El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-06-30

Il will thus be seen that We have four
important shipping centers which meet At
the channel which forms the entrance to
Galveston bay They lie at the mouth OF
the great agricultural funnel OF the south
western states. forming the key 10 the e1-
ports OF this part Of our country
From this It Will be seen how important
II IL that this waterway be kept open
and its facilities increased in this time Of
war. The government has already spent
something Ike S50,000-0O0 on Galveston
and its approaches and at the last ses-
sion OF congress 5000 900 was sppropri-
ated to extend the sea wall and make
other improvements Additional land IS TO
be reclaimed from the sea and the govern
msnt viii soon have 1000 acres on each
side Of the channel near the entrance 10
Galveston hzrbor. with ample room for
Notifications aud other establishments
along the lines Of preparedness
The plans of the future include the
deepening OF the channel to IS feet. and
also fuel oil supply tanks built so far IN
land that vessels OF the enemy should
they ever enter the gulf could not reach
them with their big guns
The harbor is well fortified now There
are three forts protecting its entrance and
their big guns command the water far out
at sea II would not be wise to mention
effective OF coast defense weapons and the
harbor is probably well protected by
Port An Interesting One
During my stay have gone about the
harbor en- one Of the government vessels
and have visited a large part OF the bay
1 have also passed through the jetties out
TO the gulf. The port is one Of the most
interesting in the United States II had
its beginning in the building Of the Jetties
James B. Eads many years ago At the
mouth Of Galveston bay were large sand
bars. but the entrance was so narrow that
these were affected BY the tides as they
moved in and out. and II was thought
that II the channel could be narrowed
they could make the force OF the tides
gougs out the bars and make deep open
ing into the bay. This. you know is IRE
principle on which the Mississippi is kept
open. the waters OF the river running With
great force through a narrow channel and
csrryiug the silt out into the gulf
Capt Eads came to Galveston with a
view to taking the contract to make a
deep water port on the basis Of no water.
no pay. He examined the channel and Of
fered to bring about this result for the
sum Of $500. geo For this sum he was 20
make a channel 80 feet deep. and it was
TO be based upon the same conditions as
those which prevailed at the mouth Of the
Mississippi This matter was brought be
fore congress. but the bill failed and it
was not until some years later that it was
taken up and the jetties made.
Since then the channel has been deep
ened and the jetties improved. until now
two great arms OF granite blocks reach in
from the gulf. protecting the harbor and
a pipe. as Il were. through which !
the 100000 acres OF water in Galveston
bay move in and out from the Gulf OF
Mexico at the times OF the tides The /
water goes with such force that il scours 4
clean the channel and keeps It OF an even 1
depth. One arm Of these jetties Is seven 4
miles long and the other Is five miles 1
The width OF the channel at the mouth is
about one mile and a half and the walls /
Of granite thoroughly project The entrance.
Are Walls Of Granite.
The jetties Of Galveston are walls made /
Of great chunks or blocks Of granite
until they have formed huge rock en-
Dankments. which hold back the water.
Many OF the blocks weight 10 OF l. tons
zach. There are thousands Of these rocks
or the jetties are 20 to 80 feet wide at 4
he top. Nevertheless at the time Of the 4
sreat storm in 1900 many OF these mighty
blocks were lifted Up by the sea and
moved for some distance
Sailing in through the jetties you enter
he channel that leads 10 Galveston har-
or II is Just a-out hour from the deep
water OF the Gulf OF Mexico to the
yharves- You leave the jetties and pass
he quarantine station. which Is on little
sland at the side % the channel and then
70 on TO the port. which Is formed by
iaiveston on the one side and Pelican
and. just opposite Pelican island be-
evelOped as part OF the port II has
'ster front almost equal TO that Of GAL
eston proper. Between il and the Calves
on cocks there Is channel 1900 feet
tide where the water is as quiet as a
lill pond.
On IN Galveston side OF the channel is
continuous line Of concrete warehouses.
.evators and wharves several miles long. !
18th slips or great arms OF water running
ack into the land The warehouses face .
he slips, and they enable three large
-esmers to anchor on each side. and in
edition. IL the space at the front As il |
he han orl
he wharyes Of Galveston a. the same
me. The whole water front including
le ships, has length OF more than five
lies ]
GaIvestOn'S Famous SeawaII.
The famous seawall, which now covers
ie entire frontage Of the city facing the .
lf Is to be extended out to the jetties- {
will go as far as Fort Jacfnto and ,
he work will be begun within a few Z
onths and pushed TO speedy compile
Or.
During my stay here 7 have been stop- s
ng at the Hotel Galveston. facing ials {
all 1 have walked miles back and forth [
'er II and have motOred along the wide
rick boulevard which has been biOlt
st behind II. ] have also taken an auto
obile and speeded for miles along the =
zach at low tide. Galveston is the chief
thing resort OF the southwest and the !
ZACH IS one Of the finest in the United q
ates- II Is frequently the scene Of auto Z
Obile races When the tide is out YOU
we stretch OF 50 miles OF solid white I
the machines 20 flying along IN full o
OF the ocean The slope OF the beach 4
so gradual that you can wade far out a
om the shore The bathing season begins
rly and lasts until late in the fall. a
1st back OF thiS beach. protecting Ga 4,
ston from the sea IS the scawall which / n
rms the promenade OF the people. II is =
int what like the Boardwalk at Atlantic J !.
~ The walk here. however. is upon I ,
: concrete top OF the wall or the wide
ID paved with brick and lined with a
autiful lawns. which runs just behind IT,
l. place Is ideal as a summer resort 81
II hundreds OF thousands come here dur
2 the season 10 enjoy the air and the p
thing
Mass Of Reinforced Concrete 81
The seawaN IL one OF the wonders OF
1nicipsl creation. Mechanically Il Is
ass OF solid concrete reinforced with m
sel rods embedded in a foundation OF n
press piles. which have been driven
wn so feet into the clay under the
can. The wall rises from this fo,rnda- -