Port Expansion
Although the port of Texas City had had difficulty in attracting shipping business from the Midwest as originally envisioned by its early investors, A.B. Wolvin developed trading interests with Mexico to ship sisal, cotton and fruit through Texas City's port (Benham, 1987). Wolvin hired Hugh Moore, a young businessman from Tennessee, to manage the terminal facilities, handle land sales and market the project. The Mexican government established a consul at the port of Texas City, and Pierce Oil, which held oil fields in Mexico, was considering building an oil refinery in the area.
Land Planning
Texas City was started as a planned community, and remained that way for many years. Land that fronted the ocean or the port areas were reserved for transportation, port use, or industry. Land for industrial sites was offered without charge and wharf fees were waived in an effort to draw business away from neighboring ports such as Houston and Galveston (Benham, 1987). Unlike other local communities in the area, lots were platted.
Texas City Improvement Company
The Texas City Improvement Company provided water and sewer capacity, regulated property sales, encouraged development of community institutions such as churches and schools, and put in some infrastructure such as electricity, sidewalks and shelled roads. The restrictions on the property use and sales formed the basis for later zoning ordinances for the young community (Benham, 1987).