The wiring of America
Article Abstract:
Barbed wire was used in the US from 1874 to define boundaries as settlers and stockmen extended across the US. There are 749 varieties of the wire listed, and a newsletter, periodical and 13 associations are dedicated to barbed wire. Stones and trees were scarce as settlers went west, and plain wire allowed animals to pass. Prices dropped from 1884 as markets became saturated, and law firms became rich from patent disputes. Barbed wire helped arable farmers to use land where stockmen had previously grazed cattle, and common land disappeared, while herds became sedentary.
Publication Name: The Economist (UK)
Subject: Business, international
ISSN: 0013-0613
Year: 1998
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
Doing it differently: wiring corporate Japan
Article Abstract:
The networking revolution that started in the US has spread to Japan, and Japanese companies may realize greater productivity gains than US firms. But the transition in Japan faces several obstacles, the most significant being a shortage of information professionals.
Publication Name: The Economist (UK)
Subject: Business, international
ISSN: 0013-0613
Year: 1997
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
- Abstracts: The man who sang America: Whitman died 100 years ago. A sobering view: Dylan Thomas. End of an auld sang?
- Abstracts: The warder of the nation. Fidel's world: don't underestimate it
- Abstracts: An ill wind: America's insurers. Taking on the world: Zurich Insurance. Minding the store: Sears Roebuck
- Abstracts: The swallows of space. Le plutot possible: planetary exploration. Big decisions
- Abstracts: Retreating: Armenia and Azerbaijan. Yet it moves: Armenia. The aftermath: Armenia