The Texas Almanac, for 1860, with Statistics, Historical and Biographical Sketches, &c., Relating to Texas. Page: 220
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TEXAS ALMANAC.
Railroad Progress in Texas.
The following twelve companies are, we believe, the only ones by whom any
work has been done, and the table below shows correctly the amount of work
done by each up to October 1st, 1859 :
Oo. GRAD. CONT.
1 Galveston, Houston and Henderson Railroad, 422 - 6Y
2 Buffalo Bayou, Brazo a-d Colorado " 65 10 5
3 Houston Tap and Brazoria " 362 232 -
4 Houston and Texas Central " 75 8 5
5 Washington County " 11 - -
6 San Antonio and Mexican Gulf " 5 20 -
7 S.nii!.,, ",n" Y 27 - -
8 i enphis, El Paso and Pacific - 35 -
9 Iew Orleans and Texas , 10 20 75
10 Eastern Texas road, 15 or 20 miles.
11 Indianola road, amount graded not known.
12 Aransas road, 5 miles embankment and grade.
Thus we have a total of 2721 miles completed, over 130 or 140 miles
graded, and 85 miles more under contract.
The contract to complete the 62 miles from the city of 'Galveston to con-
nect with the road at 1 irginia Point, requires that it shall be completed early
in December. The Bridge over the Bay is nearly completed, and the grading
of about 412 miles from the city to the bridge is also nearly done and ready
for the ties and iron. The contracts require that the entire road shall be
completed and the cars running from Galveston to Houston over the Bay, by
the first of January next.
The grading on the Aransas road consists chiefly of an embankment from
the main channel through the Bay to the mainland. This embankment has
been thrown up by Mr. Hawley, who is now at work there with his dredge
boat. See p. 203.
Work was commenced on the Eastern Texas road by the former company
under its former name, some ten miles north of Beaumont. We are informed
that the present company commenced grading some fifteen or twenty miles
south of Beaumont, with a view to make Sabine Pass the terminus, and ex-
pect to have twenty five miles graded by the meeting of the next Legislature.
Col. Stamps is now superintending the grading. The $50,000 required by
the last Legislature, has not been deposited. See p. 130.
The Washington County road is now being graded on the west of the Bra-
zos, and we are assured, will soon be completed to Brenham. The company
are taking measures to have a substantial bridge constructed over the Brazos.
The Southern Pacific Railroad.
A sale of the Southern Pacific Railroad took place early in this month (Sep-
tember) under execution, and it was purchased by Gen. Richardson and asso-
ciates. This sale is said to have freed the road from all its incumbrances.
The two companies have amicably adjusted all their difficulties. Dr. Fowlkes
had made all his payments satisfactorily. The State suit has been dismissed,
and the stockholders were to be fully protected. It is expected that a union
will take place between this company and the Memphis and El Paso com-
pany, to the mutual advantage of all parties, and J. Edgar Thompson, a gen-
tleman reputed to stand at the head of all railroad men, was to be elected
President. Dr. Fowlkes had re-commenced operations on the road with a
view to complete the second section at once. This final settlement is said to
have placed this road in a most favorable position, its property at a fair cash
valuation, exceeding the amount of stock issued, while its franchise gives a
more liberal endowment than any other that was probably ever issued. The
road is completed twenty-seven and a half miles.220
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The Galveston News. The Texas Almanac, for 1860, with Statistics, Historical and Biographical Sketches, &c., Relating to Texas., book, 1860~; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth123766/m1/222/: accessed June 9, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.