The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 47, July 1943 - April, 1944 Page: 362
456 p. : ill., maps ; 24 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Southwestern Historical Quarterly
emulation. The Houston and Brazos Rail Road will have very few, if any
interests at variance with those of the Harrisburg Road, as they are pro-
jected to terminate at points on the Brazos widely apart from each other.
We wish them both the most complete success, and we have not the least
doubt, that in time both will attain it.117
The editor's expectations were correct. Roads were eventually
built along both routes but not until fifteen years later and
under different names. The Buffalo Bayou, Brazos and Colorado
Railway Company built from Harrisburg to Richmond and
the Houston and Texas Central Railroad Company from Hous-
ton to Hempstead.
On May 13 the board authorized John F. Cowan "to sell stock
in the Harrisburg and Brazos Rail Road, during the Current
year, and to purchase in exchange therefor, Locomotives, Cars,
Iron and spikes for the Rail Road, and provisions for laborers
on the same, to be delivered at such places as shall be agreed on,"
for which service he should receive a commission of ten per cent
of his sales.118 It would appear that Cowan intended to go to
the United States to sell stock and to purchase iron. Cowan
was in the United States some ten months later, but he may
have been engaged in other business.'"
The Harrisburg Town Company seemed oblivious to its in-
sufficient legal status. It had no means of forcing reluctant,
indifferent, or recalcitrant owners to sell land needed for right-
of-way. It was not until October 25 that the company took
steps to correct this deficiency. On that date DeWitt Clinton
Harris presented a form of charter for the Harrisburg Rail
Road and Trading Company, which the board approved.120 The
board then instructed the secretary to prepare a petition and to
submit it together with the charter to the Congress soon to
assemble.'2' Briscoe drew the petition and forwarded it to
Austin.
The petition of the undersigned Citizens of the Counties of Harris, Gal-
veston, and Fort Bend, respectfully showeth unto your Honorable Body.
That a Rail-Road Communication between Buffalo Bayou and the river
Brazos is an object of great moment to the agricultural and commercial
interests of said counties, and that by the construction of a rail-road from
Harrisburg on Buffalo Bayou to some point on the Brazos, your petitioners
will be particularly benefited by improving the value of property of which
they are the holders, as well as by increasing the facilities of commerce
"x7Morning Star, May 16, 2, col. 1.
u8sJournal of the Harrisburg Town Company, 98.
IsEgbert Benson Birdsall to Briscoe, March 29, 1841, in Looscan Papers.
120Journal of the Harrisburg Town Company, 100.
121Ibid.362
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 47, July 1943 - April, 1944, periodical, 1944; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth146054/m1/411/: accessed April 25, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.