A thumb-nail history of the city of Houston, Texas, from its founding in 1836 to the year 1912 Page: 62

62 A THUMB-NAIL HISTOBY OF
Oak bridge. It is utterly impossible to estimate the
value of goods and produce that have passed over
these bridges. For years everything grown in Texas
for the outside markets was brought to Houston
over them, while all goods and groceries shipped
to the interior went out by the same routes. In time
the Preston bridge became of chief importance, because
the section north of Houston became more
rapidly developed and the trade was consequently
immense in that direction.
Of course when the railroads were built, the
bridges were no longer needed for the purpose for
which they were originally built, but by that time
the city had grown and extended so that the bridges
became equally as necessary for intercommunication
between the various section of the city as they had
been for communication with the interior of the
State. More bridges became necessary and more
were constructed until now there are half a dozen
passenger bridges and numerous railroad bridges
spanning Buffalo Bayou, while an immense bridge
is being constructed at the foot of Main street so
as to connect with the Fifth Ward.