The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-09-20
NEW CAUSEWAY
 AT GALVESTON Structure Will Cost Million and
 Half Dollars GREAT ENGINEERING FEAT Island City Will Be Connected With Mainland by Causeway Two
 Miles Long-Maintain
 Several Tracks.
GREAT tNGINEt RING FEAT
From the Galveston News.

From the Galveston News
 Gaiveston, by the undaunted and ever aggressive acts of her citizens to an un- ward march of position in the commercial world, has been the exposure of the worlds eyes for years. The city. com paratively small one when compared in figures with other Texas cities has un- dertaken and accomplished much that is not only of statewide. but of worldwide interest. The grim, gray sea-wall, cost ing million and half dollars, the rais- ing of the grade of the residence districts. costing over two millions and the rehab , ltation Of the community following the catastrophe of 1900 have commanded the admiration of the civilized world
 These achievements accomplished, an undertaking calculated to prove of even more worth to the city and to set forever the prestige of Galveston as one of the greatest ports and commercial cities was launched. The causeway is another of the million and half dollar propositions, and already its fame has spread far and wide. It is, perhaps. destined to be one of the most talked of and best known of all Galveston county public betterments
 The causeway, as important as it's worth has been recognized to be, did not come without a struggle. Work is being done on the causeway now, the contract calls for it's completion by December 91 1910. anu every lHuicdtlOH points to the Suc- cessful construction of one of the great est bridges across salt water in the Unit ed States. But 1t has not been easy sail ing. The struggle has been long and hard at times, and it seemed at intervals that the grand structure In mind must be abandoned by the county for a less pre- tentious one.
 Causeway Plans.
 The Galveston causeway, which is the .4on+ plated with the possible exception of the Flagler bridge, on the Florida Keys, will be 10,642 feet in length, divided into road way, arch bridge and lift bridge. It will contain a total of POGO feet of unprotected roadway and a total of 61S4 feet of pro- tected roadway.
 The arch bridge will consist of 2S arches, with 7o-foot span and s-foot rise, a total of 235S feet.
 The rolling lift bridge vii givel a clear waterway of 100 feet
 The roadway portion of the structure Is 154 feet in width, carrying 40 feet of county road, two nterurban railway tracks, with room for two additional. The railway portion will be devoted to the three tracks of the roads interested, with room for more.
 The arch bridge portion will be reduced to total width of 66 feet, consisting Of 22 feet for county road. 15 feet for single track interurban and 20 feet for double track steam road
 The portion designated as the protect ed roadway" is protected on sides by a continuous row of reinforced concrete sheet piling. Slopes are covered with G. inch concrete slabs.
 The arch bridge consists of reinforced concrete arch designs and carries two lines of hand railing. The foundations for the arches will go from Ii to 16 feet below the bottom of the bay.
 It is also provided that the lift bridge and the causeway is to be operated with a complete and modern block signal sys- tenn. which is designed to prevent any possible confusion of trains or danger of accident
 It Is agreed that the county is to con- struct the causeway and to lease portions of 1t for a period of 999 years to the rail- roads mentioned and the Galveston-Ho ton Electric company, which Is termed the interurban line. The plans are to be in substantial conformity to those submitted by Gen. H. M. Robert. The railroads arc to pay for one-half of the cost of con- struction. the county for one-quarter of the cost and the interurban line for one quarter of the cost.
 The structure is to be located at point between the present trestle in use by the Santa Fe and the dismantled structure  and Henderson railroad
 By the terms of the contract agreed upon, the railroads are to have strip on the dirt portion of the structure, known as the roadway. 50 feet in width; a strip 29 feet in width over the arch bridge portion, and 27 feet above the draw-bridge.
 The railroads are to have double trackage upon the drawbridge. They are also to have the right and privilege to lease to any disinterested party or par ties the right to maintain along their right of way telegraph or telephone poles. The roads are also to have the right to lay along their right of way water mains, pipe lines for oil, gas, etc.. and such other structures as they may deem necessary in connection with the operation of their roads. In fact, by the terms of these provisions, as set out fully in the contract, the railroads are given what amounts to absolute control of their portion of the structure.
 It is specified in the contract that the interurban line Is to have strip of 27 feet in width across the dirt roadway; strip of 15 feet across the arch-bridge portion. and the joint use with the coun- tv of IT feet upon the drawbridge. The interurban line, in practically the same wording giving the railroads absolute con- trol of their right of way, is made inde- pendent as regards the erection of tele- phone, telegraph, etc., across their DOT tion.
 It is agreed that the sum of $100,000 shall he paid to the Santa Fe as part of the cost of construction by all at inter- est. save, of course, the Santa F'e road, for the dismanting of that roads present trestle. The salvage from the trestle is. however. to be the sole property of the Santa Fe
 Not a New Idea.
 The story of the causeway Is long one perhaps tiring as well. Suffice 1t to say that the causeway was in the minds of the people of the county before the sea wall had been completed. Galveston has long urged the building of the cause way. but the movement in its concrete form has had a life of hardly three years. Discussion and recognition of the merits of the project extend back to the times immediately following the storm, when the Santa Fe rehabllitated It's wooden trestlework bridge as a temporary affair to take care of traffic until such time as better facilities could be provided.
 But the temporary structure to be was made permanent by the indisposition Of the other two railroads to rebuild their destroyed trestle bridges. To this day the single trestle is serving all traffic and commerce to this port, and during the fiscal year ending June 3O.. 1909. between s2A0 000 GOO and $250 900 in freights pa ssed across this structure. All flnes en- tering the city use. and have since 1900, that trestle paying the Santa Fee such rental that the bridge Is acknowledged to be one of the best paying properties of equal length and investment possessed by any railroad on the globe.
 The first definite action looking to the construction of the causeway to be built s~t..A 1,xr< <ha tntxy on nd a ro no Ia