Actually David, I believe it wqas the War itself what caused the Boom. I forget how many inventions were created out of necessity for bigger and better devices to kill people and there were more inventions to make the soldiers life more livable to. With all the inventions, you had to have investors and factories to manufacture the product.

American Politicians Democrat and Republica alike have always used some sort of War to stimulate the economy. Problem is, they never figure on the recession that follows he boom, as the recession/depression of 1873,,,,