Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-06
RULEBYCOMM|SS|ON
Plan Works Satisfactorily in
the City of Galveston.
RESULTS ARE GRATIFYING
Revenues Have Been Doubled and
Many Improvements Made.
BY WILLIAM z. CURTIS.

Galveston is the only city OF importance
In the United States which has not gained
IN population during the last decade. She
has lost sos Inhabitants. according to the
enumeration OF June l. 1910. but this Is
due to the terrible calamity which over
took the city shortly after the census OF
1900 was taken. The storm and tidal
wave which swept over Galveston Island
September s. 1900. cost six thousand hu-
man lives, ten millions Of dollars and rem
dered nearly twenty thousand people
homeless. The principal business section
and the best residence district were OBJ
liberated and for several months after
ward it was a question whether the pres
ent site should not be abandoned and a
new location selected on higher and safer
ground.
Galveston Is built on an island and is
reached from the mainland by q bridge
more than two miles from end to end.
For health and beauty the situation Is
desirable. but for business and safety
from the sea it is undesirable. The is
land is a sand slip not more than three
miles wide at any point. but thirty miles
long The Gulf Of Mexico Is reached by
q channel digged by the government OF
the United States to depth OF twenty
six feet and now being deepened to thirty
feet. The approach to the docks Is be-
tween two stone piers capped with granite
blocks. twelve and fifteen feet wide at the
top and Ave feet above the water. The
length of the south jetty Is seven miles
and the north jetty Ave miles These
were completed in 1906 six years after
the city was destroyed, and have cost
the government Of the United States ten
millions Of dollars.
The proposition to remove Galveston to
. safer location was not popular and pro-
voked the protests OF four-hfths OF the
population, because 1t would necessitate
b. han IT hA ho
construction Of new docks at an enor-
nous cost. but the strongest argument
was one OF sentiment.
Source Of Galveston's Wealth.
The waters Of the gulf. which destroyed
Galveston, had also made Galveston great
The fleets OF merchant ships which visit
the port made Galveston the third city in
volume OF commerce In the United States.
The foreign commerce conducted by the
many lines of ocean steamers which fur
nish communication with Europe and Cen
trail and South America has reached q to-
tai Of nearly $500. OCO 600. and could not be
sacrificed. Hence, those who controlled
the situation determined to protect the
city against the sea by a line Of fortiffca-
tion that could not be crossed or thrown
down. This has been completed. The city
Ia now surrounded by sea wall more
than three miles in length, sixteen feet
the top. The crest IL several feet from
the highest point reached above the tidal
wave during the great storm Of 1900. and
before 1t was half completed 1t success
as that which destroyed the city.
That side of the wall facing the gulf is
concave, so that 1t turns the waves up on
q slant instead OF receiving q direct blow,
and the wall is protected by breastwork
OF granite blocks twenty-seven feet wide
rising from three to Ave feet above the
ordinary tide to receive the first attack
OF the surf and split every wave that
blocks that form the riprap weigh more
than ton, but the waves are 30 strong
sometimes that they seem to play with
them as . child will play with q ball
Level Of City Raised.
The wall is built upon a foundation Of
concrete seven feet thick resting upon
plies thirty feet long. which have been
driven through the sand into the sub
stratum Of clay and then Allied in with
concrete until they form a solid mass
The level of the city within the walls
mas oeen raised seven feet by filing with
earth brought from the mainland and
sand from the bottom Of the sea- Many
OF the houses have had to be raised and
most OF the gardens. and all OF the
streets have been lifted from three to
seven feet. 1t has been an enormous
undertaking. costing many millions Of
dollars. and Is not yet complete; nor will
1t be completed within the lifetime Of
the present generation, because there
10 no way to compel people to MI in their
lots. Many are without the means to pay
the expense. and some lack the dis
position. However, nearly the entire busi-
ness section and the principal residence
sections have been brought up to grade,
and the lots which have been neglected
here and there add to the interest by
showing the enormous work that has
been done.
The top OF the wall Is used as a
promenade. and inside there Is q boule-
ward paved with concrete. Then comes
another wall. shaded by trees and fur
nished with benches. which 10 the
favorite rendezvous OF the old and the
young Of all classes.
Blessings In Disguise.
Great calamities are often blessings in
disguise. and Galveston Is a much finer
city than it was before the tidal wave
swept over it eleven years ago. but it is
question whether the Improvements
were worth the sacrifice. I do not mean
the money. but the 1000 lives for which
nothing could be an adequate compen-
sation. That the city has been improved
and beautifed and made more attractive
olealders for which 1t 10 distinguishes
and the perpetual bloom Of roses that
scent the air with their fragrance are
lovlier than ever there Is no question.
And az a winter residence no place can
offer some Of the attractions that Gal
weston offers. But. strange TO say. no
body has had the enterprise to provide
special accommodations for tourists and
northern visitors. There used to be q
big hotel on the beach. but 1t has not
been replaced because. / am told. 1t did
not pay.
Several hotels in the city are patronizel
by commercial travellers and other bust
ness men, and summer visitors are re-
Qured to accept the meager accommoda-
Ynta~aoJ3~n ma SS~r. f.