The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-09-20

ranging for a joint meeting for the pur- pose of putting definite plans forward.
 The meeting was held on April 13, 1906. and the result was the appointment of a committee, composed of the members of both bodies This committee went to work immediately. In a short time it was de- cided to have plans drawn up. In June. 1908. an engineer was sent here by J. C. Stewart & Co. of New York to draw up plans. These plans, after revision by the engineers for the railroads, would call for structure costing something like 5000. GOO. These plans were received in January of 1907. The county declared the sugges tions impracticable on account of the cost. It was at this time that the Stone & Webster syndicate of Boston announced tentative plans for an interurban line be- tween Galveston and Houston. Their re- quirements further increased the esti- mated cost It was declared that the rail roads. while feigning a deep interest in the causeway, were really trying to kill it by placing the cost out of the reach of Galveston county to finance.
 At the time of the visit of the railroad commission, late in 1906, to investigate the cotton congestion at this port The News editorially called the attention of the commission to the need of better facil- ites for crossing the bay. The commis- sion took heed. a hearing was ordered. and was held on Janury 9. After hear ing the testimony on both sides, the com mission ordered that the railroads con struct causeway. This order was held in abeyance to give the railroads an op- portunity to come in on Galveston coun- tvs causeway proposition. A large dele gation from Galveston. representing the commercial organizations principally. att tended the hearing, and many were on the stand. At this hearing the railroads announced their intention of building a double-tracll trestle, but this compromise was not accepted by the commission, and the old trestle remains in use.
 Upon taking his office as county judge, Judge G. D. Mann immediately started to work, devoting his attention to the ques- tion of how the causeway could be financed. in the event the county was called upon to build it. A bill was intro- duced in the legislature, pass both houses, and was then held mp by Governor Camp bell, who feared loopholes that would give the railroads too much advantage. Judge Mann went to Austin to ascertain what the governors objections were, and as a result of that conference a revised bill was drawn up, which passed both houses and was signed by the governor on February 21. 19O7 The act authorized Galveston county to levy tax of $5000O0, and makes it possible for the county to ltdSe rlSfltS Ol way over iflS tduSeWdy lo steam and electric railroads.
 Election Called.
 [ After securing the passage of the act authorizing Galveston county to issue bonds, the next step was to call an elec- tion. This was done, and the election was held on May ', 1907. The vote was almost unanimous A total of 1446 votes were cast for the bond issue, as against 70 against.
 The favorable vote on the bond issue put the matter squarely up to the coun- ty commissioners. and the causeway com mittee was dissolved. In July. 1907, Judge Mann summoned Gen. H. M. Robert a retired army engineer, who is thoroughly familiar with the conditions in these wa ters to go over the situation and prepare an estimate and the general plan of the causeway. MT. Edwin Thacher, an au- thority on concrete bridge construction, was summoned to give estimates of the portion of the causeway that Is to be con structed of concrete. On August ?. 1907, General Robert submitted his plans and estimates, which called for a structure to cost about s1,15O,00o.
 At about the same time Judge Mann submitted a definite proposition to the Santa Fe, the Galveston, Houston and Henderson, the Southern Pacific and the Galveston-Houston Interurban. The county OHereu the TdllTOduS ou iect ticdi space on the bridge and 27 feet on the lift drawbridge for exclusive use of the rail roads, on lease for go years, on payment of $575, ,000, which was at that time one half of the estimated cost of construction one-tenth to be paid the county when the contract was let and the remainder In in stallments, or, if the roads preferred. the payment of a fixed amount of S650,OOO The right was reserved to allow other roads to use this space on payment to original lessees of fair proportion Of the cost of such time.
 From August 1907, to January 13, 1909, nothing but worry seemed to result. There were conferences between the gen. eral managers of the railroads and mem- bers of the county commissioners court. There were more conferences between en- gineers representing those at interest It was apparent that the railroads were playing for time. Just why nobody seemed to understand, feeling that tho Santa Fe alone, with it's valuable trestle leased to the other roads for round sums, was the only road satisfied with existing conditions.
 Interurban Always Ready.
 On August 3, 1908, the Stone & Webster syndicate announced ready to enter into the causeway contract. Never for one day did the interurban electric lines at titude, through thick and thin, waver from that announcement, We are ready" In March, 19OS the railroads, county and interurban announced that the causeway proposition had been agreed upon; few changes in the verbiage remained to cor rect, but everything was lovely. That was the starting point of long line of trouble. The railroads found fault with the contract and proposed changes Mat ters Jagged. On October 13, 1908, resolu- ton was introduced in the county com missioners' court demanding definite re- ply from the railroads within g days as to whether they intended coming in on the proposition or not Then, on October "A, 1908, it was announced that the county of Galveston had accepted the county causeway proposition made by the rail- roads.
 In December, 1908, the county tired of the whole business again, due to most un- satisfactory action on the part of the rail- roads There was strong talk of aban- doning the magnificent structure idea and building a less pretentious one. The rall- roads were not, of course, to be further considered. But County Judge G. D.. Mann, at all times heart and soul into the work. counseled patience-a little longer. Finally, he, too, wearied The railroads were given to December '. 1908. in which to enter into positive contracts or depart from them. When that date arrived, fur ther time was granted, for the simple reason that the railroads asked a delay of a few days on account of illness among the officials.
 December 10, 190S the long looked for agreement was announced again. The causeway proposition had actually been agreed upon. County Engineer R. M. Sias started borings in the bay to deter mine the foundation encountered. The na- ture of these borings were highly satisfac- tory, it being found that stratas of ideal clay, into which the immense piers would -oP Uraaf 6pnfh