| From the Houston Telegraph |
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| April 16, 1861 |
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| The railroad progress is
promising. The completion of the Washington County Road to Brenham,
and the {Houston & Texas} Central to
Millican's is looked upon as a vast advantage to the country. Every
mile of road now laid down on these routes benefits the country
largely more than the previous mile. It is a fact, in the history of
the Central road, that at 50 miles it did three times the business it
had the first 25 miles, and at 70 miles six time the business. At 82
miles we may expect it to see its business increased at least 30 per
cent. over that of 70 miles. The increase of business, of course,
shows the advantage to the country. The road is now complete to
Millican's, except some finishing, and trains will begin to run on the
22d instant. There is a considerable grade now nearly ready for the
iron beyond Millican's. |
| The Texas & New Orleans
Road is working along, and bids fair to be ready for the cars by the
1st proximo. All Texas is looking anxiously forward to the opening of
this route, truly regarding it as the most beneficial enterprise in
the State of any yet inaugurated. The total amount of railroad
completed in the State now is 425 miles, of which 370 are in
connection with this city. We observe no little talk about the
Southern Pacific Railroad. A very striking commentary on the affairs
of that Company is furnished by the fact that, while the charter for
that road was obtained at about the same time with the charters for
the principle other roads, and while more money has been spent on it
than all the other Texas roads together, these other roads have now
near 400 miles in operation, while the S. P. R. has less than 30! and
while that road has been proclaimed as a Pacific enterprise, and has
had the heaviest aid of the government, it has now less than 30 miles,
beginning and ending, comparatively nowhere, while the roads
connecting with Houston, there wants now but a gap of ??? miles to
make a continuous road from New Orleans, on the best route to the
Pacific, near 400 miles, or one-third of the distance to Guaymas, and
one-fifth of the distance to San Diego! Of this there are now 160
miles in Texas completed. |
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