The Present Texas Railway System. 
71 
1859, changed the name to the T. & N. 0. R. R. Work began on this 
line in Houston in 1858 and by August, 1860, it was completed to 
Liberty, 40 miles. By January 1, 1861 it was in operation to the Sabine 
river at Orange. It was partially destroyed by the Confederates in 1865 
and was not entirely rebuilt and operated again until 1876. On August 
1, 1876, it was reopened for traffic from Houston to Orange. 
The charter for the T. & N. 0. R. R. was amended May 23, 1882, to 
provide for a line from Sabine Pass north to Marshall. The Sabine and 
East Texas Railway was acquired, which was in operation from Sabine 
Pass to Rockland, 103 miles. This road was originally chartered under 
the name of the East Texas Railroad on April 29, 1880, which was 
amended to S. & E. T. Railway on August 3, 1881. By an act approved 
May 22, 1899, the T. & N. O. R. R. was authorized to purchase and con- 
solidate with the Texas Trunk Railroad from Dallas to Cedar, about 50 
miles, and extend same to connect with former S. & E. T. Ry. at Rock- 
land. The T. & 1ST. O. R. R. operates at present about 216 miles. The 
system received land donations from the State amounting to 1,226,880 
acres. 
International and Great Northern Railroad. — This line was formed by 
the consolidation of the Houston and Great Northern Railroad with the 
International Railroad, which it succeeded. 
The Houston and Great Northern R. R. was chartered October 22, 
1866, from Houston north to Red River, intersecting the line of the 
Texas and Pacific Railway at Clarksville. By 1871 50 miles were in 
operation north of Houston, and by January 1, 1872, the road was com- 
pleted to Trinity, 88 miles. The line was opened to Palestine, 150 
miles, in November, 1872. The Huntsville Branch Railroad, which was 
chartered April 4, 1871 and built in 1872, and the Houston Tap and 
Brazoria Railroad, which, as before stated, was purchased in 1872, were 
consolidated with the II. & G. N. R. R. by act approved May 8, 1873. 
The International Railroad was chartered August 5, 1870, from the 
Red River opposite Fulton, Arkansas, via Austin and San Antonio, to 
the Rio Grande at Laredo. Work began at Ifearne in 1870 and the line 
was built to Jewett,. 50 miles, in 1871. It was completed to Palestine, 
90 miles, by February 1, 1872, and was in operation to Longview by 
December of same year. The state at first granted the company bonds to 
the amount of $10,000 per mile, for which were afterwards substituted 
the usual land grant of 16 sections per mile. In addition to this the 
road was exempted from taxation for a period of 25 years. 
Under the provisions of an act approved September 23, 1873, the In- 
ternational and Great Northern Railroad was incorporated with 
authority to purchase and consolidate the PI. & G. N. R. R. and the I. R. 
R. under this title, and extend latter, etc. The branch from Troupe 
