Isaac Monroe Cline was the American who thought he had the power to control the weather. Cline was the man in charge of the Texas Section of the new United States Weather Bureau in September of the year 1900. At this time, a hurricane ignored by Cline, swallowed the city of Galveston, Texas, leaving thousands dead. It can be argued that Cline was to blame for being so arrogant in not recognizing the inconsistent weather signs and acknowledging there was an unpreventable storm headed towards the Gulf Coast. However, the time of Cline’s upbringing and the moment in history this hurricane hit, puts all of America at fault. The hurricane of 1900 took place in the beginning of the Gilded Age, when America was shifting to a more technological lifestyle while being “swollen with pride and technological confidence” (5). This new lifestyle acted as a blind spot for America; with
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This town on the Gulf Coast is a prime example of what problems the Gilded Age brought to America. Although new technology was great for businesses and cities, it had an effect on the individuals who lived in these major cities. In Galveston alone, the population “had grown 30 percent in only ten years” (13). This caused many diseases to creep the streets of Galveston. With the city being home to “five hundred saloons”, the lifestyle of a mariner who just got paid could get a little rowdy (67). Galveston alone did not reflect the Gilded Age any more than Cline did because I believe Cline is what made Galveston hit the map. Although Galveston was a growing port city, it was lacking compared to the growth of Houston, Texas during this time. Galveston was an attraction to all races for many reasons, the city was like a melting pot and it “exhibited a rare harmony of spirit” (67). This “astonishing degree of mutual tolerance” advanced the city to a “standard of living higher than almost anywhere else in the country”
This town on the Gulf Coast is a prime example of what problems the Gilded Age brought to America. Although new technology was great for businesses and cities, it had an effect on the individuals who lived in these major cities. In Galveston alone, the population “had grown 30 percent in only ten years” (13). This caused many diseases to creep the streets of Galveston. With the city being home to “five hundred saloons”, the lifestyle of a mariner who just got paid could get a little rowdy (67). Galveston alone did not reflect the Gilded Age any more than Cline did because I believe Cline is what made Galveston hit the map. Although Galveston was a growing port city, it was lacking compared to the growth of Houston, Texas during this time. Galveston was an attraction to all races for many reasons, the city was like a melting pot and it “exhibited a rare harmony of spirit” (67). This “astonishing degree of mutual tolerance” advanced the city to a “standard of living higher than almost anywhere else in the country”