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As a condition to constructing the line, Yoakum's
syndicate required the donation of land, called a bonus, to
collateralize the investment. Brownsville was also
required to donate $40,000 cash and 60-70 acres within the
City limits for the depot grounds. In addidon to the Kings,
Kenedys, Driscolls, and Armstrongs, principal land donors
included Agnes Browne, James Landrum, and Frederick J.
Combe. Charles B. Combe, Frederick J. Combe, and James L.
Landrum also worked to raise the bonus required of
Brownsville. On June 6, 1903, they attended a meeting at
which the following resolution, introduced by Lon C. Hill,
was unanimously adopted:
"Whereas, The building of the proposed St. Louis,
Brownsville and Mexico railroad into the Rio Grande river
valley will gready enhance the value of our property, and
open up and develop our country as one of the great garden,
fruit and rice sections in the Southwest, and will insure
speedy passenger and freight transportation; therefore, be
it resolved that we, the citizens of Brownsville in meeting
assembled, say that the bonus must, shall and will be raised
for said road."
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Believing that the bonus would be raised (and it was),
Yoakum officially launched the venture by filing the
corporate charter with the Secretary of State on June 6,
1903. As finalized, the route intersected the Tex-Mex
approximately 16 miles west of Corpus Christi in a pasture
owned by Robert Driscoll. At first, the point of
intersection with the Tex-Mex was named Mile Post 145, since
it was 145 miles from Brownsville. It was decided that phase
one would begin at Mile Post 145. (Corpus Christi would
access the new railroad via the Tex-Mex., and via the S.A.
& A.P on the north when phase two reached that line). On
July 2, the names selected for the depot sites were
announced. The railroad officials renamed Mile Post 145
"Robstown" after the owner of the pasture. Other depots
included Kingsville, Sarita, Raymondville, Harlingen, and
Olmito.
Construction began on July 28, 1903, when grading of the
roadbed began. Sam Robertson (1867-1938) won the subcontract
for the building of trestles and bridges and laying the
track. Robertson's track laying crew reached Brownsville on
June 7, 1904. The railroad officially inaugurated passenger
service to Corpus Christi on July 4, 1904. Passenger service
to Houston began on April 19, 1908.
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