The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-08-03
UNEASY GALVESTON.
Sea wall Safe, But other Protective
Measures Needed.

Sea wall Safe, But other Protective
Measures Needed.
Galveston Special to N. Y. Tribune.
This city despite the messages of
self-congratulation sent out because
Of the victory Of the great sea wall on
Gulf waters. Is uneasy. The reason
Is not far to seek. A walk along the
boulevard skirting the guarding stretch
OF ., Eve fosce Of
this last heavy wind and that Of 1900,
which sped the waters over the island
and destroyed 5000 lives.
The Galveston Business League met
last night to consider the situation. II
was decided that the boulevard should
be raised. Nearly mile of the heavy
brick way had been wrecked-by the
will admit that the sea wall Is not
high enough; hence whatever water
came over was just spray" But this
spray was heavy enough to tear tear
railing. toss water-soaked logs over
the barrier into the streets and to
cover the streets with from one to
I'll" In 1900 the wind smashed the wind
gauge at the 120-mile record. On
Wednesday the maximum speed was
sixty nine miles. and that for only a
t tsm were high and forcefai. but they
with nine years ago. The sea wall
was unscathed, despite the battering
ing pavilions. It 10 not believed that
anything short Of an earthquake could
damage the wall.
The opinion freely expressed last
be so graded that 1t would in q meas
ure supplement the wall. Thousands
of tons of sand were carried over the
L., trocLa ond had IN he nIowed away
| like snow.
Nothing was said in the publis he'd
dispatches about the panic here when
the storm was we'll under way. Women
and men were frantic. They struggled
through the water-covered streets to
the more solidly built houses, and calls
for help were sent to the wss s os
in hot haste, and soon the hotels. pub
lie buildings, Young Mems Christian
Association buildings and chusches
1900 horrors had risen. but there were
really no danger. The storm wal
| not severe enough.
The meeting Of last night requested
wires SO that under any circumstances
communication with the rest OF the
world might not be Interrupted. But
not word was seid about the neces-
/ mainland In time of stress. One wood
| en- trestle to which all wires are brack-
eted Is the only means Tor transports
ton by rail. This was put out OF
commission by a barge early in the the
| storm fifty feet being splintered, and
repairs were not completed until over
day later Houston knew new less less sS bout
| York City. Hence those who had
relatives on the island were frantic
| And 1t never occurred to the railroad
or municipal oficials until Thursday
at noon that the island city could have
been reached a few hours after the
storm on "Wednesday by means Of
boat from Texas City. six miles from
| Galveston on the mainland:
This trestle is relic Of the 1900
storm. 1t was the sole survivor OF
several railroad bridges into Calves
ton. One company owns it. and ever
since 1900 has been collecting toll from
! the other roads. In some occult way
the building by the State. county, city
and Joint roads Of a great concrete
| causeway has been persistently de-
layed. The storm had hardly su6 Sas ed
| several years ago, was reopened. II
will now be pushed unless some IN.
| fuenCe succeeds in causing another
| delay