The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 60, July 1956 - April, 1957 Page: 574

Southwestern Historical Quarterly

public administration may be properly considered only in its
relationship to the social forces which bring it into existence, and
in the light of "the impact of administration on the course of
events." Five chapters, each by a different author, present "case
studies" in the fields of oil, gas, banking, river development, and
corporate investigations in support of the editor's thesis.
Patently, this book will be of interest to students of public
administration; but with the presentation of a challenging thesis
for the study of public administration, and five lucid, scholarly,
informative essays in support thereof, it should interest any
public spirited citizen. Inasmuch as two of the five essays are
devoted to Texas agencies, this book will appeal especially to both
professional and non-professional students of the history and
political experience of Texas.
Chapter I, "Administrative Control of Petroleum Production
in Texas," by York Y. Willbern, University of Alabama professor
of political science, considers the Texas Railroad Commission as
"the chief agency controlling oil production in the United States."
Professor Willbern lays his groundwork with a discussion of the
physical conditions of oil deposits and their production, the
problems posed by conflicting property rights, waste of oil re-
sources, the theory and practice of conservation, and possible
remedies, chiefly, unit operation of oil fields.
The author then proceeds to examine the Texas Railroad Com-
mission in the light of the need for regulation of oil production,
and the demand, notably that of the oil industry, for public
regulation.
Chapter IV, "The Lower Colorado River Authority," by Comer
Clay, professor of government at Texas Christian University, is
devoted to an analysis of "a relatively unpublicized method of
river development, the state river authority. ... " The initial sec-
tions of Professor Clay's essay describe the various factors behind
the demand for development of the Colorado River. Such factors
include a compelling necessity for flood control, and the de-
sirability of impounding water for domestic and industrial uses,
irrigation, and for the generation of hydro-electric power.
Professor Clay continues with an account of private efforts to
develop the Colorado, their failure, and the legislative and social

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