The Beginnings of the Texas Railroad System. 
65 
after a number of extensions of time had been granted, the charter 
was finally forfeited. 
In 1856 a new charter was secured. Eight miles of public land 
on each side of the .right of way was reserved in which the company 
could locate the sections of land it was entitled to under the act of 
1854. This was the most liberal charter thus far granted by the 
State of Texas. 
Work was begun in 1857 near Texarkana. Forty-seven miles were 
graded and made ready for the reception of iron. Engines and cars 
were purchased and delivered to the- company by Red River steam- 
ers landing at Moore ’s Ferry on Sulphur Fork. A great overflow 
in* Red River occurring about this time, added over a mile of timber 
to the raft then existing, and prevented further delivery of material. 
A branch road was therefore undertaken from Moore’s landing to 
Jefferson, which would remove this difficulty. Five miles of this 
branch were completed before the War. 23 
The amount of money received from the sale of stock was $70,707.09. 
The only aid received from the State was certificates for 262,400 
acres of land. 191,680 of these were alienated by 1861. In this 
connection it is interesting to note that the president ’s salary, amount- 
ing to $3000 a year, was paid in land certificates from May 9, 1856, 
' to May 9, I860. 24 
24. Washington County Railroad. 
When a relief bill for the Galveston & Red River Railroad came 
before the Legislature in 1856, the branching privileges were re- 
stricted until the road reached Red River. This was fatal to the 
hopes of the citizens of Washington County, who had subscribed 
stock in the expectation that this company would build a branch from 
its main line through Washington County to Austin. 25 
Nothing daunted by this awkward legislative enactment, the 
planters of Washington County, who had amassed considerable wealth, 
determined to build a road of their own to connect their city of 
Rrenham with Galveston direct. 
A charter was applied for, and was secured on February 2, 1856. 
This charter created the Washington County Railroad. Work was 
commenced in July, 1857, at Hempstead on the Houston & Texas 
Central Railroad, and completed to Chappell Hill, a distance of 
eleven and a half miles, on May 1, 1859. The road progressed 
steadily during the succeeding years, and so fixed was the determin- 
ation of these people that the section* to Brenham was completed after 
the breaking out of hostilities. 
