DAMAGE TO THE WHARVES.

The wharf company did not suffer badly so far as the actual wharves are concerned, and it comes from General Manager Bailey that they will be ready to handle the business within seven or eight days. Of course a good deal of wharf flooring is torn up. The most serious damage was to the sheds, some of which are complete wrecks. Business can be done without sheds, and as long as the wharves themselves are in shape business can be done. With the rail lines established and running again, freight can move over the wharves. As a matter of fact coal was being discharged at the coal elevator at pier 34 yesterday. The West End wharves are all right, and some of these sheds are standing. Of course there is an immense amount of repair work to be done, but this need not interfere with the movement of freight.

Secretary S. O. Young, of the Galveston Cotton Exchange and Board of Trade, said this morning that it would be three or four weeks before quotations could be actually received here, owing to the condition of the exchange building and the lack of wires over which to do business. The exchange building is pretty badly wrecked, the slate shingles having been carried away on one side early in the afternoon, which let in great floods of water and ruined the ceilings and walls.

Dr. Young suffered several severe bruises as a result of the storm and some of his employes are gone. His janitors are employed in the public work of relieving the general situation. A good many cotton men who had interests in the market left a day or so ago for Houston and New Orleans, where they could look out for their interests.

The Masons started early Monday to furnish relief to their brethren. They established headquarters in the Masonic Temple, which was partly wrecked, and have furnished food and the necessaries of life. All Masons in distress are asked to go to them. They bought provisions to the amount of $500 and have been distributing what they had. A meeting this morning was held at the temple to organize a central relief committee for more systematic work, now that the first distress has been relieved.