The encyclopedia of Texas, V.1, Part 20

Author: Davis, Ellis Arthur, ed; Grobe, Edwin H., ed
Publication date: 1922
Publisher: Dallas, Texas Development Bureau
Number of Pages: 1204

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Progress in all departments has been exceeding- ly gratifying. While all calls for improvements cannot possibly be met, we have every reason to feel optimistic. There is sound satisfaction in the knowledge that the city is in- creasing in wealth and popu- lation so rapidly that it requires constant revision of statistics. It requires expert figuring to be able to plan for im- mediate future requirements. It is a source of satis- faction, however, that heretofore the garment has never been cut too large. Houston has outgrown her small garment days, and the budgets that the various departments of the city are now placing before the Mayor would have staggered him a few years ago, yet the increase is necessary.

The Federal Building, Houston

During the past year Houston has realized her dream of half a century. Since November, fifteen ocean-going vessels have been sailing from Hous- ton's municipal wharves direct for Liverpool, with full cargoes of Texas cotton. This marks the be- ginning of an extensive overseas trade through our port, which is municipally owned and controlled. Other ships have been allocated here for the over- seas trade during the year 1920.

For more than two years regular service has been in effect between Houston and Philadelphia. Ves- sels of the Southern Steamship Company have been making the port regularly, bringing, merchandise and carrying back to Atlantic seaboard points the products of Texas and other southwestern States.

Improvements of the Houston Ship Channel began in 1870, and since that time $5,500,000 have been spent in deepening and widening the waterway. Last May the Harris County Navigation District, which includes the City of Houston, voted a bond issue of $1,500,000 for further improvements. The Federal Government has made an appropriation in-

creasing the amount of available funds to $3,850,000. This will provide a minimum depth of 30 feet and a minimum width of 200 feet, and provide sufficient water for accomodation of the larger type of ocean going vessels, according to estimates of the Board of United States Engineers.

There are now located on the Ship Channel and in progress of location 18 oil refineries which will have a daily capacity when completed of 200,000 barrels of refined products per day. This will make Hous- ton the greatest oil refining center in the world. Supplies of crude oil are drawn from the Gulf Coastal fields and from the North Texas, Louisiana and Oklahoma through pipe lines which converge on the channel. All

1 refining and i in- dustrial plants will eventually be connected with the eighteen main line railways which enter Hous- ton from all in- land points. Work on the municipal Belt Line Rail- way has been pro- gressing steadily and 18 miles of trackage have been laid on the south side of the channel. The city owns and controls not only its port facilities but its

rail facilities as well. We own the 70-ton locomo- tives, a round house, and other facilities and rail- way equipage.

The ship channel extends from the Gulf of Mexico to Houston, a distance of 50 miles. It is 25 miles from the municipal port to Galveston bay. The channel is built through the bay and on to the Gulf.

The city has built six wharves. They cover a total water frontage of 3649 lineral feet and have a total area of 303,634 square feet. All wharves have railway trackage connections and cargo is easily discharged for loading on vessels. Municipal freight sheds have been built also and cover 150,000 square feet. There are also a number of private wharves owned by various oil companies. Storage sheds for freight have also been provided. The total storage capacity for cotton by both municipal and private warehouses is 600,000 bales.

The imperative need at present is greater wharf facilities. In addition to the steamship lines now operating vessels between our port and other cities, three more companies are seeking admission. The municipal port director estimates that $1,000,000 are required to provide for the immediate extension of harbor facilities.

Sentiment in favor of port commission created under authority of law to administer all harbor af- fairs is growing, and it is probable that action will be recommended to the legislature at some future time.

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HOUSTON'S YOUNG MEN'S BUSINESS LEAGUE By S. F. CARTER, JR.

T HEY say that "Youth Must be Served." But in the case of the Young Men's Business League, "Youth is Serving," and the sole object of its werving is Houston.

There is one popular saying here, that is des- criptive of the youthful spirit of the Young Men's Business League: "No Order Too Large or Too small." Along with other attributes of youth, the Young Men's Business League has enthusiasm; a trait that has enabled it to successfully engineer a ; . ne of undertakings ranging from the sale of crepe myrtle trees over the counter of the Chronicle at so much per, to setting the machinery in motion which resulted in a complete roundup of Houston houses.

The membership of the Young Men's Business League is proud of the organization's officers and directors. Meetings of the directorate are featured by a minimum attendance of 75 per cent. That in- dates unflagging interest. Each meeting results in at least one new line of suggested activity. That Indicates mental fertility. The record of the League shows that 100 per cent of the activities officially undertaken, are completed. That indicates faith and determination.

In most cases the mere mention of the name of an officer of the Young Men's Business League, is suf- ficient guarantee of high calibre. Here are the men who represent the Young Men's Business League in an official capacity :

S. F. Carter, Jr, President; Jas. A. Hall, first vice president; R. L. Wright, second vice-president; Mark F. Hathaway, third vice-president, A. P. Todd, treasurer, R. S. Allen, general secretary; Burt Rule, assistant secretary and director of publicity; Miss Lou Stallman, welfare department; Paul Wipprecht, agricultural department; J. C. Bailey, R. C. Burrows, V. A. Corrigan, W. R. Etie, J. A. Fite, E. A. Hester, li. L. Jackson, Robt. M Jolly, Kenneth Krahl, I. B. Mc Farland, J. C. McVea, R. M. Morgan, I. R. Palmer, A. S. Pimental, F. A. Shaffer, Dr. J. L. Short, J. Dix- le Smith, W. M. White and W. O. Woods, directors.

The Young Men's Business League believes that its greatest value to the community has been because of the virile character of its manpower. A man-power that has been available for immediate harnessing on very short notice and for any or all worthy un- dertakings.

At the National Good Roads Convention at Min- ·ral Wells last summer, the Young Men's Business Iwague accepted the job of directing affairs of the Robert E. Lee Trans-Continental Highway Associa- ton. At that time the association was in an ex- :remely embryonic state. In September 1919, it was " und that the League had done its work so well, that it was possible to call a National Convention at Houston and perfect a nationwide organization. This was done, and just recently officers of the as -. w wiation have been assured that Washington regards the proposed highway as one of the most feasible trans-continental routes brought to its attention. The highway passes through Houston and South Texas, and has for its terminals, Washington, D. C. and San Diego, Calif. The day is not for distant

when this project will be one of the most valuable assets of the entire South.

In conjunction with the manual training depart- ments of the city schools, the League completed a project which resulted in a street sign for every street intersection not marked by public utility com- panies of the city. The League has received many expressions of commendation in connection with the completion of this work.

Immediately following the Corpus Christi disaster the Mayor of Houston asked the Young Men's Busi- ness League to collect funds and to purchase and ship supplies. Several members of the organization were sent to the scene as representatives of the League and many officers and members were on the job for more than a week in Houston. The results obtained through the agency of this league, are now a matter of public record.

Through its publicity department, the Young Men's Business League has acquired countless numbers of persons, both citizens and prospective citizens, with the many advantages of Houston. The circulation of "Houston" the official magazine of the League in cludes a mailing list of 400 persons living out side the state. These individuals have been investigated and it is known that they are interested in the devel- opnient of Houston and Harris County. Frequent inquiries are received from all parts of the country regarding information that has been seen in the magazine. The League pays a cash price for every copy covering this outside list and it is sent to the prospect free of all cost. Under the League's aus- pices and at its expense, a six-reel motion picture has been produced exploiting the Houston Ship Channel and advertising Houston as an industrial center. Efforts are being made to assure the film a wide showing over the state and country.

As a result of a campaign launched by the league, $25,000 was collected from approximately 2,000 per- sons for the establishment of a municipal hospital in Houston. It is the will of the people, recently ex- pressed that the hospital has been of great benefit to the city and should be permanently retained.

During the latter part of the census drive, League workers went out and obtained several thousand names of persons who declared they had not been enumerated. Following this demonstration of con- ditions, the mayor appointed a representative com- mittee of citizens which appointed a special enumera- tor who was instructed to make a complete re-check of the city. The special enumerator accepted the of- fer of the League to use its office for headquarters and all the facilities of the organization were ex- tended Mr. Charlton in order that Houston might re- ceive its just rating in the ranks of Texas cities.

These are only a few of the recent major accom- plishments of the Young Men's Business League. During 1920, the League will be constantly on the look-out for jobs to tackle that will tend to speed the progress of Houston's development.

The Young Men's Business League unequivocally subscribes to its slogan: "For a Bigger and Better Houston.' '

101

BEAUMONT, METROPOLIS OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS By BEAUMONT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

B EAUMONT is a typical southern city of fifty thousand inhabitants and has all the con- veniences and modern improvements of the large cities of the country. Its climate is on a parity with that of southern coast resorts with the exception that none of the coast storms ever reach Beaumont or its environs due to its location. Fifty

Scene on One of the Principal Business Streets of Beaumont

miles in land on the Neches River, which is the fourth largest river in the United States.

Approximately one-fifth of the water-borne ton- nage of the United States annually passes over the Neches-Sabine outlet. Beaumont therefore offers a wonderful industrial as well as favorable climate opportunity to the tourists or business man who is seeking pleasure and business opportunity.

Business. Beaumont became nationally famous in 1900 when oil gushers ranging from 500 to 20,000 barrels were discovered at Spindle Top Field and thousands of the country's speculating public came and made fortunes. Many hundreds of the pros- pectors settled in Beaumont and have since con- tributed their part in making it one of the largest cities of Texas.

Outstanding industrial and agricultural enter- prises are: Oil, lumber, rice and shipping. One of the largest oil refineries in the world is located here besides three other large refineries which are located in this vicinity, anl contribute much to Beaumont's daily business. This is the center of the lumber and rice industry of Texas and Louisiana. The port of Beaumont is firmly established. The city owns and operates municipal wharf and dock facilities which forever guarantee the shipper, either local or foreign, fair port charges. During the fiscal

year ending June 30th, 361 ships from all parts of the world had loaded and unloaded at Port Beaumont.

Pleasure. Fishing, boating, hunting, motoring, golf and surf bathing are available to the pleasure seeker in and around Beaumont. On account of the extremely pleasant winter climate it is possible for one to spend practically every day following his own choice of the above named past-times. Ducks, geese, quail and other game birds abound in plenty. Due to the desire of the rice farmers to limit the depradations of these birds, there is no objection to any hunter bagging the legal limit each and every day he chooses to hunt. In the Big Thicket, within twenty miles of Beaumont, famous for bear, turkeys and other large game, the old time hunter can find plenty of excitement, amusement and exercise.

Good automobile roads lead in the several direc- tions out of Beaumont, there being more than 100 miles of hard surfaced roads available. One wishing to fish can be readily accommodated. The Neches River is famous for its fresh water fish and a fifty minute ride on the interurban takes one to the open sea where tarpon and other big fish can be angled for. A splendid country club with first-class golf course, where arrangements may be made for the visitor and tourist for the use of its facilities, has been the means of pleasant past-time to many travelers of this section.

At the Beaumont Docks, Loading Ships for Distant Markets

Beaumont's citizenship is hospitable, obliging and always ready to render any assistance to its visitors. The Chamber of Commerce maintains an especially equipped information bureau and offers its entire service free to any who ask for it. While Beaumont has not generally advertised in the past as a stop- ping place for tourists, they nevertheless are coming this way in ever increasing numbers. A week or several weeks can be both pleasantly and profitably spent here.

Bonumont Harbor, one of the Principal Lumber and Oil Shipping Points of the South

102

GALVESTON, THE TEXAS PORT, GATEWAY OF THE SOUTHWEST By EDWIN CHEESBOROUGH

G ALVESTON is the chief seaport of Texas, the largest cotton ex- porting port in the world, a wholesale distributing point and a winter and summer re- sort. It has a beautiful, well fortified harbor 32 to 50 feet deep, thirty up-to-date piers and birth room at the docks for 100 ocean going vessels. It has a modern 10,000 ton dry dock, fuel oil station, coal elevators and floating bunker plants, a powerful wireless station, cable communication direct with Mexico, four large grain elevators and nine high density cotton compresses. Galveston's population is around 40,000.

Deep water was procured at Galveston by the National Government at the cost of $10,000,000. The average yearly business passing over Galves- ton's docks is from $3,000,000 to $450,000,000. Exports in 1918-19 were $301,166,702.

In December 1835 M. B. Menard, recognized as the founder of Galveston, purchased of the Repub- lie of Texas for the sum of $50,000 one league and une labor of land on the East end of Galveston Island the site of the present city of Galveston. He organ- ized the Galveston City Company, April 13, 1836 and immediately laid out the city. On April 30 1x38 a public sale of town lots was held. The city

war incorporated and elected its first mayor and Board of Aldermen in March 1839.

Up to October 1902 the City was located on an unprotected flat sandy surface with a grade running from four to seven feet above mean low tide. On an average of once every eleven years the City was inundated by storm water from the Gulf of Mexico, but the result and damage was always very small. The building of a seawall along the Gulf front to protect the city from storm wave action was fre- quently suggested, but no active steps were taken to bring about the desired results.

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On Sept. 8, 1900, at a time when Galveston pos- sessed a population of 40,000, a great tropical storm, originating in the West Indies, struck the city with a fury hitherto unbelievable. Approxi- mately 5,300 lives and $17,000,000 in property val- ues were destroyed. This disaster left the city gov- ernment practically bankrupt and many of its mu- nicipal improvements in ruins. A grave situation faced the city. The people realized fully, that in order to restore confidence and to make Galveston a safe place in which to reside herculean efforts and wise planning was absolutely necessary. Under the law, no city or county in Texas can sell or dispose of their lands at less than par. Galveston was facing a question of civic life or death.

Four Noted Achievements

Galveston is credited with having accomplished four noted achievements. The Commission Plan of City Government, the building of a great Seawall and boulevard, the raising of the grade of a large part of the city and the erection of a magnificent

" Galveston, the Gateway to the Great Southwest Empire .. The Greatest Cotton Shipping Port of the South. Texas Pr Products are Shipped through this Harbor to all Parts of the World. The Giant Canseway in the Center is the Longest Viaduct in the World.

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ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

all-arched re-inforced concrete causeway two miles in length connecting the city with the mainland.

The Commission Plan of City Government

After the great storm of Sept. 8th, 1900, it was suggested that the first step necessary to a com- plete rehabitation of Galveston, was a thorough re- organization of the City government. It was gen- erally recognized that an efficiently managed mu- nicipal government has a direct bearing upon the growth, development and prosperity of a city, be- cause it encourages the people, invites Capital and stimulates activity.

The Galveston Deep Water Committee

An organization composed of twelve of the lead- ing business men of the city, and whose original purpose was to work for National aid in securing deep water for the port, decided that an application

Sewerage; Commissioner of Streets and Public Prop. erty, and Commissioner of Police and Fire Depts. The Mayor or any Commissioner can be removed from the office for official misconduct, drunken- ness or incompeteney by a district judge upon a proved charge.

What the new system of City government accom- plished for Galveston was indeed remarkable. Its success was so marked, that hundreds of cities all over the United States have adopted the Commis. sion Plan.

Sea Wall

One of the first acts of the Board of City Com- missioners, was the employment of an engineering board composed of General Henry M. Robert, Alfred Noble and H. C. Ripley, their duty being to devise plans for the protection of the city from the force of the waves and currents in the several storms

Bathing in the Surf at Galveston, the Atlantic City of the South. The Gulf Water is Delightfully Warm, and Bathers May Stay in the Surf all Day and Late into the Night Without Becoming Chilled.

should be made to the state legislature for a new charter, designed to benefit the people rather than to provide sinecures for politicians: Mr. R. Waverly Smith, President of the First National Bank of Galveston, a lawyer by training, and who, for four years prior to that time has held the office of City Attorney, and who was a member of the Deep Water Committee, and now its chairman, suggested the appointment of a committee from that organ- ization to thoroughly revise and rewrite the city charter. Accordingly a sub committee of three from said organization was appointed, consisting of Mr. Smith, Col. Walter Gresham, a lawyer and a former member of Congress, and Mr. F. D. Minor, a lawyer of high character and splendid ability. This subcommittee procured copies of the charters of a number of cities, including the law governing the city of Washington, D. C., a copy of the act cre- ating the taxing commission for Memphis, Tenn., and after the great yellow fever epidemic in 1878, and a copy of the so-called model charter of Balti- more, Md.

The commission features of the new charter were suggested and drawn by Mr. Smith, and the controll- ing was the creation of a governing body which should conform, as near as possible, to the organ- ization of a great business corporation providing the duties, sharply defining the responsibilities, and through the heads of the various departments, con- centrating both power and responsibility.

Commission Plan in Brief

The Board of Commissioners of the City of Gal- veston is composed of a Mayor, President and four Commissioners, all elected to their respective posi - tions by the qualified voters of the city at large every two years.

The Mayor or President is the executive head of the City Government. The four Commissioners are designated as follows: Commissioner of Finances and Reserve; Commissioner of Water Works and

known to occur in the Gulf, and to prevent storm water from ever reaching a depth in the city, dan- gerous to life and property. To accomplish this ob. ject the Board of Engineers proposed the building of a solid concrete wall and the raising of the city grade to eight feet at Avenue "A", 10 feet at Broad way, 12 feet at Avenue "P" and continuing this slop" upward to the seawall seventeen feet above mean low tide.

The county of Galveston, of which the city contri- butes about 85% of the taxes, agreed to build the Seawall at a cost of $1,500,000, issuing 4% bonds being purchased by the citizens of Galveston and the city, with aid extended by the State of Texas agreed to raise the grade at a cost of $2,000,000. the people to pay the expenses incident to the rais- ing of their building and other improvements cost ing about $1,000,000 additional. Galveston county built 17,592 feet of the Seawall and the United States Government built in front of Fort Crockett joining the county seawall, 5506 feet, making a to- tal of 23,098 feet, or a little over 4 1-3 miles. Work on the wall started Oct. 1902 and was completed Oct. 18, 1905. The cost of the wall and filling be- hind same to the Government was $678,424.00. The wall proper is 16 feet wide at the base, is 17 feet above mean low tide and is five feet across the top It is backed up by sand filling. Adjacent to the wall and flush with its top is a cement sidewalk 1% feet wide, next to the sidewalk is a brick pavement. 68 feet wide, and adjacent to that is another eement sidewalk. These two cement sidewalks with brich pavement in the center is called the "Seawall Boule vard." At a point 200 feet from the wall proper. or 100 feet north of the seawall boulevard, a cemen: wall is sunk into the earth five feet deep, its to" which is 21 feet above mean low tide being evo. with the ground surface, or four feet higher than the seawall. This upward slope of four feet for a distance of 200 feet from the seawall causes av.

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ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

storm spray dashing over the seawall on to the boulevard to drain back into the Gulf.

The wall proper is built upon four round piling at intervals of four feet. The piling is driven down from 40 to 44 feet, penetrating a solid clay foundation. A double row of lapper and groved sheet piling 24 feet in length extends the entire length of the wall under the part nearest the Gulf. In front of the wall is an apron of granite and sand- stone rip rap 27 feet wide.

Eastern Extension of Seawall

The United State Government and Galveston County jointly at a cost of $18,000,000 have extended the seawall from the Gulf at sixth street to Fort San Jacinto a distance of 10,300 feet the County paying the cost of 3,300 feet and the Government paying for 7,000 feet. The Government's part of the wall is in front of its own land, some 700 acres comprising the Fort and the sand flats adjacent thereto. This seawall extension not only protects the channel of Galveston bay from filling during a storm, but also reclaims for commercial purposes about 5000 feet of channel frontages which is suitable for docks and terminais, also a large acre- age of sand flats, also gives the Government a mag- nificent site adjacent to Fort San Jacinto for use as a camp and drill grounds.

Raising the City Grade

Acting under the terms of the new city charter on May 15, 1903, Governor S. W. T. Lanham ap- pointed J. P. Alvey, John Sealy and E. R. Cheese- brough, as a grade raising board, they to manage control and direct the work of filling and raising the area east of Thirteenth Street and also south of Broadway as far west as fortieth street. The total sum available for this work was $2,000,000 represented by 5 per cent City bonds. In order to care for the interest and sinking fund on this

six years. The contractors received $1,961,259, the engineering and incidental expenses being less than two per cent of the contract price. The contractors lost between $300,000 and $400,000 on their con- tract. The surface elevation due to the raising of the city grade ranges from a few inches to eleven feet. The highest known storm water at Galveston was a fraction under 12 feet above mean low tide. Broadway as raised is 10 feet and the sidewalks 11 feet and the slope towards the Seawall is upward at the rate of one foot in 1500. The downtown sec- tion of the city from Broadway north has never been raised. This is however in active contemplation. The present grade in that area ranges from 612 to 8 feet above mean low tide. During a storm, since the building of the seawall, the water appearing on the downtown streets backs in from the bay and has no damaging force.

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The encyclopedia of Texas, V.1, Part 20

Author: Davis, Ellis Arthur, ed; Grobe, Edwin H., ed Publication date: 1922 Publisher: Dallas, Texas Development Bureau Number of Pages: 1204

Author: Davis, Ellis Arthur, ed; Grobe, Edwin H., ed
Publication date: 1922
Publisher: Dallas, Texas Development Bureau
Number of Pages: 1204