The encyclopedia of Texas, V.1, Part 21

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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Due to the grade raising all bayous, lakes and low places in the western part of the City have been filled. Since the beginning of the grade rais- ing operations a total of 16,321,400 cubic yards of filling has been placed in the city, at the cost of ap- proximately $3,000,000.

The Galveston Causeway

The Galveston Causeway when completed will represent an outlay of $3,000,000 or more. It is 10,642 feet in length and of which 7858 is re-in- forced concrete arches resting upon a concrete piling foundation. Each arch had a clear span of sixty feet. The causeway is sixty-three feet, three inches wide, and is devoted to a county roadway, interurban and steam railway tracks. It is 14 feet above mean tide. The lift bridge has a clear span of 100 feet. Galveston County, the G. C. & S. Fe Ry. Co., Gal- veston, Houston Electric Interurban Co., G. H. & H. R. Ry. Co., and the Southern Pacific Railway Company, in various proportions, have contributed

Along the Walk at Galveston. Murdock Bath House, Bathing, Surf and Pier on the Right. On the Left is the Crystal Bath House, Plunge and Casino.

bond issue the State of Texas through legislative enactment, contributed the States part of all taxes collected in Galveston County for a period of 17 years and later on increased it to 27 years. The Grade raising Board secured the services of Col. C. S. Richie, U. S. Engineer, as its consulting en- kineer, he to prepare plans, specifications and form of contract. The successful bidder was Messrs. Gochardt & Bates, the price being 1814 cents per cu- bic yard, to include grading they to dredge a service canal through the residence section of the city three miles long, eighteen feet deep and two hundred feet wide. They to us foreign built, self loading, self propelling and discharging hopper dredges to take filling from the bay and transport it through the canal and discharge it through pipe lines. They to remove all buildings in the canal right-of-way. and restore them to their original location, after re- filling the canal. The raising of the grade started July 1904 and was completed in July 1910 or within

to meet the cost of this structure. The causeway was constructed under two contracts. The initial contract was let to the A. M. Bladgett Construction Company of Kansas City, Mo., July 6, 1909 and on August 30 of the same year, the first work was actually started, Mr. Linton W. Stubbs, construction Engineer, supervised the work. The Arch bridge portion was 2358 feet and life bridge 100 feet. . The balance of the structure was a cement slab. protected sand roadway, surfaced with shell. Du- ring the storm of August 16,17, 1915, a large part of the sand roadway washed out and the cement slabs fell in. In rebuilding, it was decided to construct the destroyed portion of arches, thus making the en- tire causeway an all arched structure. About 5,500 feet of arch construction, being 79 acres, comprised the second contract which was awarded to Larkin & Sangster (Inc.) This is one of the largest, if not .the very largest re-inforced arched concrete struc- tures in the world.

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HISTORY OF GALVESTON By ALEXANDER RUSSELL

Galveston Tribune

A S many as half a dozen more or less authentic records of the beginning of Galveston have been written and after perusing all of them, the reader is permitted the liberty of exercising his option as to the one he prefers, for after all, it makes little difference as to which of the narratives one follows, all of them agree that some time between the year 1686 and 1816 the island upon which the city is now located, was used by Indians as a hunting and

In 1820 Lafitte seized an American ship in Mat- agorda Bay and for that act the United States gov- ernment sent an armed vessel to break up the ren- dezvous. Later in that year Lafitte quit the island and made his headquarters at one place or another until 1826 when he is said to have died in Yucatan. When Lafitte left Galveston island, it was occupied by General Long, who, with a small body of adven- turers, had been eamped on the Bolivar peninsular,

Galvez Hotel, the Popular Hostelry of Galveston, Open Throughout the Year. This Hotel is Well and Favorably Known to Tourists all Over the World.

fishing resort and designated as rattlesnake island because of the number of these reptiles found here.

In 1816, supposedly on Sept. 12, Don Jose Man- uel Herrera, commissioner of the Mexican revolu- tionary, or Morelos government, to the United States together with Don Luis Aury, a gallant naval of- ficer, landed on Galveston island with the purpose of making this place their headquarters in their en- deavor to wrest Mexico from the Spanish yoke. In November the same year, General Francisco Za- vier Mena, with 200 men and a few small ships joined the forces at Galveston and laid out an en- campment. Because of disagreements between the two leaders, Galveston was abandoned early in 1817, being shortly afterwards occupied by the Pirate Lafitte whose headquarters at Barrataria Louisi- ana, had become untenable. Lafitte held a commis- sion as Governor of Texas from the revolutionary government of Mexico, and under the flag of that government he carried out his piratical practices upon Spanish ships, fought with the neighboring Indians and added from time to time to the pop- ulation of the island.

the bay from Galveston, and many of the houses which had been destroyed by Lafitte were rebuilt and occupied. Long became involved in trouble with a band of Indians occupying the western end of the island and failing in his effort to enlist a suf- ficient number of men to assume active operations against the Mexican government, the Island was gradually abandoned and until 1832 again became a hunting and fishing resort for neighboring tribes of red men.

In the year mentioned, Juan N. Seguin, a Mexi- can citizen of the State of Coahuila, was granted a league and labor of land on the eastern end of Gal- veston island, but did nothing with his grant. In the year 1834, colonel Michael B. Menard, agent and purchaser of the grant of Seguin, petitioned the Alcade of Liberty Territory to put him in posses sion of the one league and labor of land on the eastern extremity of Galveston island, and the pe. tition was granted.

After Texas had gained its independence and set up business as a republic, colonel Menard offered

106

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

the Texas congress $50,000 to make good his grant, his offer was accepted and from that hour began the history of what is now one of the greatest seaports of the United States. The city was incorporated in March 1836, John M. Allen being its first mayor. The city was planned and ample provision made for schools, churches, public buildings and parks. Just prior to the battle of San Jacinto, which battle gave to Texas her independence, the government of the republic, forced to flee from its capital at Washing- ton by the approach of Santa Anna, made Galveston its temporary abiding place. During the time the young republic was struggling against Mexico for independence, Galveston was the headquarters for the Texas Navy, consisting of half a dozen small vessels. This navy gave a splendid account of its self when ever a Mexican vessel could be found willing to engage in battle.

Galveston furnished adequate complements of men and finances to the Texas war for independence and to the Southern side in the war between the states At the close of the latter war, the population of the city was approximately 10,000. The city boasted of one railroad 45 miles in length and half a dozen wharves at which numerous light draft vessels loaded and unloaded, the bar at the entrance of the harbor did not permit of vessels drawing more than fifteen feet of water to enter.

have been coming into the harbor and an effort is now being made for the government to undertake the deepening of the channel and bar to thirty-five feet. Illustrative of the wide appreciation of Gal- veston as a port, on one day recently there were vessels flying fourteen different flags loading or unloading at the wharves.

Galveston's present population is about 40,000 and everything points to a rapid increase over these figures. The storni of 1900, while it gave the city a temporary set back, in reality proved to be a blessing in disguise for it taught the people a much needed lesson and measures were at once taken to surround the city with a protecting wall while the city itself was elevated, in some places to a height of seventeen feet above its old elevation. Then, too from the storm and its toll of heavy repair expenses came the commission form of government by which not only Galveston but numerous other communities throughout the nation have been able to carry on at a much reduced expense and wider satis- faction.

Galveston today holds first place as a cotton ex- porting gateway and has entered the field for a new record in grain exportation. Elevator facilities and side track provisions are ample and if the port is supplied with adequate tonnage, Galveston will be as noted for handling export grain as she is for

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Seagoing Vessels at Wharves in the Galveston Harbor Taking Cargo Enroute to Various American and European Ports

In the year 1896, after an extended campaign of clucation conducted throughout the west and the Middle west, congress made an appropriation for the deepening of the harbor and the work was im- mediately started. By 1875 vessels drawing twen- ty-five feet of water could enter the harbor and year by year since that time deeper draft vessels

handling outward bound cotton. The taxable val . uation of the city is given at $41,000,000.00 This city went over the top in every Liberty bond, Red Cross and War Work Activities drive launched du- ring the recent war altogether, by the war, deprived of her shipping and a large portion of her popu- lation.

107

AMARILLO, METROPOLIS OF THE PANHANDLE By BOARD OF CITY DEVELOPMENT

A MARILLO, the metropolis of the well known panhandle country of Texas, with trade area of 38 panhandle counties is a modern and up-to-date city in every respect, advancing rapidly with the growth and development of this prosperous section of the state. What is known as the Amarillo trade territory, is an area containing 60,000 square miles, with a population of 350,000.

Amarillo was for many years the principal city of the great western stock raising district. In the days of the open range vast herds of cattle fed on the broad prairies and Amarillo was the head- quarters of the stock men, who brought their cattle here for shipment to the Northern and Eastern markets. Although much of the land has been brought under cultivation, and grain raised in abund- ance, there are still large areas devoted to the cattle raising. Although Amarillo has undergone an evolu- tion which has made it a modern city, the modern improvements, fine business buildings and residences equipped with all of the up-to-date appliances of other modern cities, it still retains many of the traditions of the western range.

Amarillo, the Metropolis of the Panhandle. A View of Polk Street Looking South from Fourth

The principal crops are wheat, which in normal years amounts to 20,000,000 bushels, oats, barley and rye amount to 10,000,000 bushels, kaffir and maize 40,000,000 bushels. An idea of Amarillo as a market, may be gained from the shipments of products and stock from this city. The average shipment of grain over all railroads averages over 700 cars annually, while live stock shipments, in- cluding cattle, horses, hogs and sheep averages over 5,000 cars annually.

The South Plains section has become famous as a poultry producing section, while the North Plains is one of the greatest sinall grain producing and cattle growing areas in the country.

Bank elearings annually of Amarillo are in excess of $300,000,000, while bank deposits are near the $10,000,000 mark, while the total bank deposits of all panhandle counties are over $60,000,000. . The 1920 census gives this city a population of 15,494. while the city directory estimate at this time gives it a population of over 18,000.

The climate of Amarillo has been grossly mis- represented and joked about, while as a matter of fact, the summer climate is delightful with an aver- age mean temperature for the summer months of 69 degrees. There are, of course, some cold days

in this section of the state with some snow, but the temperature never remains low for any extended period, and the average mean temperature for the winter months is 43 degrees. The climate is indeed healthful and invigorating both winter and summer.

The discovery of gas twenty-eight miles northwest of Amarillo is destined to play an important part

Looking North on Polk Street, Amarillo

in the future history of this city. This gas field is fifteen miles in width and twenty miles in length, and is probably the largest natural gas field in the world. The thirteen producing wells have a total daily capacity of 400,000,000 cubic feet, this gas serves the city for industrial, commercial and do- mestic purposes. It is more than likely that oil will also be discovered, inasmuch as many tests are now being made by substantial companies.

There are three grain elevators here with a com- bined storage capacity of 700,000 bushels, and one flour mill with a capacity of 800 bushels per day. Eight wholesale houses have headquarters in Amarillo, and about 300 traveling salesmen have headquarters here. The volume of wholesale busi- ness averages over $20,000,000 annually. There are three railroad round houses and shops located in the city and up to date business houses of every descrip- tion to take care of the growing trade of the pan- handle district.

With the vast area of wealthy productive territory surrounding Amarillo the city is sure to become a

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The City Hall of Amarillo

wholesale as well as retail commercial center. Amarillo is assured a permanent place among the commercial and industrial, as well as agricultural centers of the Southwest.

108

SAN ANTONIO By SAN ANTONIO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

S AN ANTONIO, located on the dividing line be- tween what is called the Edwards Plateau (the hill country) and the great Coastal Plains, oc- cupies a peculiarly strategic position. For this cause the location was chosen originally, and the development of the country has increased the value of the location until today San Antonio is the great- est metropolis of the Southwest.

The population, according to the latest estimate of the Research Bureau of the University of Texas, :4 200,000. More conservative estimates and the city directory place it at 175,000. The area of the city is 36 square miles or 2,304 acres.

San Antonio is the distributing and banking center for a great tributary territory, which, although as yet only partly developed, yields enormous agri- cultural and live stock products.

The growth of San Antonio having sprung mainly from the service it has rendered as distributing point, it becomes necessary to consider the trade territory served by San Antonio. This trade ter- ritory covers fifty-five counties and contains 68,015 square miles, or 43,529,600 acres. This is an area larger by 3,850 square miles than the combined areas of Ohio, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Con- necticut, Rhode Island and Delaware.

The population of this territory, based on the United States census estimates, is nearly 1,000,000. The wholesale business of San Antonio is estimated by a committee of business men engaged in this line of business at $150,000,000 a year.

San Antonio is naturally the retail market for this tributary territory and also for Mexico, al- though this latter business has been diminished by reason of the revolutions. The retail trade is esti- mated at from $100,000,000 to $125,000,000 a year.

San Antonio has some of the largest department stores in the Southwest and has developed a retail market that serves this whole southwest country.

One of the Principal Business Streets of San Antonio

The total value of the agricultural products and live stock produced in this area in a normal year, according to official figures of the state comptroller of Texas, is over $200,000,000. The cotton raised in this section is estimated by state experts at 800,000 bales, with a value of $80,000,000.

San Antonio is a great live stock, cotton, wool and mohair market.

The military post at San Antonio, known as Fort Sam Houston, placed here because of the strategic advantages, represents an investment on the part of the United States government of between five and six million dollars. It is the general head- quarters for the Department of the South, head- quarters for the quartermasters and commissary

Alamo Plaza, the Historic Park of San Antonio. In the Background are seen the Alamo, on the Right, and the San Antonio Post Office in the Center

supplies, the hospital base and the principal aviation base of the United States, which includes Kelly Fields 1 and 2 and Brooks Fields. With Camp Travis, the huge national army cantonment, this military establishment housed nearly a hundred thousand men during the war. Ordinarily 5,000 or more troops are garrisoned here. It is estimated that the financial asset to San Antonio of the army post is of the value of about $10,000,000 a year.

The weather in San Antonio during eight months of the year is altogether delightful, and although the four summer months are warm they have the heat temp- ered by the gulf breezes and the nights are cool.

The winter temperature average is 54 degrees. It is possible to live out of doors most of the time, as the winter days are generally sunny.

Spring temperature average is 69 degrees.

Summer temperature average is 82 degrees.

Fall temperature average is 70 degrees.

The climate in San Antonio is favorable to manufac- turing, particularly because the mildness of the climate makes a saving in the fuel bill necessary to the heating of plants. Then again the length of days in the winter is greater than in northern latitudes, and there is a saving in the lighting cost. The climate being favorable to hu- man life, gives greater e fciency and a genally happier and more contented set of workers.

Survey of the industries show that the larger factories employ approximately 7,000 persons, and the annual out- put is about $35,000,000. The payroll is in the neighborhood of $10,000,000.

Owing to its very delightful and healthful climate, which is especially pleasant in the winter season, many tourists from the colder northern sections have been in the habit of coming to this city. Beginning in 1909, when two splendid new modern hotels were completed, San Antonio has consciously fostered this tourist trade.

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the ted he ed er. Ist rt

THE FUTURE OF SAN ANTONIO By CHAS. S. DIEHL Proprietor of San Antonio Light

S AN ANTONIO is one of the natural capitals of the world. If the United States was divided into sep- arate sovereignties as con- tinental Europe is, San An- tonio would be the metropoli- tan center of the southwest- ern empire as it has always been and is now. This is not said in derogation of the other beautiful and growing com- monwealths the great state of Texas, which cannot strictly be rivals of San An- tonio, in the commercial sense, any more than San Antonio can hold any ungen- erous rivalry toward her sister cities. Each cares for the broad territory in which it is located, but the fact remains that San Antonio was located and discovered by early Spanish discoveries, with the same unerring certainty as Rome, Paris, Vienna and Moscow. Its history dates back to 1689 as a European settlement. Its missions date back to 1700, and as American history runs, it represents the seat of the oldest white civiliza- tion in the republic.

What San Antonio was, more than two centuries ago, it remains today, the strategic center of that one-quarter of the United States lying west of the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean, and from the Oklahoma line to the Rio Grande. Its strategical importance has been such that the battles for the control of the great Southwest empire was fought on the site of the city, and when the Spaniards were finally defeated, and San Antonio became an Amer- ican garrison instead of a Spanish garrison, the American Republic definitely fixed its southern boundary at the Rio Grande.

It has always been a military town, the same as the historic strategic cities of Europe. It has been such, for strictly military reasons, and in following up the natural historic hypothesis, it has grown with the population of the states surrounding it, into an ever increasing center of population, trade, and

wealth. All the natural elements which attracted the early settlers from Europe remain with it, tend- ing to make it one of the most wholesome, delightful and healthful spots for a great city. Its natural elevation gives it perfect drainage, its water supply from deep flowing wells is unsurpassed in purity and volume, its skies are almost perennially blue -- al!

The San Jose Mission Near San Antonio. A Relic of the Historic Days of the Spanish Padres

tending to make it one of the healthiest large cities in the world.

Apart from its ideal location, it is surrounded by an empire of tillable land, capable of producing large crops, with and without irrigation. The range in production can be seen in all the tree, shrub and flower forms in her public parks, and in the tilled fields.

The asphalt, oil, gas, mineral, lignite, building and road stone deposits have already been developed to an extent that insures the great prosperity of the capital city of the region, its numerous hot mineral baths are already largely patronized, its road sys- tem through the high wooded hills to the north and west are being extended, while in the city itself her public and private schools are possibly larger in number than any other city of like size in America, insuring the growth of refinement and proper appreciation of the artistic among its people.

A Panoramic View of Business District of San Antonio. the City with an Ideal Climate, Beautiful Parks, Attractive Residences and Commodious Hotels. San Antonio is one of the Most Popular Winter Resorts for Tourists in the South. One of the Largest army Posts in the United States is Located Here.

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EL PASO

By EL PASO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

E L PASO'S territory represents 15 per cent of the area of the United States and El Paso is the distributing and banking center of the district having a greater area than that comprised on the New England States and New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania added for good measure.

It is the only large city along 2,000 miles of the Mexican border, and is the natural meeting point for persons interested in mining, trade, transporta- tion, live stock, agriculture and manufacturing.

El Paso is the seat of Federal and State Courts, National and International commissions, bureaus, and is a great center of tourists movement, offer- ing unique attraction of instant communication with Mexico.

It has a population of over 80,000 while the popu- lation of the territory, exclusive of state of Northern Mexico, is 1,050,203.

The city of El Paso has a modified commission form of government; the executive and legislative power is vested in a mayor and four aldermen elected by the people. The school board consists of eight members elected by the people. Promptness * and clarity of action and heart co-operation char- acterize the work of the various municipal depart- ments.

The city of El Paso was chartered in 1873. Popu- lation in 1900 was only 15,000.

El Paso is essentially a city of homes of $18,000 size. There are probably not over 50 wooden houses. All buildings are of reinforced concrete, brick, steel and tile. New building investments exceed $3,- 000,000 per year.

El Paso has hundreds of homes costing above $10,000, and over 50 homes worth $17,000 to $50,000 cach.

El Paso's building permits for April, 1919, were. 140 valued at $126,133, against 110 permits in April, 1918, valued at $59,041, indicating a return to pre- war activities.

El Paso has the lowest fire insurance key-rate of Texas of only 20 cents.

El Paso, an incorporated area of ten square miles, with 100 miles of graded streets, over 40 miles of paved streets, cost of paving over $2,000,000. Over 50 miles of asphalt country roads.

Parks and play grounds cover over 150 acres, valu- ation $2,400,000.

El Paso has municipal water works which can supply 16,000,000 gallons daily. The city is now using only 6,000,000 gallons daily. Reserve capacity is always in excellent condition. The city plant is worth $2,000,000. The water is pure, as confirmed by recent analysis.

El Paso has 85 lodges, societies and clubs and a public library with over 15,000 volumes; 12 hospitals and sanitariums, property valuation of over $3,- 000,000.

El Paso has 40 churches, property valuation, $1,000,000, and has 13 public schools and 9 private ones. Enrollment over 10,000 pupils. Property valuation more than $1,000,000.

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The encyclopedia of Texas, V.1, Part 21

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