The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 67, July 1963 - April, 1964 Page: 609

Book Reviews

The situation on the frontier was daily becoming more ominous.
Lamar's poor judgment in sending out the Santa Fe Expedition in the
summer of 1841 unleashed a chain of events that brought the first
significant body of Mexican troops into Texas since the battle of San
Jacinto and made the year 1842 the most exciting one in the frontier
history of Texas since the decisive events of the spring of 1836.
This account of the Texas-Mexican relations from 1836 to 1841
will make possible a fresh approach to Texas history. But do not
do the rewrite yet; wait for the next two volumes.
LLERENA FRIEND
The University of Texas
History of Lubbock. Edited by Lawrence L. Graves. Contribu-
tors W. C. Holden, Seymour V. Connor, Merton Dillon,
Sylvan Dunn, David Vigness, Winfred Steglich, Harry
Walker, Mrs. Winifred Vigness, and Lawrence L. Graves.
Lubbock (West Texas Museum Association, Texas Techno-
logical College), 1962. Pp. xv+692. $1o.oo.
How does one account for the making of a city? When human
geography was studied and taught that question was commonly
asked. About such places as New York, Chicago, and San Fran-
cisco there are standard answers. But how does one account for
Lubbock, "the Hub City," which has doubled in population dur-
ing several recent decades, presently claims some 150,000 people,
and still is growing so rapidly that when I visit it I have to go
to the old Court House Square to get my bearings and inquire
for directions several times before arriving at my destination.
The authors of this most impressive study do not claim to know
the answer to the question posed, but they have made a most satis-
fying examination of their city, both of its past and present, one
which may well serve as a pattern for the study of a hundred
other cities.
Lubbock, Texas, had its beginning in 189o, with the merging
of three rival townsite groups. And this good beginning may
represent one explanation of the way the city has prospered, that
is, the ability of people to work together and to give a share of
their time to public affairs. The town had the usual pangs and
problems of prairie dog communities. As late as 1911 it sought
to maintain its streets by a "road tax," which meant in fact road

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