Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume XV.djvu/704

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674 TEXAS LIXES. TBRMINI. Miles in operation in the itate. FROM TO Galveston, Harrisburg, and San An : ( Harrisburg (on the Galveston, | Luling, Caldwftll co 155 50 70 152 8 50 44 841 114 45 205 35 172 75 56 Galveston, Houston, and Henderson.. Gulf, Western Texas, and Pacific Galveston Houston Indianola.. Cuero, De Witt co Palestine (on the International) Huntsville Phelps Houston . . Columbia, Brazoria co Troupe (on the International] Mineola (on the Texas and Pacific). . Red River City Western division Austin Waco Longview (on the Texas and Pacific) Rockdale, Milam co West Liberty, Liberty co Eagle Ford, Dallas co. (192 m.) Texarkana (just across the Arkan- I Texas and New Orleans Branch Marshall

Transcontinental division -j Total Sherman (on the Houston and 1 Brookston, Lamar co 1,572 The Galveston, Harrisburg, and San Antonio railroad is in progress (1876) toward San An- tonio, and the extension of the Gulf, Western Texas, and Pacific railroad to that city is con- templated. The Houston and Texas Central railroad connects at Red River City with the Missouri, Kansas, and Texas railroad for St. Louis. The International railroad is intended to extend S. W. to Laredo on the Rio Grande. The Texas and Pacific railroad has permission by its charter to continue its line across the continent to San Diego, Cal. ; the Transconti- nental division, when completed, will extend from Texarkana to Fort Worth, Tarrant co., on the main line. The Texas and New Orleans railroad was in operation to the Sabine river previous to the civil war, during which it was nearly destroyed; it is to be repaired. The Galveston and Santa F6 railroad has been char- tered to connect those two points, and 40 m. are in course of construction from Galveston. The Texas Western railroad (narrow gauge), from Houston to San Antonio, is in progress W. from Houston. A new constitution was adopted by vote of the people, Feb. 15, 1876, which was to go into effect on the third Tues- day in April following. The executive officers are a governor (annual salary, $4,000), lieu- tenant governor, secretary of state ($2,000), comptroller of public accounts ($2,500), trea- surer ($2,500), commissioner of the general land office ($2,500), and attorney general ($2,000, besides fees not exceeding $2,000). They hold office for two years, and are all elected by the qualified voters, except the secretary of state, who is appointed by the governor and senate. The lieutenant governor is ex officio president of the senate, and in that capacity receives the pay of a senator. The legislature consists of a senate of 31 members, elected by districts, and a house of representatives of 93 members, dis- tributed among the counties. At the appor- tionment in 1880 the number of representatives may be increased to not more than 150. The representatives are elected biennially ; the sen-

  • Consolidated as the International and Great Northern.

ators hold office four years, one half being elected biennially. The sessions are biennial. Two thirds of each house are necessary to a quorum, and a two-thirds vote is necessary to overcome the governor's veto. Members of the legislature receive not more than $5 for each day's attendance, and not more than $5 for each 25 miles' travel to and from the capi- tal. The judicial authority is vested in a su- preme court, a court of appeals, district courts, county courts, and justices of the peace (in- ferior cases). The supreme court consists of a chief justice and two associates, and has ap- pellate jurisdiction of civil cases of which the district courts have original or appellate juris- diction. The court of appeals consists of three judges, and has appellate jurisdiction of crimi- nal cases, and of civil cases of which the county courts have original or appellate jurisdiction. The judges of the supreme court and court of appeals are elected by the qualified voters for six years, and receive an annual salary of $3,550 each. A district court is held twice a year in each county, having original jurisdic- tion of felonies, divorce, land titles, &c., and of civil cases involving $500 and upward, and appellate jurisdiction of probate cases from the county courts. A district judge (annual salary, $2,500 ; term, four years) is elected by the qualified voters of each of the 26 judicial districts. A county judge is elected by the qualified voters of each county for two years. The county courts have original jurisdiction of misdemeanors, probate cases, and civil cases involving from $200 to $1,000, and appellate jurisdiction of judgments of justices of the peace. The right of suffrage is conferred upon every male citizen of the United States, or per- son who has declared his intention to become such, of sound mind and not a pauper or con- vict, who has attained the age of 21 years and has resided one year in the state and six months in the county or district. Elections are by bal- lot. In elections in cities and corporate towns to determine expenditure of money or assump- tion of debt only taxpayers may vote. Gen-