The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 105, July 2001 - April, 2002 Page: 530
741 p. : ill. (some col.), maps, ports. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Southwestern Historical Quarterly
dents encountered during the actual construction of the railroad. The author is
often at his best when describing the changing conditions of climate and terrain
that affected the history of this stretch of railroad. He details, for instance, the
various successive efforts to bridge the Pecos River and notes the changes occa-
sioned by wind, water, and newer technology that enabled the Southern Pacific
to shorten the actual distance of the line during the twentieth century.
The author also discusses with interest and enthusiasm many of the villages
along the right-of-way: abandoned communities such as Haymond and
Pumpville, the great train robbery that occurred near Comstock, the colorful
presence of Judge Roy Bean's influence at Langtry, and the primary impor-
tance of the railroad in the development of towns such as Sanderson, Hondo,
and Valentine.
The author's knowledge of and enthusiasm for this subject make this slim but
handsome volume a reliable addition to the scholarship of transportation in
Texas. It is a volume that should be appreciated by scholars of transportation
history, rail fans, and the general reader and is highly recommended by this
reviewer for inclusion in the collections of both academic and public libraries,
especially those libraries with an emphasis on regional history and the history of
land transportation in Texas.
Miami University, Hamilton, Ohio JACK RHODES
From Prairie to Planes: How Dallas and Fort Worth Overcame Politics and Personalities to
Buzld One of the World's Biggest and Busiest Airports. By Darwin Payne and
Kathy Fitzpatrick. (Dallas: Three Forks Press, 1999- PP- 317. Appendix, end-
notes, index. ISBN 1-893454-003. $28.oo, cloth.)
From Prairie to Planes examines the history of the DFW Airport. The book's sub-
title, How Dallas and Fort Worth Overcame Politics and Personalities to Build One of the
World's Biggest and Busiest Airports, illustrates the biggest obstacle to construction
of a regional airport. Until finally forced by the federal government, the persis-
tent rivalry between Dallas and Fort Worth prevented any cooperation. Only
after federal intervention did the two cities reluctantly collaborate in the build-
ing of a state-of-the-art institution.
The book opens with the roles of Dallas and Fort Worth in the early history of
aviation. Both cities possessed municipal airports before 1930 and worked to
stay ahead of the other in the growing industry. However, even from the earliest
days, many thought that Dallas and Fort Worth should instead concentrate on
an airport to serve both cities.
In the 1940s, some began to seriously consider the idea of an inter-city airport
but Dallas viewed most proposals with the darkest suspicion. Love Field, the
city's municipal airport, remained very busy while Fort Worth's Amon Carter,
opened between the two cities in 1953, suffered from its inception. Many Dallas
leaders believed any joint project helped Fort Worth while threatening Love
Field. However, the tremendous growth in aviation demanded larger facilities
and Love Field was increasingly enclosed. After years of arguments and resis-January
530
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 105, July 2001 - April, 2002, periodical, 2002; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101222/m1/574/: accessed April 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.