OUR REGIONAL INDUSTRIES: Their Beginnings and Growth

The title suggests a national survey, a sort of condensation of the Men at Work in *** series; rather, this is a compilation of anecdotal accounts of businesses formerly and/or currently connected with a particular location, one chapter to each. The accounts vary in length and stretch: some provide a brief historical background, some detail developments, some cover present as well as past. Least interesting are the best-known industries -- oil in Oklahoma, automobiles in Detroit, meat-packing in Chicago; more suited to the fragmentary, personalized treatment are the sports -- sponge-fishing in Florida, brewing beer in Wisconsin, making cigars (Tampa, Florida) and musical instruments (Elkhart, Indiana). Even as a Handy Homework Helper this gives off as much hot air as solid fact, but if the industries attract...