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San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railway

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San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railway
Overview
Reporting markSA&AP, SAAP
LocaleTexas
Dates of operation1886–1934
SuccessorTexas and New Orleans Railroad
Technical
Track gauge4 ft8+1⁄2in(1,435 mm)standard gauge

TheSan Antonio and Aransas Pass Railwayfirst began operation in the U.S. state ofTexasin 1886. It was developed by Uriah Lott and businessmen ofSan Antonioas a direct route from the city toAransas Bayon the TexasGulfcoast.[1]It was eventually absorbed in the 20th century bySouthern Pacific.

Background[edit]

Uriah Lott,a transportationentrepreneur,engaged his friendsRichard Kingand contractorMifflin Kenedyin development of three railroad lines in Texas to improve connections from major cities to smaller ones, and to trading areas in Mexico. TheCorpus Christi, San Diego and Rio Grande Narrow Gauge RailroadconnectedCorpus ChristiandLaredo.TheSt. Louis, Brownsville and Mexico Railwayran fromHoustontoBrownsvillethrough theRio Grande Valleyand related stops.[2]

Supported by businessmen fromSan Antonio,the San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railway was developed to connect San Antonio withAransas Bayon Texas'Gulfcoast, where adeepwater portwas being developed.Lott, Texaswas named in the developer's honor.[2](After damaginghurricanesin the early 20th century, the USArmy Corps of EngineersdesignatedCorpus Christito be the deep-water port in this area.)

Line history[edit]

The San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railway Company was incorporated in 1884, to fulfill the need for a direct railway route from San Antonio to Mexico.Augustus Belknapbecame president of the company's board of directors, all of whom were also the primary investors, which included William H. Maverick, Edward Stevenson, Edward Katula, Daniel Sullivan, A. J. Lockwood, and George H. Kalteyer, all businessmen based in San Antonio,[3][4]George Polk was the surveyor. With no progress upon completion of Polk's survey, Belknap was replaced by Lott as president of the board. He gained support in the state legislature from RepresentativeMifflin Kenedy.Construction began in 1885, and the first train rolled out on the line in 1886. The railroad went into receivership in 1890. The receivership was lifted in 1892 after a corporate reorganization wherebySouthern Pacificacquired the majority of the stock.[3]

As Section 5 ofArticle X of the Texas Constitutionprohibited common control of parallel railroads, in 1903, theSouthern Pacific Railroadwas sued by theTexas Railroad Commission.Southern Pacific lost the lawsuit and was compelled to divest itself of ownership of the San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railway. In 1924, a change in statutes allowed Southern Pacific to regain control of the railway.[3][5][6]In 1934, the Southern Pacific consolidated the San Antonio and Aransas Pass into theirTexas and New Orleanssubsidiary road.[7]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^See Allhands, J. L. "Gringo Builders." (Iowa City, Clio Press)(1931).
  2. ^abAllhands, J. L."Uriah Lott".Handbook of Texas Online.Texas State Historical Association.Retrieved10 January2012.
  3. ^abcYoung, Nancy Beck."San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railway Company".Handbook of Texas Online.Texas State Historical Association.Retrieved10 January2012.
  4. ^"TSHA | San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railway".
  5. ^"SAAPHistory".SAAP.Archivedfrom the original on 12 September 2006.Retrieved10 January2012.
  6. ^Young, Nancy Beck."San Antonio, Uvalde and Gulf Railroad Company".Texas State Historical Associationon-line.RetrievedApril 28,2013.
  7. ^Hemphill,Hugh."San Antonio Uvalde and Gulf Railroad".Texas Transportation Museum.RetrievedDecember 6,2021.

External links[edit]

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