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The Growth of the Railroads: Railroads Lead the Way

Large companies bought smaller companies or put them out of business ... Developed the Pullman sleeping car a luxury railway car with seats that converted into ...

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The Growth of the Railroads: Railroads Lead the Way

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    Slide 1:The Growth of the Railroads: Railroads Lead the Way

    1865-1900

    Slide 2:Railroad Expansion

    Growth of the Rail System The first transcontinental railroad was completed in 1869 By the 1890s five railway lines crossed the country. Smaller lines branched off from them. Expansion was accompanied by consolidation-the practice of combining separate companies Large companies bought smaller companies or put them out of business

    Slide 4:Railroad Expansion

    Railroad Barons After consolidation a few individuals controlled the nation’s rail traffic. They were aggressive and competitive. With few laws to regulate business, some methods used were questionable (i.e. pools). Cornelius Vanderbilt New York Central Line James J. Hill Great Northern Line Collis P. Huntington and Leland Stanford Central Pacific Line

    Slide 5:Use of Questionable Methods by Railroad Barons

    Rebates Large railroads offered secret discounts to their biggest customers Smaller railroads were forced out of business Discounts to big customers raised freight rates for farmers and those shipping small amounts of goods. Pools Secret agreement among railroad barons that set rates for a region With limited competition railroads could charge higher rates and make a larger profit.

    Slide 6:Railroads Spur the Economy

    Carried raw materials (iron ore, coal, timber) to factories and manufactured goods to markets. Spurred the growth of the iron, steel and timber industry. Railroad companies provided work for thousands of people.

    Slide 7:Improving the Railroads

    Long distance railroad travel was difficult because of the different gauges or widths of track. Trains of one line could not use another lines track. With the consolidation of companies came the adoption of a standard gauge (4’, 8.5”) Allowed faster shipment of goods

    Slide 8:Railroad Technology

    New technology improved railway transportation George Westinghouse Devised air brakes that improved the system for stopping trains. Eli H. Janey Invented car couplers making it easier to link cars Gustavus Swift Hired an engineer to develop a refrigerated railroad car. 1877 first refrigerated meat was shipped. George M. Pullman Developed the Pullman sleeping car—a luxury railway car with seats that converted into beds.

    Slide 9:Railroad Technology

    Janney Coupler Pullman Sleeping Car

    Slide 10:Railroads Change America

    American industry such as flour milling and agricultural equipment expanded west. Trains redistributed the population. Carried Homesteaders West Made it easy for people to move from the rural areas to the cities A national system of time was developed Opened up the entire U.S. to settlement and economic growth. United different regions of the country into a single network

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