Galveston
the chief commercial city of Texas. It is situated on Galveston Island, a low body of land thirty miles long and from one to three miles wide, composed of sand and shells thrown up by the waves of the Gulf. A passage of water between the island and the mainland is known also as Galveston Bay. The city is advantageously situated with reference to the Gulf trade with Central America, the West Indies, and Europe. It is also a natural center of distribution and shipment for a large extent of territory, embracing Texas and the country for an indefinite distance northward. The island was at one time the haunt of pirates; the notorious Lafitte had his headquarters here.
Galveston was incorporated in 1839. It was reached for the first time by rail in 1860. It is now the terminus of several important lines. The general government has expended no less than $9,000,000 in deepening the channel which leads from the city out to the sea. This has been done by means of a jetty system. The channel has been narrowed by confining banks from five to seven miles in length. They are constructed of long lines of loose sandstone faced with huge granite blocks, weighing from five to twelve tons apiece. These moles are twelve feet wide at the top. The tide is confined thus to a narrow channel. It races in and out between these artificial banks, and has scoured out a channel to a depth of twenty-six feet. Although the depth was but nine feet before the construction of the jetty system, it is expected that the final depth will be not less than thirty feet, affording an adequate channel for seagoing vessels of large tonnage.
Being situated on the Gulf, the city is subject to tropical storms from the direction of the West Indies. The worst on record is that of September 8, 1900, when a wave of water fifteen feet high engulfed the city and island destroying 6,000 lives and causing a property loss of not less than $17,000,000. To avoid the recurrence of such a catastrophe, a sea wall, four and one-half miles in length, has been built along the exposed front of the city. It is sixteen feet wide at the base, five feet wide at the top, and is sixteen feet high. It is protected by twenty-seven feet of riprap or loose rock on the Gulf side. This work has cost the city about a million and a half. It has been decided also to raise the grade of the city. Bonds to the extent of $2,000,000 have been issued for the purpose of bringing in earth. It is proposed to make that portion of the island seventeen feet higher at the gulf frontage and eight feet higher at the rear, with a regular grade between. The amount of labor and material required for such a fill is something enormous; but the city is determined to be out of danger. These improvements were made or determined upon by a city having less than 40,000 population at the time, a record unequaled in the history of commercial enterprise.
Galveston is the first of all cotton ports. The shipments in 1907 were 3,890,000 bales. The total exports for 1908 were valued at $161,000,000. Cottonseed oil, oil cake, grain, copper and iron ore, cattle, and lumber are important exports. Breezy summers, mild winters, hard, sandy beaches, and excellent hotels are among the attractions held out to tourists. The average temperature for the year is from 68 deg. to 70 deg. That for July is about 83 deg.; that for January, 30 deg. lower. The annual rainfall is about 46 inches.