The river of the West Book

Personally I found this book created the seminal event that influenced the remaining course of my life; both as a lifelong resident of Washington State, and particularly as an Aquatic Scientist. My work has caused me to travel many parts of Washington State that Timothy Egan mentions in this book, so in many ways Egan and I are kindred spirits. Between this work and the book: "King of the Fish" by David R. Montgomery, I gained insight into the workings of man that I'd never know without this information.

As an aside, I stumbled upon some interesting information when Egan mentioned the real-estate transaction that occurred between railroad tycoon James J Hill, and lumber magnate George Weyerhauser. Among strange coincidences I was reading another book about my family history that spoke of my ancestors living on 16 Summit Ave in St. Paul, Minnesota, just a couple blocks away from the Hill (240 Summit) and Weyerhauser (266 Summit) residences. Without spoiling the plot, my relatives lived in St. Paul a few years after the transaction that transformed the shape of the northwest (and the country), no wonder the deal was announced in January 1900.

In addition, Egan helps to expose the dark side of the political divide splitting the east and west portions of this State. This can be explained in part by the former Idaho governor who once declared that the only water he'd allow to flow west would only be a potato! It also explains the amazing facts behind the grime holiday homicide of a Seattle family that could only be attributed to a seriously misguided form of politics.

This book should be required reading if you want to live in Washington State.