Wikipedia:WikiProject Trains/ICC valuations/Texarkana and Fort Smith Railway

Interstate Commerce Commission, Valuation Reports, Volume 75

Texarkana & Fort Smith Railway

Location and General Description of Property

The railroad of the Texarkana & Fort Smith Railway Company, hereinafter referred to as the Texarkana, is located in the states of Arkansas and Texas. Its main line extends from Mena, Ark., to the Arkansas-Texas State line, a distance of 98.838 miles; from the Arkansas-Texas State line to the Texas-Arkansas State line, a distance of 31.412 miles; from the Texas-Arkansas state line to the Arkansas-Louisiana state line, a distance of 6.420 miles, and from the Louisiana-Texas state line to Port Arthur, Tex., a distance of 47.664 miles, making a total main-line mileage of 184.334 miles. The Texarkana also owns 8.475 miles of second main track and 92.905 miles of other tracks. Its railroad embraces 285.714 miles of track divided as follows: [table]

Corporate History

On June 18, 1885, the Texarkana & Northern Railway Company was incorporated under the laws of the State of Texas with authority to build a line of railroad from Texarkana to the Red River, a distance of about 10 miles. This line was built the same year and was used for logging purposes.

On July 9, 1889, the charter was amended by changing the name to Texarkana & Fort Smith Railway Company and by enlarging the charter authority so as to permit the extension of the line north from the Red River to Fort Smith, Ark. Under this enlarged authority an additional 10 miles was constructed. On December 13, 1892, control of the company was acquired by the Arkansas Construction Company, and on May 10, 1893, the charter was again amended to provide for the construction of a line south from Texarkana through the States of Arkansas, Texas, and Louisiana to a point upon the Gulf of Mexico. Because the laws of Louisiana at that time denied the right of eminent domain to foreign corporations, the Texarkana constructed no mileage within that State. The term of incorporation of the Texarkana is 50 years.

Development of Fixed Physical Property

The initial construction took place during the year 1885, under the direction of the Texarkana & Northern Railway Company, which built 10 miles of standard-gauge logging road from Texarkana, Tex., north to the Red River. No further construction took place until the year 1889. The accounting records of the Texarkana do not go back further than November, 1894, and information is lacking as to the exact dates some sections of the line were opened for commercial operations.

The following table lists the several sections of the property as they were built and placed in operation:

From—	To—	Open for business.	Approximate mileage.
Texarkana, Tex.	Red River.	1885	10
Red River	Ashdown, Ark.	1889	10
Ashdown, Ark.	Wilton, Ark.	1892	6
Wilton, Ark.	Winthrop, Ark.	July, 1894	16
Winthrop, Ark.	Horatio, Ark.	February, 1895	8.7
Texarkana, Tex.	20 miles south [of Texarkana].	Sept. 8, 1895	20
20 miles south [of Texarkana].	Arkansas-Louisiana State line.	Apr. 15, 1896	9
Port Arthur, Tex.	Beaumont, Tex.	June 1, 1896	19.3
Horatio, Ark.	Mena, Ark.	Mar. 10, 1897	60.8
Beaumont, Tex.	Sabine River.	Sept. 11, 1897	28.7
Wilton, Ark.	White Cliff, Ark.	Jan. 26, 1897	6.323
Ruliff, Tex.	Possum Bluff, Tex.	May, 1898	1.64
			196.463

Through service on the entire line was inaugurated on November 1, 1897. On June 31, 1894, the owned mileage consisted of:

State	Main track.	Second track.	Other tracks.	Total.
Arkansas.	105.258	8.475	34.133	147.866
Texas.	79.076	......	58.772	137.848
Total.	184.334	8.475	92.905	285.714

The mileage owned extends from Mena, Ark., where the road connects with the main line of The Kansas City Southern Railway Company, south through the State of Arkansas to the northeastern corner of the State of Texas, thence south through the latter-named State along the eastern boundary line between Texas and Arkansas to a point about 6.42 miles north of the Arkansas-Louisiana boundary line, where the road again enters the State of Arkansas and continues south to the Arkansas-Louisiana State boundary line. At the latter point it connects with the main line of the Kansas City, Shreveport & Gulf Railway Company. The road again commences at the Sabine River in Newton County, Tex., and extends in a southwesterly direction into the city of Beaumont, Tex., thence south to Port Arthur, Tex., on Sabine Lake.

The Texarkana operates that portion of its property lying within the State of Texas only. The property outside of the State of Texas is operated by the parent company, The Kansas City Southern Railway Company.

The following table shows the mileage of the Texarkana operated solely, or used jointly, by other companies:

• Sole use.
  • User:
    • The Kansas City Southern Railway Company—
      • From Mena, Ark., to Arkansas-Texas State line.
• Joint use.
  • User:
    • Galveston, Beaumont & Northeastern Railway Company from Vidor, Tex., to Chaison Junction, Tex. (Also spur track from Chaison Junction to a saw mill.)
    • Memphis, Dallas & Gulf Railroad Company, from Red River, Tex., to Texarkana, Tex.
    • Beaumont, Sour Lake & Western Railway Company, from Texas-Louisiana State line to Beaumont, Tex. (Also terminal facilities at Beaumont, Tex.)
    • Sabine Tram Company, from Texas-Louisiana State line to Deweyville, Tex.
    • International Creosoting & Construction Company: Use of small portion of main track at Texarkana, Tex., for switching purposes.

The Texarkana in its operations does not use the line of any other carrier. It entered into a contract in June, 1914, for the use of the Union Terminal facilities in Texarkana, Tex.

Leased Railway Property

In June, 1914, the Texarkana contracted with the Texas & Pacific Railway Company, the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Railway Company, and the St. Louis Southwestern Railway Company of Texas for the joint use of their passenger-station facilities at Texarkana, Tex., on the basis of an annual rental of $7,500, plus 14 per cent interest on additions and betterments, and 85 cents per revenue train in excess of 12 trains daily. For the use of the tracks serving the station a charge of 65 cents for each revenue train is assessed.

The Texarkana also uses numerous minor facilities of other carriers, such as interlockers, etc., details of which are not considered as pertinent in this report.