Houston, Tap and Brazoria Railway Company
Houston, Tap and Brazoria Railway Company
- Only one piece available...
- Inventory on the way
Product Details
Company | Houston, Tap and Brazoria Railway Company |
Certificate Type | Capital Stock |
Date Issued | Unissued, circa 1800's |
Canceled | No |
Printer | Crawford & Williams of New York |
Signatures | NA |
Approximate Size |
11" (w) by 6 3/4" (h) |
Product Images |
Show the exact certificate you will receive |
Authentic | Yes |
Additional Details | NA |
Historical Context
The Houston Tap and Brazoria Railway Company was chartered on September 1, 1856, to run from Houston to Columbia in Brazoria County, with the right to also construct a line from Columbia into Wharton County. The road was authorized to acquire and took part of its name from the Houston Tap Railroad, which was begun earlier in 1856 by the City of Houston to connect the municipality with the Buffalo Bayou, Brazos and Colorado Railway Company.
Construction of the city's railroad began on April 7, 1856, and the 6½-mile line opened on October 21, 1856. In June 1858 the Houston Tap and Brazoria bought the city owned road for $130,000 in stock and a loan of $42,000 to be made once the railroad received its loan from the Special School Fund. The City of Houston was responsible for the interest and repayment of the principal on the $42,000. In 1859 the Houston Tap and Brazoria was extended to Sandy Point and in 1860 opened to East Columbia for a total of fifty miles of line. The railroad was built for a cash outlay of less than $13,000 per mile, as plantation owners were allowed to work out their stock subscriptions by having their field hands build much of the grade.
The railroad also completed a grade and several bridges in Wharton County and requested bids for a draw bridge to be built across the Brazos, but the outbreak of the Civil War ended all hopes of expansion.
Called the "Sugar Road," the line served the prosperous plantation region of Brazoria County. However, the economic disruptions resulting from the Civil War and its aftermath impacted the railroad. By the late 1860s the track had deteriorated to such a point that only infrequent service was attempted. On February 6, 1869, it was bought at a sheriff's sale by William J. Hutchins of Houston for $500. Its debt, including principal and interest, to the Special School Fund amounted to $402,000, which was secured by a first mortgage lien. On August 15, 1870, the legislature authorized the governor to sell the road. It was bought on July 21, 1871, by Masterson and Wagley of Houston for $130,000. Texas lost $272,000, the only loss sustained by the state from the Special School Fund on loans made to railroads. Masterson and Wagley resold the railroad to Moses Taylor, who represented the Houston and Great Northern Railroad Company. On September 11, 1871, Governor Edmund J. Davis executed a deed to the road to Taylor, the only instance on record in Texas of a railroad tracing its title to the state. The Houston Tap and Brazoria was merged into the Houston and Great Northern on May 8, 1873. The railroad was colloquially referred to as the Columbia Tap. Although line was never extended, it subsequently served as the original Houston entry for both the Galveston, Harrisburg and San Antonio and the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway companies until these railroads build their own lines into the city. It later was also used by the Sugar Land and the Houston and Brazos Valley Railway Companies to reach Houston.
Related Collections
Additional Information
Certificates carry no value on any of today's financial indexes and no transfer of ownership is implied. All items offered are collectible in nature only. So, you can frame them, but you can't cash them in!
All of our pieces are original - we do not sell reproductions. If you ever find out that one of our pieces is not authentic, you may return it for a full refund of the purchase price and any associated shipping charges.
FAQ
Are the certificates offered on your site genuine or reproductions?
All of the certificates you see on our site are genuine pieces, we do not sell any reproductions.Are the certificates you sell negotiable on any of today's stock markets or indexes?
No. All of the pieces we sell are either canceled or obsolete and have collectible value only.
Are the images presented in your product listings of the exact piece I will receive?
It depends. We try to present images of the exact piece you will receive whenever possible. However, when we are offering quantities of a piece, this is impossible. Within every product page we detail whether or not you will be receiving the exact certificate listed, or if the image is a representative example of the one you will receive.
How will you ship my order and how much do you charge?
We ship all orders via the United States Postal Service. Most domestic orders are shipped via Ground Advantage. USPS International, Priority and Express Mail, UPS and DHL services are also available, and costs are calculated during checkout. Current charges may be reviewed here.
Can I return my purchase?
Absolutely. You may return any merchandise, for any reason, within 30 days of the purchase date for a full refund of the purchase price.
We guarantee all of our pieces to be authentic. If you ever determine that a piece is not authentic, it may be returned for a full refund of the purchase price as well as any associated shipping charges.
Shipping Information
If your order exceeds $35, and the shipping address is within the United States, shipping via USPS Ground Advantage is FREE!
We make every effort to ship out all orders within 24 hours of receipt.
We ship the majority of orders via the USPS, with domestic orders using the Ground Advantage service.
Shipping is calculated during checkout. Upgraded services such as Priority and Express Mail, as well as UPS and DHL options, are also available.
As soon as your order is shipped you will receive your tracking information via email.
OVERSEAS ORDERS PLEASE NOTE THAT WE DECLARE FULL ORDER VALUE ON ALL SHIPMENTS. CUSTOMER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL VAT/CUSTOMS CHARGES.
Returns
Our goal is to make sure every item you receive is exactly what you had in mind. If you not happy with your purchase, we’ll help you get it sorted in a timely and professional manner.
You can return anything we offer for an exchange, refund or store credit within 30 days of delivery. Return shipping costs may apply, and the item must be in its original condition and packaging.
Any shipping charges collected on the original order are not eligible for a refund.