The Pkesent Texas Railway System. 
67 
The Austin and Northwestern Railroad was chartered April 29, 1881, 
from Austin to Abilene. Was opened as a narrow-gauge line to Burnet, 
60 miles, by January 1, 1882, and was completed to Marble Falls by May, 
1889 
The Central Texas and Northwestern Railway was chartered as the 
Waxahachie Tap Railway by act approved January 25, 1875, to construct 
a line from a connection with the II. & T. C. Ry. to W r axahachie. Was 
rechartered under its present name September 28, 1881, and built to 
Waxahachie from Garrett, 12 miles. 
The Fort Worth and New Orleans Railway was chartered from Fori; 
Worth to New Orleans on June 13, 1885. This line was in operation 
from Waxahachie to Fort Worth, 41 wiles, by May, 1886. 
The A. & N. W. R, R., C. T. & N. W. Ry. and F. W. & N. 0. Ry., 
though operated as separate and distinct lines, are considered as part of 
the H. & T. C. R. R. system. An act of the 26th Legislature, approved 
May 20, 1899, granted authority to the 11. & T. C. R. R. to purchase and 
consolidate with these lines upon the fulfilment of certain conditions, 
but to date the company has not taken advantage of the terms of this act. 
The present mileage of the H. & T. C. R. R. system, included allied 
lines is as follows : 
H. & T. C. R. R., including Austin and Waco Branches, 507.75 miles 
A. & N. W. R. R . 107.75 miles 
C. T. & N. W. Ry 11.40 miles 
F. W. & N. O. Ry 41.97 miles 
Lancaster Tap R. R 4.76 miles 
Total 673.74 miles 
This system received land donations from the state as follows : 
JI. & T. C. Ry 4,612,980 acres 
Washington County R. R 236,160 acres 
W. & N. W. R. R 481,280 acres 
Waxahachie Tap Ry 113,920 acres 
A. & N. W. R. R 109,440 acres 
Totol 5,553,780 acres 
The II. & T. C. was the first railway constructed across the state from 
north to south and it opened up a vast and very fertile territory. It is 
one of the most valuable pieces of railway property in the state and its 
gross earnings for the year ending June 30, 1899, were $7500 per mile. 
Galveston, Houston and Henderson Railroad. — This road was char- 
tered in accordance with an act passed by the legislature and approved 
