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Book Review of The Harvey Girls: Women Who Opened the West

The Harvey Girls: Women Who Opened the West
hardtack avatar reviewed on + 2701 more book reviews


I always wanted to know more about the Harvey restaurants and the people who worked in them. So I was glad to find this book posted here. While the history of the chain was often in chronological order, the personal reminiscences of the people who worked were often jumbled.

The thing I found most interesting was the contract between the Harvey chain chain and the Santa Fe railroad, in respect to what they were to do to support each other, was a simple handshake. It is amazing how well that worked.

I've often thought letting our extensive railroad system go to pot was one of the worst business decisions our country ever made. Just energy-wise, railroads are one of the most efficient transportation systems ever developed.