World War II production and the subsequent postwar boom accelerated this growth so that by 1960, the valley had a population of well over one million.

The context for the LAT lead is that the boom in light trucks and sport utility vehicles has accelerated pollution because they aren't subject to the same emission and fuel economy controls as passenger cars.

This city of 300,000 inhabitants welcomed 283,000 tourists in 1999, more than double the number who came in 1995, and hotel managers say the boom is only accelerating this year.

The boom in renewables development and improvements in energy efficiency also provide new opportunities for technology trade and accelerating the transition toward a cleaner, less carbon-intensive energy mix.

As Susan Roundtree notes: "The first suburban boom accelerated during subsequent generations and established the pattern of city centre migration to the suburbs."

After 1772 the "turnpike mania" settled down in a long steady progress to an eventual 22,000-mile peak in 1836, accelerated only in the widespread speculative investment booms of the early 1790s, 1809-12 and the mid 1820s.

"Crossroads" has gone on to sell more than two million copies in this country alone, and the boom that it sparked has, if anything, accelerated.

One candidate proposes huge tax cuts that will break the budget unless the long boom not only continues but accelerates.