By 1912, Lubbock citizens wanted sidewalks in parts of the city so they didn't have to walk in the mud. Here, downtown Lubbock in 1909 boasted some of the town's earliest sidewalks, but the streets were still dirt.

Action lags on need for more sidewalks

1912 It has been mentioned a number of times heretofore about the great need of more sidewalks. We have not spoken hastily on this subject. We have waited patiently for some action on the part of the proper authorities, but it seems that nothing is being done at this time along this line.

The sidewalk question is very well cared for around the square and to the Santa Fe Depot, and it is a wonderful improvement over the old way of wading in water knee deep to get to the depot when the weather was wet. There is a great need of additional walks on some of the lead streets and to do without them means a great inconvenience to the general public. Every lead street out from the square should have walks at least on one side of them. South Cedar street should have a walk from the Western Windmill Company's store south far as the tabernacle and North Cedar street should have at least two blocks of walks north from the Tremont Hotel. West Broadway should have a walk as far as the west line of the original town section, as a large percent of the people live in the western part of the town and a walk on the north side of Broadway would prevent having to wade water to get to and from town. This portion of the needed walks is important because of the needs of the school children. When it is wet weather it is a hard proposition to get to the school building, and the church going people are at a disadvantage too. Walks on the streets as suggested would largely overcome the difficulties at the present time, and we believe that it should be done right away.