The Great Galveston Disaster: Containing a Full and Thrilling Account of the Most Appalling Calamity of Modern Times Including Vivid Descriptions of the Hurricane and Terrible Rush of Waters; Immense Destruction of Dwellings, Business Houses, Churches, and Loss of Thousands of Human Lives; Thrilling Tales of Heroic Deeds; Panic-Stricken Multitudes and Heart-Rending Scenes of Agony; Frantic Efforts to Escape a Horrible Fate; Separation of Loved Ones, etc., etc.; Narrow Escapes from the Jaws of De
John Stuart Mill · en
In New York the views of railroad men concerning the future of Galveston
as a shipping point are far from gloomy. A. F. Walker, Chairman of the
Board of Directors of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad, says
he expects the city to be rebuilt within three months.
“Of course,” said Mr. Walker, “it is a serious blow to Galveston, and
with the city covered with mud and wreckage it is easy to prophesy evil
for its future, but two weeks will suffice to clear the wreckage and
clean the streets, get the dead buried and make a careful estimate of
the actual loss. This loss is tremendous, there can be no doubt, but it
has very likely been grossly exaggerated.
“Galveston will rebuild, and quickly, because the site combines the
greatest natural advantages as a Gulf port and has solid commercial
backing. It is imperative that we have a port on the Gulf—the extent of
shipping demands it. Galveston offers, in spite of the real handicap of
her low position, the best site, and I see no reason why it should not
be rapidly rebuilt.”
BELIEVES CITY WILL BE REBUILT.
Vice-President Tweed, of the Southern Pacific Railroad, said this
morning that he felt sure that his road would repair the damage done to
its properties at Galveston, and go on with further improvements
planned.
“I take it for granted,” Mr. Tweed declared, “that the directors of the
Southern Pacific will keep up the work they started there. I do not
think that this disaster, though certainly serious, will kill Galveston
as a shipping port. No definite reports have been received as to the
extent of our losses there. The two piers already completed on the
property of the Southern Pacific were certainly badly damaged. Any
estimate of the amount of damage would be only a guess, but I should say
that it would fall below $400,000. Three hundred and fifty thousand
dollars had been spent on the piers, and $75,000 paid for a short line
from Galveston to Houston, which was destroyed.”
Concerning the suggestion that Galveston will not be rebuilt, but that
another city will be established in a safer place on the Gulf, to serve
as a shipping port, Mr. Henry Mallory, of the Mallory line of
steamships, said:
“Texas naturally seeks an outlet through a Texan harbor, and there is
none other in Texas equal to the harbor of Galveston. All railroads
centre there. If the city were wiped out some man with money would begin
to build there. Locally, Galveston has suffered great loss, against
which there is no insurance. But that does not rob the city of its
pre-eminent valve as a port.”
Asked if it would be practicable to rebuild the city on an inner shore
of Galveston Bay, Mr. Mallory said that it would not. “There is no
better location,” said he, “for the city. It is not our purpose to
abandon Galveston. We have ten steamships—nine in commission and one
building—and we expect to remain in the Texas service.”
A CHANGE FOR THE BETTER.