Durango semi-weekly herald. (Durango, Colo.) 1899-1907, 1905-07-10
GALVESTON REGAiNs
Loss DUE TO FLOOD

GALVESoN.-Ths city of Calves
ton, which was so nearly destxeyed ~
a food in September. 1900. Is padu-
ally recovering from the disaster, ~
though the population Is not yet -
large, real estste values aTs ssull b.
low normal, and the business Of tae
city has not yet been fully restored.
The storm cost Galveston 5000 Ives
and 320,000.000 in properly. which car
never be recovered: ABB buildinxs
were destroyed. The people Werv 80
frightened that at least 5000 novd
away, about rs many were drowned,
aud the population WAS reduced alto
sether about 5000 ont Of q total Of
10000. A good many Of those Who
left are now coming back. and tAers
are many newcomers. Tho RoDuls-
ton is estimated today Ali the WJ
IRON 10000 TO 5000. The receipts
OF the street car companies, the bus
.ness Of the postoftice, which ere &C.
crate thermometers. have increased
gradually year by year until they are
about as large As they wsfH before
de Hood. and those best qualified to
judge estimate that the volume OF the
mercantile trade, both tobkinx and re-
tail, is within 10 per cent Of hiGh-wS
Ter mark In former times. while the
export trade Is very much larger than
II ever was before.
Toe people Of tne city are stu a.
gagged in the work Of rebuilajnS. Tbs
business portion was not seffously n.
tected BY the hood nor were yhs lafg-
er and more substantial ssside1ces
materially injured. It wssj tAs oh@p
and unsubstantiA dwellings, occupied
by the poorer classes that were swADs
away, and they are belRx paaidly ~
built in more solid manAer.
Seven millions Of dollars is bstAy
spent TO protect the city ax2lRst an
other flood. 1t GAS been pretty well
determined that the disaster WAS pol
due to any subterrspean coavulslan.
tidal wave Or other feak OF nature.
but that the great rising of the VA
ters by which the city WAS submergs4
was caused BY An ordinary. hurricane
such rs sweeps over tas West Indlss
TWO or three times every year. TAts|
storm originated In tie VI
entity OF Martinique Eve or siy days
before 1t struck Galveston, and tAs
weather bureau At Washington has o.
record OF its progress and the meteor.
illogical disturbances which stteRdsd
1, within the gulf area. The wind u.
tanned u velocity OF l20 miles n hour
in direct line toward Galveston and
rolled up before It the waters Of tae
gulf until they were eight or nine fest
higher along the coast than was ever
known before. A similar stern eaew.
ing across Lake MichiSkaa~ouid have
destroyed Caicaso. or Y It lad struck
New York would have subnerEe1
that city.
While the chances are thai Sla1vss-
ton will never be attacked BY such al
storm again. the situation Of tAe o,ty,
upon an island OF sand onlyr NV
feet above the level Of ~ 80, nAkes
II necessary 10 provide psfnaAsot
protection. Galveston is epttrely cut
on from the manlsnd. Tie only
Is By boat or BY q
single railroad bridge Owned BY tAs
Gulf. Colorado 4 Santa Fe AailroAd,
which is now used By all of The pau
ways entering the city. Previous 70 |
he nood there were sevesal trestlss
'or railways and one tor Wagons, bat |
aow there Is NO way for . wagon -
,arriags to reach Galveston ffe0 tAs