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Transactions Texas Academy of Science. 
rnptcy. The past history of our railways in Texas is not a bright one 
and it has taken a generation to undo the ruin wrought hy the unreliable 
and unresponsible builders, to restore confidence in the money centers 
with regard to the security of our railway investments and to develop 
the railways themselves to their present high state of efficiency. 
The early 'acts of incorporation of railways in the state, from 1836 to 
1854, granted a bonus of eight sections of public land per mile of railway 
constructed. It soon became apparent that this amount, on account of 
the undeveloped and consequent unsalable condition of the land, did not 
appeal to the promoter, and the 5th Legislature, on January 20, 1854, 
passed an act "to encourage the construction of railroads by donations of 
land.” The provisions of this act entitled any railway that had con- 
structed or might hereafter construct lines within the limits of the state 
to a bonus of sixteen sections of public land or 10,240 acres, per mile of 
constructed road. To secure this donation, however, 25 miles of railway 
must be completed and 25 more graded in advance. Those railways that 
had already received eight sections per mile for road constructed were 
to receive eight sections per mile additional. Bails weighing hot less 
than 54 pounds per yard must be laid. The Act was to remain in effect 
ten years 'after passage. Although a great many lines were projected and 
chartered under the provisions of this act, and a fe wbegan construction, 
little was actually done before the civil war came on, which paralyzed 
railway construction and caused a suspension for some years of develop- 
ment of all kinds. 
On November 13, 1866, the terms of this act were renewed, and as 
public lands had become more valuable, under more favorable conditions 
railway building began again in earnest, and several thousand miles were 
built in the state under this act. From the beginning of railway con- 
struction in the state few of the special acts incorporating the lines were 
carried out as provided and succeeding legislatures passed acts of relief , 
extension of time, etc. Every possible favor was granted in order to aid 
and stimulate the construction of railways. In addition to the public 
lands donated, liberal grants of money, right of way, depot ground, etc.,, 
were offered by each community and city through which the railways 
passed. Often concessions and gifts of land and money were extorted 
by the promoters from cities and they were required to bid against 
each other for the privilege of being the favored one in securing some 
particular line of railway. Even to this day it is the exception when any 
projected road must provide for the purchase of its right of way, depot 
and terminal grounds ; all such property — often with money in addi- 
tion — being required by the railway and donated by the communities 
and cities through which the line is projected. 
In 1856, at the session, of the 6th Legislature, a law was passed enitit- 
