history dallas history dallas texas united_states documents city rapid growth emergence major center transportation trade finance originally small community built agriculture convergence railroads city strategic location expanding industries time dallas prospered grew populous city texas lavish steel masonry structures replaced timber constructions airport established conversely city suffered multiple setbacks recession series failing markets disastrous flooding spring shift industry shift manufacturing heavy industry dallas formed partially problems hurting dallas area cotton farmers purchasing supplies credit year farmers owed merchants crop price lowered high shipping costs port galveston worldwide cotton prices low created hoped help farmers setting dallas warehouse ship cotton refused finance warehouse venture failed months little manufacturing dallas city began light streets gas lamps began brick dirt lanes telephone came dallas linking water company fire station lit electricity opened zoo state dallas annexed geographically larger city making populous city texas panic following national financial panic numerous business failed including local banks cotton prices cents pound lumber flour markets weakened city began recover grow restored growth skilled workers joined trade unions granted charter dallas coordinate local activity prevent disputes opened west city annexed year wilson building patterned paris opened main street downtown turn century dallas leading wholesale market entire products important world center cotton trade led world manufacturing cotton machinery entered 20th century dallas built major presence banking insurance progressive reform sought improve municipal government changes commission system city planning controls interests white business residential districts protected expense blacks lived segregated neighborhoods explores changing assumptions city planning government city leaders dissatisfied development endorsed centralized planning wrote secured adoption new charter set board commissioners commission structure caused government officials view city separate parts 1920s supporters comprehensive planning calling program included adoption council manager government policy public funds improvements parks schools city streets voters approved bond proposals charter amendments dallas achieved coordinated government theoretically aware city needs able treat needs equally benefit city self image city fathers originally depicted dallas southern order slavery opposition reconstruction discouraged northern investment political support wealthy northern migrants city 1870s dallas leaders portrayed city southwestern later order incorporate wealthy non southern whites including jews society example seven brothers built successful businesses developing railroad lines including department store occupied numerous city state government posts white blue collar workers mexican americans blacks gender women establish fundamental elements social structure city focusing energies families schools churches city pioneer days organizations created modern urban scene founded led middle class women voluntary organizations club work connected city national cultural social trends 1880s women suffrage movements shifted boundaries private public life dallas pushing way politics social issues advocates woman suffrage drew educational advertising techniques national parties lobbying tactics women club movement tapped popular culture successfully popular symbolism traditional ideals adapt community festivals social gatherings task political developed suffrage campaign based social values community standards community social occasions served recruiting opportunities suffrage cause radical implications familiarity customary events dressing values traditional female behavior especially women color usually operated separately leader civil rights movement dallas focused working black youths organizing vanguard protests segregation practices texas flood relationship dallas healthy hoped dallas establishment banks trinity hopes navigation south trinity ultimately gulf_of_mexico realized attempts river proved futile plans transform river canal came fruition trinity suffered chronic flooding floods occurred severe flood reached depth feet width miles people died left homeless property damages estimated million dallas power days telephone telegraph service rail service canceled way reach boat hit harder city said suffering plagued area horror residents thousands livestock drowned flood lodged tops trees decay hung city water subsided flood control disastrous flood city wanted find way control reckless trinity build bridge linking dallas immediate reaction citizens city build weather crossing trinity attempted following flood result long wooden bridge connected oak cliff dallas unstable wooden structure washed swiftly away flood publisher proposed miles concrete bridge similar crossing kansas_city ultimately bond election approved houston street opened festivities drawing spectators bridge time longest concrete structure world efforts begun city created plan trinity city plans included divert river removing railroad lines pacific avenue consolidating train depots central station new parks widening streets plans lay later years began importance brought update plan 1930s plans realized financial center efforts began georgetown relocate dallas school refused action brought dallas attention voted establish university dallas city offered acres km2 land campus opened operational today dallas location eleventh regional branch city campaigned located dallas years bank arrival assured dallas place major financial center constructed downtown dallas style building stories feet tallest building texas time officially opened october august story petroleum building opened door took title tallest texas aviation popular topic world war love field established aviation training ground home camp dick training facility city purchased love field use municipal airport
History of Dallas (1874–1929)