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The Development of Transportation The Development of Transportation Infrastructure in 19Infrastructure in 19thth Century America Century America

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Public vs. Private: The Internal Improvements Public vs. Private: The Internal Improvements DebateDebate

In 1800, the United States was geographically In 1800, the United States was geographically large but with a small population.large but with a small population.

Other than population centers, much of the Other than population centers, much of the infant United States was largely uninhabited.infant United States was largely uninhabited.

The vast expanses of wilderness made The vast expanses of wilderness made transportation difficult in a time before railroads.transportation difficult in a time before railroads.

In 1808, Secretary of State Albert Gallatin In 1808, Secretary of State Albert Gallatin issued issued Report on Roads, Canals, Harbours, and Report on Roads, Canals, Harbours, and RiversRivers, a paper which advocated the , a paper which advocated the construction of a national system of construction of a national system of transportation infrastructure, funded by the tariff, transportation infrastructure, funded by the tariff, to promote economic activity and provide for to promote economic activity and provide for better defense.better defense.

The War of 1812 shelved Gallatin’s plan, but it The War of 1812 shelved Gallatin’s plan, but it was reintroduced in 1817 by South Carolina was reintroduced in 1817 by South Carolina Senator John C. Calhoun.Senator John C. Calhoun.

Calhoun’s internal improvements bill passed Calhoun’s internal improvements bill passed Congress by a bare majority, but was vetoed by Congress by a bare majority, but was vetoed by President James Madison who contended that it President James Madison who contended that it was not the place of the federal government to was not the place of the federal government to build a transportation network.build a transportation network.

Because of Madison’s veto, the responsibility Because of Madison’s veto, the responsibility of building transportation infrastructure fell to of building transportation infrastructure fell to the individual states, which resulted in uneven the individual states, which resulted in uneven development.development.

Albert Albert GallatinGallatin

President President James James MadisonMadison

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Robert Fulton and the SteamboatRobert Fulton and the Steamboat On 7 August 1807, Robert Fulton On 7 August 1807, Robert Fulton

launched the steamboat launched the steamboat Claremont Claremont on the Hudson River for a trip on the Hudson River for a trip between New York City and Albany.between New York City and Albany. The The Claremont Claremont completed the 150 completed the 150

mile trip in just over 32 hours, an mile trip in just over 32 hours, an astonishing speed against the astonishing speed against the current for the time.current for the time.

Although the Although the Claremont Claremont was not the was not the first steamboat, it was the first first steamboat, it was the first steamboat that was economically steamboat that was economically viable.viable.

By 1811, Fulton’s had taken the By 1811, Fulton’s had taken the steamboat to the Mississippi River steamboat to the Mississippi River and, in 1819, the Savannah crossed and, in 1819, the Savannah crossed the Atlantic Ocean on a combination the Atlantic Ocean on a combination of steam and sail.of steam and sail.

The introduction of steam power The introduction of steam power meant that transportation was no meant that transportation was no longer reliant on animals, wind, and longer reliant on animals, wind, and currents.currents. The ClaremontThe Claremont

"What sir, would you make a ship "What sir, would you make a ship sail against the winds and current sail against the winds and current by lighting a bonfire under her by lighting a bonfire under her deck? I pray you excuse me. I have deck? I pray you excuse me. I have no time to listen to such nonsense." no time to listen to such nonsense." Napoleon I to Robert FultonNapoleon I to Robert Fulton

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The Erie CanalThe Erie Canal Before the invention of the railroad, the Before the invention of the railroad, the

only practical means of moving heavy only practical means of moving heavy objects around the country was by objects around the country was by water.water.

This proved an impediment to This proved an impediment to commerce as the two major American commerce as the two major American ports, Baltimore and New York, were ports, Baltimore and New York, were not served by rivers.not served by rivers. This meant that goods had to be This meant that goods had to be

offloaded from barges and carried offloaded from barges and carried overland to the port for shipping.overland to the port for shipping.

In 1817, months after Madison vetoed In 1817, months after Madison vetoed the internal improvements bill, New the internal improvements bill, New York began construction of a canal to York began construction of a canal to link New York Harbor with the Hudson link New York Harbor with the Hudson River and the Great Lakes beyond.River and the Great Lakes beyond.

When the canal was completed in When the canal was completed in 1825, the cost of transporting one ton 1825, the cost of transporting one ton of wheat across New York fell from of wheat across New York fell from $100 to $5. A journey that had taken $100 to $5. A journey that had taken 20 days could now be competed in 10.20 days could now be competed in 10.

Though improved, the Erie Canal Though improved, the Erie Canal remains in operationremains in operation

The Erie Canal circa 1829The Erie Canal circa 1829

In its first year of operation 185,000 tons of In its first year of operation 185,000 tons of merchandise was moved on the Erie Canal. This merchandise was moved on the Erie Canal. This included 562,000 bushels of wheat, 221,000 barrels of included 562,000 bushels of wheat, 221,000 barrels of flour, and 435,000 gallons of whiskey.flour, and 435,000 gallons of whiskey.

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The Baltimore and Ohio RailroadThe Baltimore and Ohio Railroad In 1827, the Baltimore and Ohio In 1827, the Baltimore and Ohio

became the first railroad in the U.S. became the first railroad in the U.S. chartered to carry passengers and chartered to carry passengers and freight.freight.

The railroad had not yet been The railroad had not yet been invented when the Erie Canal was invented when the Erie Canal was built.built.

Designed to link Baltimore Harbor Designed to link Baltimore Harbor with the Ohio River, the B&O with the Ohio River, the B&O eventually covered the Eastern eventually covered the Eastern seaboard and reached as far west as seaboard and reached as far west as Chicago and continued operation Chicago and continued operation until 1986.until 1986.

In 1830, there were 23 miles of In 1830, there were 23 miles of railroad in the United States. By 1840 railroad in the United States. By 1840 it had increased to 2,808 miles of it had increased to 2,808 miles of track. By 1860, 30,626 miles of track track. By 1860, 30,626 miles of track had been laid in the United States.had been laid in the United States.

The Tom Thumb, the first The Tom Thumb, the first locomotive on the B&O Railroad.locomotive on the B&O Railroad.

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Railroads and the Civil WarRailroads and the Civil War

President Madison’s 1817 President Madison’s 1817 veto of the internal veto of the internal improvements bill left the improvements bill left the development of development of transportation infrastructure transportation infrastructure to the various states. This to the various states. This led to wide disparities in led to wide disparities in transportation networks transportation networks between states.between states.

The industrialized Northern The industrialized Northern states generally had greater states generally had greater need for transportation and need for transportation and more resources to invest more resources to invest than did the agricultural than did the agricultural Southern states.Southern states. At the outbreak of the war, At the outbreak of the war,

the Northern states had the Northern states had roughly 20,000 miles of rail roughly 20,000 miles of rail while Southern states had while Southern states had only 9,000 miles.only 9,000 miles.

A Mayan CalendarA Mayan Calendar

Map of American railroads in 1851. Note the disparity Map of American railroads in 1851. Note the disparity between the North and the South.between the North and the South.

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Sherman’s March to the SeaSherman’s March to the Sea In 1864, Union General William Tecumseh In 1864, Union General William Tecumseh

Sherman launched an attack at the South’s Sherman launched an attack at the South’s ability to wage war.ability to wage war.

With an army of 100,000 men, Sherman With an army of 100,000 men, Sherman entered the South destroying the industrial entered the South destroying the industrial and transportation network.and transportation network.

The South did not have enough soldiers to The South did not have enough soldiers to both hold the front and resist Sherman, so both hold the front and resist Sherman, so Sherman was able to march through the Sherman was able to march through the South largely unopposed.South largely unopposed. Sherman’s army would tear up railroads Sherman’s army would tear up railroads

and heat the rails over a bonfire until they and heat the rails over a bonfire until they could be bent them around a tree trunk or could be bent them around a tree trunk or telegraph pole. This would weaken the telegraph pole. This would weaken the metal and make the rail unusable. The metal and make the rail unusable. The resultant twisted metal was called a resultant twisted metal was called a “Sherman’s Necktie.”“Sherman’s Necktie.”

Sherman burned Atlanta, the major Southern Sherman burned Atlanta, the major Southern rail hub and Charleston, a major Southern rail hub and Charleston, a major Southern port. port.

With the loss of their transportation network, With the loss of their transportation network, the Confederacy was unable to supply its the Confederacy was unable to supply its army in the field. This hastened the end of army in the field. This hastened the end of the war.the war.

““That a single stem of railroad [from That a single stem of railroad [from Louisville to Atlanta], 473 miles long, Louisville to Atlanta], 473 miles long, supplied an army of 100,000 men and 35,000 supplied an army of 100,000 men and 35,000 animals for a period of 196 days . . . . That animals for a period of 196 days . . . . That amount of food and forage would have taken amount of food and forage would have taken 36,800 wagons of six mules . . . each day, a 36,800 wagons of six mules . . . each day, a simple impossibility . . . in that region of the simple impossibility . . . in that region of the country.”country.”General William T. Sherman, “Memoirs,”General William T. Sherman, “Memoirs,”Written during the Atlanta CampaignWritten during the Atlanta Campaign

An example of a An example of a “Sherman’s “Sherman’s Necktie”Necktie”

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Mississippi River SteamboatsMississippi River Steamboats

With the success of the With the success of the Claremont Claremont on the Hudson River, in 1811 Robert on the Hudson River, in 1811 Robert Fulton brought the Fulton brought the New Orleans New Orleans to the Mississippi.to the Mississippi.

The steamboat quickly came to dominate commerce on the Mississippi. The steamboat quickly came to dominate commerce on the Mississippi. Soon after their introduction, the cost of transporting one ton of Soon after their introduction, the cost of transporting one ton of merchandise from New Orleans to St. Louis had fallen from $23 to $13, a merchandise from New Orleans to St. Louis had fallen from $23 to $13, a price that would further decrease as technology improved and more price that would further decrease as technology improved and more boats plied the waters. Between 1814 and 1834, the number of boats plied the waters. Between 1814 and 1834, the number of steamboats docking in New Orleans each year increased from 20 to 1200steamboats docking in New Orleans each year increased from 20 to 1200

By the end of the Civil War, railroads had largely supplanted steamboats.By the end of the Civil War, railroads had largely supplanted steamboats. Mississippi River steamboat culture is chronicled in the writings of Mark Mississippi River steamboat culture is chronicled in the writings of Mark

Twain.Twain.

Steamboats waiting at a dockSteamboats waiting at a dock

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Steamboat Wrecks Steamboat Wrecks 1919thth Century Steamboats were, by Century Steamboats were, by

any standard, incredibly dangerous.any standard, incredibly dangerous. Their wooden construction was Their wooden construction was

vulnerable to objects in the water vulnerable to objects in the water and fire.and fire.

The boilers necessary to power the The boilers necessary to power the ship often exploded with enough ship often exploded with enough force to reduce the boat to force to reduce the boat to splinters. splinters.

On 27 April 1865, the boilers on the On 27 April 1865, the boilers on the steamboat steamboat Sultana Sultana exploded near exploded near Memphis, killing 1,547 passengersMemphis, killing 1,547 passengers—more people than died on the —more people than died on the Titanic.Titanic. Most of the people killed on the Most of the people killed on the

Sultana Sultana were freed Union were freed Union POWs returning home from the POWs returning home from the war.war.

A new Steamboat was only A new Steamboat was only expected to remain in service for a expected to remain in service for a few years before being destroyed.few years before being destroyed.

A map of steamboat wrecks found in A map of steamboat wrecks found in only 160 miles of the Missouri River.only 160 miles of the Missouri River.

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The Transcontinental Railroad The Transcontinental Railroad The transcontinental railroad was the greatest The transcontinental railroad was the greatest

technological achievement of the 19technological achievement of the 19thth Century. Century. Stretching 1800 miles from Omaha to Stretching 1800 miles from Omaha to

Sacramento, the railroad allowed the complete Sacramento, the railroad allowed the complete integration of the western states into the integration of the western states into the Union.Union.

The transcontinental railroad created The transcontinental railroad created western cities such as Omaha and western cities such as Omaha and Denver.Denver.

The path of the original line is closely The path of the original line is closely mirrored by Interstate 80 today.mirrored by Interstate 80 today.

The railroad was built by two companies; the The railroad was built by two companies; the Union Pacific and the Central Pacific which Union Pacific and the Central Pacific which received a payment from the federal received a payment from the federal government for every mile of track completed.government for every mile of track completed.

The Central Pacific had a much more The Central Pacific had a much more difficult path, having to blast through the difficult path, having to blast through the Sierra Nevada Mountains.Sierra Nevada Mountains.

An unknown number of people, An unknown number of people, primarily Chinese immigrants were primarily Chinese immigrants were killed in blasting accidents due to the killed in blasting accidents due to the unstable explosives of the time.unstable explosives of the time.

The flood of white settlers the railroad The flood of white settlers the railroad enabled doomed the Plains Indians.enabled doomed the Plains Indians.

The railroad cut the cost of traveling to The railroad cut the cost of traveling to San Francisco by 90%.San Francisco by 90%.

The completion of the transcontinental railroad near The completion of the transcontinental railroad near Promontory Point, Utah, 1869.Promontory Point, Utah, 1869.

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Panama CanalPanama Canal By the turn of the century, French efforts to By the turn of the century, French efforts to

build a canal through Panama faltered build a canal through Panama faltered primarily due to technological limitations primarily due to technological limitations and malaria.and malaria.

In 1904, the United States, viewing a canal In 1904, the United States, viewing a canal as essential to the economy sought to take as essential to the economy sought to take up construction.up construction.

Panama was, at the time, part of Columbia. Panama was, at the time, part of Columbia. The Columbian government, realizing the The Columbian government, realizing the economic necessity of the project for the economic necessity of the project for the United States, demanded a large cash United States, demanded a large cash payment to resume construction.payment to resume construction.

Rather than pay the Columbians, the United Rather than pay the Columbians, the United States engineered a revolution to make States engineered a revolution to make Panama an independent country.Panama an independent country.

To discourage Columbian interference To discourage Columbian interference with the revolution, a U.S. Navy with the revolution, a U.S. Navy gunboat was stationed off of the coast.gunboat was stationed off of the coast.

On the same day that Panama declared On the same day that Panama declared independence, it granted the United States independence, it granted the United States the right to construct the canal.the right to construct the canal.

The Americans succeeded where the The Americans succeeded where the French failed because of improvements in French failed because of improvements in canal technology and quinine, a cure for canal technology and quinine, a cure for malaria.malaria.

When the canal was competed in 1904, a When the canal was competed in 1904, a ship traveling from San Francisco to New ship traveling from San Francisco to New York could save 8,000 miles from its York could save 8,000 miles from its journey.journey.

Boats building the Panama CanalBoats building the Panama Canal

Over 30 years of construction between the Americans and Over 30 years of construction between the Americans and French, 80,000 laborers worked on the canal, 30,000 of whom French, 80,000 laborers worked on the canal, 30,000 of whom died.died.

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MultimediaMultimedia CitationCitation

Slide 1: http://www.historylink.org/db_images/bjwp01.JPG Slide 2:

http://www.columbia.edu/itc/law/witt/L6213/images/lect9/fx04_james_madison_2.jpg and http://waysandmeans.house.gov/legacy/portraits/highoff/gallatin.jpg

Slide 3: http://library.thinkquest.org/4132/steamship.jpg and http://www.quoteworld.org/quotes/9298

Slide 4: http://www.history.rochester.edu/canal/images/1.jpg Slide 5: http://www.americaslibrary.gov/jb/nation/jb_nation_train_1_e.html Slide 6: http://history.sandiego.edu/gen/maps/1800s/1851railroads.jpg Slide 7: http://ngeorgia.com/images/shermannecktie.jpg Slide 8: http://www.yale.edu/terc/democracy/may1text/images/Steamboats.jpg Slide 9:

http://www.riverboatdaves.com/Maps/Mo_River/steamboatwrecks_missouririver1.jpg Slide 10: http://americanhistory.si.edu/ONTHEMOVE/collection/object_370.html Slide 11: http://web.umr.edu/~rogersda/umrcourses/ge342/SS%20Ancon%20first

%20transit%20Panama%20Canal.jpg