Ch. 19-1 Railroads Lead the Way

Mrs. Manley

Railroads Lead the Way

• The transcontinental railroad was soon followed by 5 others with hundreds of smaller lines branching off.

• Railroad expansion was accompanied by consolidation- the practice of combining separate companies

• Large railroad companies bought smaller ones or drove them out of business

• Railroad barons- powerful individuals who controlled the nations rail traffic & helped build the nation’s transportation network

- Cornelius Vanderbilt- James Hill

Railroads Stimulate the Economy

• Railroads carried raw materials and manufactured goods to markets

• Industries that boomed as a result of RR expansion– Steel– Lumber– Coal– Provided jobs!

Improving the Railroads

• Standard gauge tracks-same width! Allowed all railroads to use the same tracks.– Allowed faster shipment of goods– Didn’t have to unload from one train to another

Railroad Technology

• George Westinghouse- air brakes- improved stopping

• Eli Janney- car couplers made it easier to link cars

• Gustavus Swift- refrigerated cars could ship meat and perishable goods long distances

• George Pullman- railroad sleeping car; improved dining cars. “pull-man- while sleeping”

Competition- to keep customers and get new ones

• Rebates- secret discounts were offered by large RR companies. Small companies couldn’t keep up!

• Pools- secret agreements among RR barons; divided business among companies and set rates allowed higher rates/profits; tried to outlaw

Railroads Change America

• Expansion into the West• Growth of agriculture out West and

manufacturing in the East• People move from rural areas to cities• Time Zones- measure travel by hours not miles;

created a national system with 4 time zones• Opens US to settling in new areas, changes

transportation and communication