Texas Incorporation Acts

In December 1863, the Confederate state legislature attempted to encourage manufacturing in the state by promising public land grants to persons or corporations who erected machinery. The act was later amended slightly in November 1864.

See also Handbook of Texas entry on Civil War Industry.

This is a list, drawn from the Texas Almanacs and Gammel’s Laws of Texas, volume 5, of acts of incoporation passed by the state legislature as “special laws” at that time and thereafter:

Ninth Legislature

Regular Session, November-December 1861/January 1862

Chap.	Corporation	County	Capital Max.
6	Southern Cotton Press		1,000,000
22	Texas Powder Company	Bexar	20,000
24	Texas Manufacturing Co.		250,000
97	Texas Lead Mine Co.
115	Fort Bend Manufacturing Co.		200,000

Extra session, February and March, 1863

Chap.	Corporation	County	Yrs	Capital Max.
4	Comal Manufacturing Company		25	500,000
5	Jackson Manufacturing Co.		25	200,000
10	Texas Paper Manufcturing			50,000
12	Texas Iron Company	Marion/Davis	25	1,000,000
13	Texas Lead and Copper		20

Tenth Legislature

Summary of iron manufacturing charters by jewett2002, p. 171:

The tenth legislature passed legislation that incorporated nine companies for the purpose of manufacturing iron and other metals and established specific guidelines for their operation. Although each company’s charter varied in wording, fundamental elements existed in each incorporation. The legislature required each company to elect a board of directors from among the stockholders. In most cases, board members were required to own more than one share of stock. The financial control that the legislature levied on incorporated companies varied from charter to charter. Stock for these companies ranged anywhere from one hundred dollars per share to one thousand dollars per share, with limits on total stock ranging from a minimum of one hundred thousand dollars to $5 million. Though these values differed with each company, in every case the legislature established clear guidelines on the value of stock and the amount that board members were required to own. Such stipulations were geared toward ensuring a personal stake from entrepreneurs in hopes of securing successful operations.

Jewett adds that to encourage such incorporations, the legislature provided for the granting of 320 acres of land for every $1,000 worth of machinery erected for manufacturing by March 1865, though his main point is that this shows the dedication of Texas legislature to the state’s long-term economic prosperity rather than the wartime needs of the Confederacy.

Regular session, November-December 1863

Chap.	Corporation	County	Yrs	Capital Max.
6	Sulphur Fork Iron Company	Davis	20	800,000
11	Waco Manufacturing Company		20	500,000
19	Rusk County Iron Company	Rusk	90	5,000,000
27	Comal Oil Company		20	100,000
28	East Texas Manufacturing Co.	Marion	25	200,000
29	Poluxy & Brazos		25	50,000
31	Hempstead Manufacturing Co.	Waller	20	300,000
33	Brazos Manufacturing Co.		25	2,000,000
37	Chappell Hill Manufacturing	Cherokee	25	1,000,000
38	Bastrop Iron Manufacturing		20	200,000
41	Washington Iron Manufacturing			200,000
45	Trinity Manufacturing Co.		25	500,000

Extra session, May 1864

Chap.	Corporation	County	Yrs	Capital Max.
2	Cherokee Furnace Company	Cherokee	25	1,000,000
5	Beaver Iron Manufacturing	Anderson	10
7	Dallas Manufacturing Co.	Tarrant?	25	200,000
9	Trinity Mills Manu. Co.	Dallas	20	200,000
10	Star State Machine Manu. Co.			5,000,000
11	Fall of Brazos Manu. Co.	Falls		100,000
14	Independence Manu. Co.		20	200,000
15	Texas Copper Manu. Co.			100,000
16	San Marcos Cotton and Woolen		20	200,000
17	Comal Springs Manu. Co.		20	800,000
21	Tyler County Card & Machine		25	300,000
22	Guadalupe Manufacturing Co.		20	500,000

Extra session, November 1864

Chap.	Corporation	Yrs	Capital Max.
5	Bastrop Cotton & Wool	20	200,000
12	Houston Paper Mill Manu.	20	100,000
15	Houston City Mills Manu.	25	500,000
19	Holly Spring Manufacturing Co	20	500,000
21	Austin Iron Company	25	1,000,000