The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-02-05

had as much ability S their own great
banker; gazcd at the baron of the
house Of beef and had no difficulty in
understanding his success. and, the
scrutiny Of big and little millionaires
over. the members Of the two delega-
lions set about to utilize every minute
OF me visitors stay to the best advant-
age to all concerned and the most
Pleasure Of the city's guests.
Galveston is not big, but its attrac-
|, tons, If few are appealing. It's beach
IS one or the finest in the world. Broad
way. which marks the backbone Of the
city, Is great. wide, noble thorough
fare. lined with beautiful dwellings.
Through tho centre Of the great ave-
nue. Is an esplanade, bordered with ole.
hnders riotous with blooms. The resi-
dental district speaks the sub tropics.
; put half mile or three quarters of a
mile away the wharf front speaks of
ne North--the land Of hustle, life and
itbustie. 1t is wonderful wharf front
the city boasts. with some Of the big
Scst and busiest piers In the world
along 1t. and with sometimes 100 ocean
(; steamships taking or discharginE cargo
al one time But the palms and the
/ oicanders. the ocean and the beautiful
homes. the great elevators and the
inc PEOPLE had TO show to the distin-
susshed visitors from the North The
one great thing for them to see would
he jetties Mountains In central and
western Texas had been leveled 10 sup
ply the rock for their making. More
than nre miles out into the gulf these
walls of rock extended. Upon them
depended the greatness OF the city as
a port The tidal waters confined be-
E a GO
tanned a perpctual scour upon the bars
that formerly blocked the approach TO
the harbor. Where once only ships Of
the shallowest draft could float. now
ships OF the deepest draft could come
and go without trouble
When the twenty millionaires arrived
III Galveston the jctties were newer
than they are to-day. The tremendous
work they were to do was only begin
Rins. The whole world knew they
were magnificent success and that
they marked decided step forward in
harbor Improvement.
The twenty millionaires. with All re-
spect TO their entertainers. were more
desirous OF seeing those wonderful
walls the government had built out
into the sea than they were 10 inspect
the wharves or the homes or the thor
oushfares of Galveston. The jettics
meant increased business for the NJ, *.
II, and those twenty millionaires
were strictly business. They gently
intinated that II the delegations would
cut out the JOY riding and hurry up
the jetty trip they would be delighted
The committees. although this inter-
iered sadly with the program as they
had planned It, fastened 10 do as their
guests desired.
They sent TO the office of the army
engineer, under whose direction the
work OH the jetties was being done, for
permission to use the big, ocean-goine
tug Hortense for the accommodation of
the millionaires Army people are eX-
tremcly polite. but confoundcdly for
NAL No one could give the necessary
order. because the major who bossed
the government job happened to be
absent. Where was the major? No
one seemed 10 know. He might return
any minute, and he might not be in
for hours. The messenger waited pa
tlently FIVE or ten minutes, and then re-
ported to the committee While the
messengers were at the army office the
committee had escorted the million
aires 70 the pier where the Hortense
was n'oored, and all hands had gone
aboard The committeeman knew the
major and were we'll aware of his pecu
ilarit1eS. They knew he was one Of
the greatest engineers in the govern
ment service, out ne was extremely
irascible, and occasionally he acted
| peculiarly. This was one of his pecu-
mar days, they had reason to believe.
from some reports that had come 10
.i.en,: ~ they could get into commu-
hlcation with him there would be no
dllhculty in obtaining permission to
use the government tug, but to reach
, MN was another matter. Half a dozen
resorts he was known to visit at times
were called up ny telephone but with
out getting trace of him.
Meanwhile the millionaires wondered
at the delay The longer the party de
iaYei. the more impatient the visitors
became, and at last one of the local
men took it upon himself to tell the
captain of the FIortensc that he womb
take upon himself the responsibility Of
ordering the boat away. The captain
was reluctant. but at last consented.
The lines we're cast off. and the big
tug started on her trip. Little did the
twenty millionaires imagine what
would be their experiences before that
trip ended.
up and down the bay the Hortcnse
steamed to give TO the august COMPANY
worthy view of the commerce of the
port, and then the tug was pointed out
toward the entrance to the harhor.
W lthtn an hour the visitors were see :
ing the ictties at close range Every de :
tan Of the colossal work was explained
to'them. The tug steamed close along
nc great wall Of limestone and granite
That forms the north lefty, and II was
followed to its end, far out in the Gulf
or MeNico. Then the Hortense went
ncyond the jetties, SO the visitors could
meet some incoming vessels from over
nc seas. The day was ideal. or to
he east there was specls on the
horizon that suggested storm, but 1t
was so Ear distant that there was no
danger from It..
The fresh sea air was so Refreshing