New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-01-07
Railroads Centering at Houston.

| Houston:
| The main trunk line of the Houston and
| Texas Central railway is now completed.
Its terminus will be Red River City, 81
miles north of Houston, where it effects
| junction with the Missouri, Kansas and
| Texas railway.
| This enterprise, originating with citizens
! of Houston and carried forward to it's sue
| cessful completion under their immediate
management, has already contributed vast
| ly to the development OF Texas. Under its
| auspices the people of Texas secure the
| first railroad connection with the people OF
| the other States Of the Union. While this
| company embraces heavy Northern capital
| lists, it is CRAFTY wing to know that among
! those now prominent in its management are
its founders, and that those who were in the
midst of its early struggles continue to in
| vest their means in it.
The central office of this opulent com
| pany, its machine shops and car works, are
| located in the city Of Houston. Its
| employees number over 1000. Besides
| the extensive grounds occupied by
| the business of the road on the north
| side Of Buffalo bayou, above the head
| of navigation, it occupies q navigable
| bayou front of about three-fourths of a
| mile, upon which tracks have been laid and
| wharves constructed, where it receives
| freight on its cars direct from barges and
| steamers communicating with vessels in the
! Gulf of Mexico. In addition to its own
| business, it has in the past year transported
| the iron and coz Struct material of the
International railway for the line from
| Hearne to Palestine, and is now engaged in
| transporting iron and construction material
| for 300 miles of the Texas Pacific railway.
| All this material has been taken direct from
| barges on Buffalo bayou.
Western branch of the Houston and
| Texas Central completed from the main
az,
lance of llJ miles. Northwestern branch
of Houston and Texas Central, completed
! from the main trunk at Bremond to Waco,
| a distance OF forty-tive miles. These two
| branches bring Houston in connection with
Austin, the State capital, and with the
| fourishiDg city of Waco. Like the main
| trunk the line of these branches is through
region famed for its fertility.
The entire length of the road completed
by this company is SOP miles. Its engineers
are now engaged on the survey of its
| northeastern branch, which will leave the
main trunk at some point north of Cor
eicana, and reach the Red river via Paris,
Lamar county.
The Central connects at Hearne with the
International, and at -- with the Texas
Pacific railway.
The Houston and Great Northern rail
way and International railway, now COM
bined under one management, with their
central office in Houston. is another of the
great railway lines radlating from Houston,
which is destined to rapidly advance Texas
in the march of progress, and secure TO
Houston a career OF prosperity as great
centre of travel and trade.
The Houston and Great Northern railway
enterprise was taken hold of in 1870 by
Northern capitalists in connection with
leading citizens of Houston. The line OF
the road is almost due north from Houston
RI ba cd Wlprp I
will secure Northern connections via the
line Of the Memphis and II Paso railway.
The main trunk has been completed some
twenty miles beyond Palestine, distance
Of l72 Ailes and will be opened to Tyler,
1872 miles from Houston, in February, 1873,
The completion to Red river is confidently
expected this year.
This road is now penetrating the richest
counties in Eastern Texas. IL has already
diverted to Houston an immense trade, for
merly tributary 10 New Orleans via Red
River, and as it approaches the northeastern
border its influence in securing to our city
close business relations with the people of
that section will be felt in marked degree.
In order to provide for its large business,
in connection with the international rail
way this road has purchased property in
the southeastern portion OF the city OF
Houston, comprising n all about sl1ay
acres. One this site are being erected the
The freight depot will be 20 feet long; pas
senger depot 800 feet long Ample room is
provided for switches, turn out, and machine
shops.
This road also occupies front OF over half
a mile on ButfIlo bayou, where its treights
are received direct from barges and
steamers It has ample wharyes, and is
providing additional warehouse facilities 10
meet the increase of its bayou business.
az arIa +Drt hta VI
of the International railway beyond Pales-
tine now goes direct from the gulf via
Buffalo bayou by this road.
The iron draw-bIidge, by which this road
crosses Buffalo bayou, is one Of the finest
structures of the kind in the South. The
bridge rests upon sandstone piers, from
the company's quarries on the Trinity river.
| The approach to the bridge is by a wrought
iron Yiaduct, resting Oh masonry of the
same character. The cost OF the bridge is
| near $4,000.
The road penetrates IN extensive lumber
region. Mills are sprlnging up along it's en-
tire line, increasing the importance of
Houston as lumber depot.
The Huntsville branch of the Houston
| and Great Northern, completed from the
main trunk at Phelps to Huntsville, the
site of the State Penitentiary. a daily
train is run from Houston to Huntsville and
| return, carrying the way freight
The International railway. now COM
bined with the Houston and Great
Northern railway under one manage
ment, embraces the construction OF q line
from the terminus OF the Cairo and Fulton
road al Fulton, Arkansas, to Marathon, OF
the Gulf of Mazatlan, Mexico, thus secur-
ing a short line to the Pacific ocean. 1t is
to cross the Rio Grande at or near Laredo.
The construction OF the road was COM
meuced at Hearne, on the Houston and
r,il 0tr,ifa
ton. 1t has been completed TO its conDec-
ton with the Texas Pacific at Longview,
distance of Ia miles. 1t connects with the
Houston and Great Northern at Palestine.
| This road brings Houston in connection with
the wealthy counties of Eastern Texas,
whose trade has go long contributed TO the
growth and prosperity OF Shreveport and
jefferson. When its Eastern connections
| are established ami the grand idea OF its
inception is accomplished by its completion
to tie Pacific. Houston will reap. large
share of the benefits which it will confer
upon Texas
The Houston and Rio Grande railway.
formerly Tap and Brazora railway, j now
owned by the Houston and Great Northern
and International Railway Companies. ].
is completed TO Columbia, BrdZOria county,
a distance of fifty miles The road pene-
trates the farfamed sugar and colt on region
of the BraBos and Caney. The road to Co
! lumbIa Is 70 be put in first class condition,
and will doubtless De extended west al an
early day. The country tributary to it is
the most fertile in Texas. Its sugar inter
est, stimulated by rumunerative prices and
easy access to market, will rapidly develop.
| The number of railroads centeriDg at Hous.
ton will afford facilities ior the distribution
Of the sugar and molasses crop. which will
induce its concentration at this point.
This road furnishes 1 Houston connection
for the Buffalo Bayou, Brazgs and Colorado
ra!LMaE. NOW comnLeted lrnm is ialntinn 10