Texas Trivia (Port Arthur, West, Anna: dental, roaches, job)

[jtur88]

How about Sierra Blanca, then?

[CptnRn]

Originally Posted by jtur88

How about Sierra Blanca, then?

That looks like the correct answer to me, based on this history recounted here: History of the T&P

Track laying began at Fort Worth on April 1, 1880, and the rails reached Sierra Blanca on December 16, 1881. Dodge had constructed 520 miles of track west of Fort Worth, winding through twelve counties inhabited principally by Indians, prairie dogs, and coyotes. During 1880 the company also resumed construction of its Trans-Continental Division from Sherman west to Fort Worth, ninety miles, which was placed in service on May 9, 1881. By the end of 1881 the Texas and Pacific had 1,034 miles of main track in Texas. In the meantime, the California-based Southern Pacific Railroad Company had constructed a line to the Colorado River across from Yuma, Arizona Territory, where it was to meet the Texas and Pacific. However, Collis P. Huntington and his associates decided not to wait and continued to build eastward, reaching El Paso in May 1881. They had acquired an interest in the Galveston, Harrisburg and San Antonio Railway Company and, under its charter, reached Sierra Blanca ahead of the Texas and Pacific. In its construction east from Yuma, the Southern Pacific occupied the line surveyed and designated by the Texas and Pacific as its right-of-way. This resulted in suits being filed against the Southern Pacific by the Texas and Pacific for possession of the line between El Paso and Yuma. The dispute was settled by the "Gould-Huntington Agreement" of November 26, 1881. Under terms of this agreement the Texas and Pacific was to build no further than Sierra Blanca, ninety-two miles east of El Paso. The two systems would use the line to El Paso jointly, forming one continuous line to the coast. The Texas and Pacific relinquished its property rights and franchises west of El Paso to the Southern Pacific. The agreement also provided for pooling, harmonious operation, and for the cooperation in the building of new lines. All of the provisions except that for the joint trackage have been nullified by subsequent laws. The Texas and Pacific later unsuccessfully tried in the courts and before the Interstate Commerce Commission to secure a one-half interest in the joint track.

[Sandstorm214]

Originally Posted by jtur88

How about Sierra Blanca, then?

Yes. You got it.

Sierra Blanca, Texas.

[jtur88]

What 20-mile section of paved state-numbered highway ceased to exist a couple of decades go, and is now a roadless wilderness?

[jtur88]

I'll throw out some hintage:

The section of this road disappeared on October 15, 1989. It is now shown as a blank space in the Rand McNally road atlas, but the Texas state road map still ambitiously labels it "temporarily closed".

[CptnRn]

Would that be Texas Highway 87 near Gilchrist?

Figure 7.5 shows Texas Highway 87 along the east Texas coast of the Gulf of Mexico destroyed by shoreline recession. A twenty-mile stretch of this highway along the coast is now closed. It has been closed since 1989 when a storm caused significant pavement damage. Four-wheel drive access is permitted now but is not feasible when tides are high.

[jtur88]

That's it. Washed away by the tide during a hurricane, east of High Island, heading toward Port Arthur.

[CptnRn]

Originally Posted by jtur88

That's it. Washed away by the tide during a hurricane, east of High Island, heading toward Port Arthur.

Next question: During the construction of that highway a forgotten piece of Texas history was found. What was found and what did it help us remember?

[SteelBubble]

Originally Posted by CptnRn

Next question: During the construction of that highway a forgotten piece of Texas history was found. What was found and what did it help us remember?

I'm going to take a wild stab at this and test my luck.

During the construction of I-10, we found an artifact from Santa Anna's army that commemorates Texas' independence.

[jtur88]

You said during the construction of THAT highway. If you meant the High Island section of 87, I'd guess it had something to do with Jean Lafitte.