top OF the seawalI and
just behind il IS to be promenade and drive.
How TO secure the filing and deposit II eco
nomically and eXpediuously problem which
puzzled the people Of Galveston for long time
The city wished TO preserve the beach, and prevent
who lived in the district which 10 be elevated
How is the enormous amount Of filling necessary
raise the grade the level Of the seawau TO be
got behind the wall and distributed over an area of
more than two square miles?' a question ever
present IN the minds Of those working the prob
lem. Suggestions We're wanting. One PROPOSE
ton was 10 use self-loading and sef-prOpelling
hopper dredges, which should steam with their
loads TO distributing stations the front
and the bay front This rejected, partly
baca NJ UOr he
front, and partly because of the interference with
traffic should any attempt be made 10 distribute
nlling from the waterfront the bay. An
other suggestion that ordinary pumping
dredges be employed and placed to suck up
material from the beach and throw Il the sea
wall. The chief objection 10 this method that
the beach protecting the seawall would be cut
away. There was. also the danger 10 the dredges
when they were close TO the wall Then some one
suggested the Of long suction pipes running
out to from shore stations. which should lift
the material the seawall into the city This It
was decided. would injure the beach. also.
10 obviace the destruction of the beach, prop
ositon was advanced that great ''burrow pitt be
established south Of the city on Galveston Island
dredges and piping being employed a means OF
distribution. To do this II found that numer-
relay stations would be required. The cost of
establishing and maintaining such stations would
be far more expensive than the city could afford to
undertake. and il was also asserted that such
great pits as were proposed would when the cItys
suburbs reached them affect the growth of the city
Then there was talk OF securing the filling along
the bay front and piping Il through the streets
This was deemed likely 10 become serious impedi-
ment TO business. a out this time Liadon "
Bates, OF New-York. suggested that a distributing
canal be dug inside the sea wall and parallel 10
It. The dredges. after taking up their load from
the bottom OF the harbor, could enter this canal
aao follow around TO Its end the western side OF
the city and distribute the material This seemed
10 solve the problem. and 10 MIR. Bates and his
partner. r. c. Goodhart. awarded the contract
The cost OF the work viii be 81 ssS I75 which the
CITY VIII pay and the cost OF ling in the loO-foot
strip behind the wall Will be $40 So which is TO
be met By the county OF Galveston. This makes
the total cost for the filling g Os07G The cost OF
the seawall IN addition viii bring the total cost
Of the Improvement up to about ss5Oo.OoO
In the course OF the work il will be necessary 10
raise several hundred private dwellings. move
others from the path OF the big distributing canals
and divert streets ana street railway lines nou
crossing the proposed route.
When the canal has been constructed the work Of
filling in the new grade viii be begun at the ex-
IRENE western end. As the work advances the
canal Will be filled into the level OF the surround
ing ground, and when the big dredges at last back
CUT OF H. their work done. Il viii have been entirely
hlied to the level OF the other new made land on
either side OF II. and the Galveston will stand
nigh and dry above the sea
The contractors will not lack the coone,.,io, %.
The people OF Galveston In the task before them
me Grade Raising Board. comprising J. p Alvey
John seaiy and E. r. Cheesebrough. is a perma.
neEl organization through the efforts Of which
the practical working out of Galveston,s problen,
was largely brought about. All OF the citizens airs
also planning 10 aid IN the work 10 the hest n.
theif ability. Unique individual plans have beer
mace Tor the preservation OF houses as they row
are. ano these will be put into practice when tho
VI n'hhg actually begins People with fine
As IN The district to be filled propose to preserve