The Lubbock avalanche. (Lubbock, Tex.) 1909-1922, 1920-01-22
AND STILL CITY Of LUBBOCK CROWS
IT'S GROWTH STARTED IN EARNEST WITH THE ADVENT
OF THE FIRST RAILROAD INTO. OUR LITTLE CITY
THE BUILDINGS ARE MODERN AND SubsTANTI TIAl
Many Public Buildings Have Been Erected Splendid Residences
Grace Many Principal Building Sites Over the City, Also
Fine Sanitsriums, Church and School Buildings.

Prior 10 1909 Lubbock was truly
the example Of the proverbial wide
spot IN he road. II was little in
land trading point with population of
less than 900 but even IN those days
when freighters hauled all the mer.
chandise TO the city and frcighted
the products out Lubbock was recog-
nized as the principle trading city
In 1909 the first steam engine
moved into Lubbock bringing with II
The outside woods ideas Of pro-
greSsive business and its coterie oil
merchants business men and hangers
ons The first year the city increas-
ed 70 a population OF 1000 making
strides ahead Of any other city on
the new railroad. With the railroad
came building. Homes were erected.
business blocks were put up to
house the new business institutions
and to care for the increasing trade.
The city was in hustle and bustling
with business. Today the population
is over 5000 showing that the
growth and development was substan-
tial and has increased steadily during
the ten years that the railroad has
been here.
In the growth and development Of
a new city II is appropriate that the
writer govern its stages OF growth IN
periods of ten years eacn. Taking
that as a criterion Lubbock is today
facing its second period Of growth
and development OF course Il u
not anticipated that this growth will
be as phenomenal az the last ten
=. . .sfa cat
tAire IS no logical reason why IN
1880 this city should not have pop
ulation OF $4,000.
Reyerting back 10 the history Of
building and building operations the
reader may get some idea Of the pos
sihilities for the future The build
.ng prior to 1912 was the usual con
sructlon Of business blocks 20 meet
the emergency. the building Of new
residences and similar buildings. In
1913 however. just three years after
the advent Of the railroad more sub
s1antial buildings were started and
in 1915 the building fever was given
a great impetus ny the erection of
the West Texas Sanitarium on the
OvcrtOn Saniiarium This j. n three
story, modern. substantial brick
structure erected at an approximate
cost Of $4,000 The following
year camo the Lubbock Sanitanum,
an Institution which would do credit
20 any city west Of the Mississippi,
and which draws patronage from All
the territory west Of the Mississippi.
This building WIS erected at a cost
Of approximately Sf25.O00 and is
fhe essence Of advancement and de
valopment along this line Modern
ir every respect the citizens Of Luh-
b1ck and the Plains country are just
ly proud of n and the men responsl-
bic for its erection During the last
year the city school district has eX-
pended Si5, 900 IN the erection Of
two new school houses. brick IN ma
terial. and modern and far above
state regulations which IS partly re-
sponsibe for Lubbock maintaining
school system ciassed as the best Of
any city rs size in the State One. ~
the most up to date and modern
county government buildings 10 be
found anywhere in the State OF Tex
as was completed last year This
modern building. in the center Of the
square in the heart Of the business
district. surrounded by beautiful
park and shade trees. was erected at
cost Of approximately si30,000.
In 1917 the Methodist congregation
erected church edifice which is inn
posing and handsome and which cost
in the neighborhocd Of $4,000. The
county expended sos. 200 for sly new
brick school buildings in the rural
districts within the last year.
These buildings mentioned above
are among the more important struc-
lures which have been erected which
does not include several extremely
modern business blocks. banks and
mercantile establishments. two large
wholesale houses and numerous resi-
dences. Some Of these residences
costing as high as $4,000. A sig
nificant fact IS that this building was
not done under the auspices Of a