GALVESTON SEA-WALL. The date 8 Sept. 1900, in Galveston, Tex., will be referred to by its inhabitants for generations to come. The appalling loss of life and the destruction of property on that date, due to the terrific West Indian hurricane which drove the waters of the Gulf of Mexico over the oleander city, shocked the civilized world. Over 6,000 lives were sacrificed to satisfy the storm king's anger, and over $17,000,000 worth of property was completely destroyed. The city of Galveston is located on the east end of an island about 30 miles in length and from one to three miles in width, The entire south side of the island fronts on the Gulf of Mexico, while the north side fronts on Galveston Bay.
Why the Wall Was In September 1875 a hurricane swept over the island, causing considerable damage to property. At this time the convention was in session which framed the present constitution of the State of Texas. The impression produced by this hurricane led to the insertion of sections 7 and 8, in Article XI of the constitution, granting all counties and cities bordering on the coast of Mexico the right to issue bonds and construct sea-walls, or breakwaters. Judge Wm. P. Ballinger, one of Galveston's most honored citizens and a lawyer of marked ability, was a member of this Con stitutional Convention, and the author of the sections before named. On 28 Aug. 1886 Judge Ballinger addressed an open letter to the citi zens of Galveston, calling to their attention this constitutional provision and warning of the great necessity for the construction of a sea-wall as a means of protection. This letter was a strong appeal, and while it provoked much newspaper discussion, no active steps were taken to carry out the plan offered. When the people of Galveston awoke from their night of death in September 1900, Judge Ballinger's plan was again brought to light, and, although the author had long since passed away, it required no new appeal to spur the then thoroughly aroused people to the point of action.
On 22 Nov. 1901, the Board of Commis sioners of the city of Galveston appointed a board of engineers, consisting of Brig.-Gen.
H. M. Robert, United States army (retired), Alfred Noble and H. C. Ripley, engineers of na tional renown, to devise a plan for the protection of Galveston against destructive overflows. On 25 Jan. 1902 this board submitted a plan call ing for the construction of a solid concrete sea wall and the raising of the city's grade. The raising of the grade was not only intended to furnish a solid backing for the sea-wall, but also to prevent the water from the Gulf, in the severest storms, from ever reaching a depth in the city dangerous to life or property. The plan for protection submitted by this engineer ing board was accepted as the best that could possibly be devised. The county of Galveston, through the Commissioners' Court, agreed to construct the granite concrete sea-wall, and pro vide a 150-foot right of way and filling for the same, with the understanding that the city proper, with aid from the State of Texas, would undertake the task of raising the grade.
Construction of the This wall is 16 feet at the base, 16 feet high and 5 feet wide at the top, curving from the top to the base. The concrete is composed of one part of cement, three parts of sand and six parts of crushed granite. At intervals of three and one-half feet there is placed in the wall one and one-half inch square corru gated steel reinforcing rods 10 feet long. The riprap on the Gulf side of the wall is 27 feet wide and from three to seven feet in thickness, and is composed of granite.
Raising the In order to carry out the plan for raising the grade, the legislature of the State authorized the city to issue bonds to the amount of $2,000,000 at a rate not to exceed 5 per cent. In order to aid the city in caring for these bonds the State granted it $70,000 per annum for a period of 17 years. The manage ment, control and direction of this work were entrusted to three commissioners appointed by the governor and known as the °Grade Raising Board of the City of Galveston"