A History Of The Texas Railroads And Of Transportation Conditions Under Spain And Mexico And The Republic And The State

S. G. REED

Publication: The St Clair Publishing Co, 1941, Houston

First edition. Limited edition numbered and autographed by the author. Copy 467. Original blue cloth, gold stamping on front cover and spine, limitation plate affixed to front paste-down sheet, x, 822 pp., foreword, tables, postscript, index. Basic Texas Books 169 says, "One of the most comprehensive studies of the railroading history of any state, this is by far the best on Texas railroads. Eugene C. Barker called it a 'truly remarkable book... no less than an encyclopedia ... a readable encyclopedia for the most part ... of the railroad transportation history of Texas .... The author reveals comprehensive knowledge of the problems of federal and state legislation regulating rail transportation and a sympathetic understanding of social, economic, and political conditions back of such legislation. He does not exculpate early management from common charges of disregarding public interest, but he does defend [Texas] railroads against more or less conventional general charges of public exploitation. For example, the long chapter on Land Grants and Other Aids ought to be required reading for economists and historians who persist in interpreting the past in terms of the present, often partisan terms of the present." Gilt on spine lightly faded, former owner's inked name on front free fly leaf, else a very good, tight copy.

Inventory Number: 52554