The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-11-13

would have entered heartily into any
new business project of worth were
crippled financially.
They could do nothing but make the
best of the situation. AS time passed
and prospects did not brighten many of
them lost hope. Month followed month
with no show of Improvement. and year
followed year with no dispellins of the
gloomy outlook. The people had made
a gallant struggle to restore the city to
It's former standing, but outsiders could
not be attracted in any considerable
number, and there was little If any
growth in the population. Then, at
the time of the deepest gloom, a pro-
jcct was launched that meant much for
the city. It was proposed to build
great seawall on the Gulf side of Cal
weston and raise the whole city. This
involved tho expenditure of sum
great in comparison with the city's re-
sources, and 1t was all additional bur-
den and sacrifice because it necesst
tatcd the raising of thousands of
houses. the filing in of thousands OF
lots. the making of new streets and
avenues and the installation of a new
sewer system, but it had to be done or
the city would be doomed to stagnate.
Such big undertaking takes long
time to accomplish. Possibly some of
those who Joined in the work had
doubts as to whether 1t would restore
Galveston in the favor of the outside
world. They had some reason to doubt.
for they had a long time to wait be-
fore they got results, and while they
waited the city was mono too pleasant
dwelt in a city while it has been raised
six, eight or ten feet can appreciate
the discomforts of such a time.
Surely Galveston had more than it's
share of trials through the storm.
the depression of spirit that followed,
and then the hardship of raising tho
city. but it bore 1t all bravely And
then one day there came bit of news
that stirred the people as they had not
been stirred for years. The Fellman
Dry Goods Company was going to build
a skyscraper--a big department. store,
bigger and handsomer structure than
any other city in the Southwest pos
sessed. The tide was turning at last.
iobdblS ~ Spiilc COlASiiA hhiiOo''SS'
to-day that it was going to build
big structure in Galveston It would
not attract unusual attention. but all
the conditions combined to make the
Fellman announcement dramatic. l..
Fellman, the head Of tho company, was
threescore andten. but had all the cour-
age and confidence of youth. For fifty
years he had been q merchant of Texas
and nearly all that timee he had been
in Galveston. He, in his old age, and
in time OF doubt and gloom, was
going to raise in Galveston monu-
ment to his confidence In it's develop
mcnt and It's posterity. No wonder his
action stimulated everybody Menwho
had been thinking of cmbarking in
new enterprises decided that tho time
now was ripe. Men who had become
respondent because of the long period
OF depression began to regain their
spirits. Men who hesitatcd hesitatcd
no longer.
The old establishment of the Fell
man company was at Market and
Twenty second Streets. Tho skyscrap-
or was to be at Post Office and Twenty
second Streets---just back Of the old
store, and the alley between was TO
be bridged so that the old and the new
structures practically would be one.
5AltlCuSIl inc Sky 5t|ttPci, - q ~ fi'tir'
side the colossal structure of Broad
way, would look small 1t was q sky
scraper according to the standards of
small cities, for 1t was to be seven
stories high. and tower far above any
other building In the city.
When tho foundation for the building
was laid most of the people of the city
went to 500 it, TO them 1t signiiied
far more than Just a building. IT
meant the advent of a new and greater
Galveston They had a pride liz 1t Gus
of all proportion to ordinary construc-
tive work, and they watched Its pro
gress with deep interest
But soon after the foundation was
finished there was a halt. The men
remained idle a few days and then We're
laid OFT, Persons who inquired the
reason We're told that the material for
the superstructure was delayed How
soon work would be resumed was hard
to say; may be in few days, may be
in a week or two,
The few days passed, and two weeks
passed, and still the men remained idle.
Every day letters were semitic the North
urging the hurrying forward OF the ma :
terial Itwasithe steel that was tying UP
the Job. Theiorder had been placed with
the United States Steel Corporation
long before, and the irst of the glrders
and beams should have arrived before
the foundations were finished, but the
steel company. flooded with business,
was doing the best It could, and when
| 1t reached the Galveston order would
put it through promptly Further than
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