The Inland Empire: Unfolding Years 1879-1929

by John Fahey

This is the first cohesive narrative of the major economic and social themes of the emergence of the Inland Empire as an integrated region.

328 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1986

Reviews

[Steven Shook · Rating 3 out of 5]

John Fahey provides an thematic overview of the development of a region in the Pacific Northwest. The following industries are covered in the book: logging and lumber, transportation, mining, wheat growing, fruit, and banking. While titled The Inland Empire: Unfolding Years, 1879-1929, the vast majority of the book concerns Washington, and in particular the Spokane and Yakima areas. There is scant coverage of North Idaho outside the mining region between Coeur d'Alene and Wallace. Those interested in the historical development of Eastern Washington would enjoy this book.

The presentation of the material was made in a dissertation sort of format - each chapter focused on a different industry. The book presents a considerable number of facts, but in a very dry presentation style. Perhaps the book would have been more engaging if it was presented in a timeline progression format. A time-oriented format would have allowed the author to weave the development of the industries together, which seems more appropriate since they were dependent on one another to a significant degree.