46 
Transactions Texas Academy of Science. — 1906. 
to prevent any other company from so doing*. A reorganization was 
had under the Texas Western charter. This move effectually blocked 
any other company from offering proposals. When the Governor 
again called for them, none were received. 11 
When the Sixth Legislature convened in 1855, Governor Pease laid 
the matter before it. After a tedious debate an act was passed throw- 
ing the reservation open to settlement. 12 This in effect repealed the 
measure. 
Subsequent events proved this to have been the proper course. 
The movement to build a Pacific railroad was premature. The 
country was too unsettled to attract private capital into such a 
stupendous undertaking. It was not until the National Government 
lent its aid that a trans-continental line was finally built. 
NOTES. 
Wide my paper on “Land Grants to Railroads in Texas,” Appendix D, p. 92. 
2 Act of February 11, 1850, “Laws of Texas,” Vol. 3, p. 632. 
3 The action of the company in beginning at Houston was ratified by the Act 
of February 7, 1853, Ibid, Vol. 3, p. 1390. 
4 Donaldson, Loc. y cit. pp. 121, 122. 
Wide my paper on “Land Grants to Railroads in Texas,” pp. 49, 50. 
G Ibid, Appendix D., p. 32. 
7 “The subject of a railroad to the Pacific Ocean is one that is now engrossing 
the attention of every part of our widely spread Union. To none is its loca- 
tion fraught with more important consequences than to our State, and I there- 
fore again briefly but most earnestly recommend it to your serious consideration” 
— Message to the Fifth Legislature in the Journal of the House of Representa- 
tives, p. 15, et. seq. 
8 Act of December 21, 1853, “Laws of Texas,” Vol. 4, p. 7. 
9 Governor Pease’s Veto Message of the Act to amend the Charter of the Texas 
Western Railroad, July 7, 1856, In the Journal of the Senate of the State of 
Texas, Sixth Legislature, Adjourned Session, Austin, 1856, pp. 15-18. 
10 Governor Pease’s Message to the Sixth Legislature, Ibid, p. 8. 
“Letter of Governor Pease to the Senate Committee on Internal Improvements, 
Senate Journal, Sixth Legislature, Adjourned Session, Austin, 1856, p. 99. 
“Debates of the Sixth Legislature in the State Gazette Appendix, Vol. 4, pp. 
88-118. 
“Message of Governor Pease to the Sixth Legislature, 1855, Senate Journal, 
p. 8, et seq. 
IV. STATE AID TO RAILROADS. 
7. The First Subsidy. 
To the railroads chartered by the Republic of Texas no encourage- 
ment was extended. The Texas Railroad, Navigation & Banking 
Company and the Galveston & Brazos Company were required to pay 
for their rights of way across the State, but to the Houston & Brazos 
Company and the Harrisburg Railroad & Trading Company this 
right was donated. To the first three railroads chartered by the 
State no aid was extended. However, their charters were more lib- 
eral than the preceding. None of these roads were built. 
