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∞cknowledgments Virtually all of the facts, figures, and events presented in this history were assembled —inevitably and unapologetically—from secondary sources during 2000 and 2001. This book would simply not exist without the often spectacular research contributions made by hundreds of historians, scholars, observers, and government archivists over the decades (and even centuries). Fortunately, virtually all of these research materials were readily available at the libraries of the University of Texas at Austin—an awesome group of archives that include the Benson Latin American Collection, the Center for American History, Perry-Castaneda and the specialty libraries of the Engineering, Geology, Architecture and Planning, Law, and Public Affairs departments. Other important materials were derived from the excellent holdings of the Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) Travel Division Library, Texas State Library and Archives , Texas General Land Office, Texas A&M University at College Station, Texas State University at San Marcos, The Laredo Planning Department, Universidad Autónoma de Zacatecas, Austin Public Library, San Antonio Public Library , Laredo Public Library, and the Morton Museum of Cooke County. Many thanks to the highly professional and consistently helpful staffpersons employed at each of these library sites. I would also like to single out Miguel A. Pavon’s deft cartography, Sally E. Antrobus’s copyediting skills, and Anne L. Cook’s stewardship of TXDOT archives and lore; their talents have helped to improve the quality of this book greatly. Last but not least, I would like to thank the Erlichman family for their unflagging encouragement throughout. Careful readers will discover that ample doses of existing scholarship have been interwoven in an attempt to achieve greater accuracy or to enhance narrative flow. To reflect a process through which published research has been blended with the author’s own interpretation and analysis, many of the source notes should probavii bly be viewed more as bibliographical sources than as independent references to specific facts and figures. The collection, occasional revision, and repackaging of existing information is the sole responsibility of the author; any errors are inadvertent and will, I hope, be corrected in later editions. viii ∞cknowledgments ...

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