The Beginnings of the Texas Railroad System. 
59 
“I am unwilling that any new charters shall be granted to individuals for 
their own benefit. If new charters are necessary, let such routes be selected 
as the wants and business of the country require, designate their points of com- 
mencement and termination, and grant charters to commissioners who shall be 
required to open books for the subscription of stock after giving public notice. 
No subscription should be received unless five per cent, thereof is paid at the 
time of subscribing, and whenever the percentage on the capital stock subscribed 
shall amount to $100; let the commissioners be authorized to call a meeting of 
the subscribers and hold an election for officers, after which the subscribers 
should become a corporation with all such powers as are set forth in the 
charter. The commissioners should have no right under the charter except as 
trustees for the benefit of the subscribers.” — Journal of the Senate, Sixth Legis- 
lature, Austin, 1855, p. 18 et seq. 
“Debates of the Sixth Legislature, Regular Session, Vol. 1, pp. 176-178. 
10 Apt of July 24, 1856, “Laws of Texas,” Vol. 4, p. 569. 
11 Acts of January 23, 1856, and February 4, 1856, Ibid, Vol. 4, p. 326, 328, 378. 
12 Act of August 16, 1856, Ibid, Vol. 4, p. 622. 
13 Act of January 24, 1856, Ibid, Vol. 4, p. 336. 
14 Senate Journal, Sixth Legislature, Austin, 1856, pp. 11, 12. 
15 Vide Journal of the House of Representatives, Tenth Legislature, Austin, 
1857, pp. 38-41. 
16 Act of December 17, 1857, “Laws of Texas,” Vol. 4, p. 987. 
VI. RAILROAD PROGRESS, 1856-1860. 
16. Introductory. 
The progress of railroads in Texas has been traced down to 1856. 
Only two lines had then been constructed, aggregating forty miles. 
These were the Buffalo Bayou, Brazos & Colorado, and the Galveston 
& Red River Railroads. I purpose now to indicate the progress of 
railroads down to 1860, or the beginning of the Civil War. 
17. Buffalo Bayou, Brazos & Colorado Railroad. 
By 1856 the Buffalo Bayou, Brazos & Colorado Railroad had reached 
Richmond on the Brazos, a distance of thirty-two miles from its start- 
ing point. While the earnings of this section were much greater than 
those of the short section of twenty miles, still these w T ere insufficient 
to make the road profitable. The country along the Colorado valley, 
on which its future mainly depended, would not continue to seek 
an outlet by it, unless it was quickly extended to this river. 
The passage of the Loan Act in 1856 induced the company to 
undertake this extension. The route was surveyed and located to 
a point near Columbus on the Colorado River, forty-eight miles from 
Richmond. By December 8, 1857, twenty-seven miles had been 
graded under contract with Cooper & Company. Work under this 
contract then ceased on account of a lack of funds. A new contract 
was entered into with H. K. White & Company, and the work was 
resumed on the 1st of June of the following year. The road was 
