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Transcontinental Railroad
The development of the Transcontinental Railroad was a major boost for the economy at the time. It aided in distribution of materials and goods from one part of the country to another. It also impacted the labor force by employing workers in the building and operating process of the railroads, as well as employing those from companies who supplied the materials needed to build.
UTA History Department, “The New Industrial Order” lecture.
(Photo) SFMuseum, 1868 -
Electric Trolley
The Electric Trolley,invented by Frank Sprague in Richmond, VA, played an integral part in intracity transportation. As the cities continued to grow, so did the need for transportation to and from work, shops, and housing in the city. As an inexpensive and rapid mode of transportation, it encouraged Americans with financial means to move to the outskirts of the city, away from the congestion and noise.
P. Scott Corbett, et al., U.S. History, (Houston:OpenStax, 2016).
(Photo) Brown Brothers, 1917 -
Boston Subway
As a response to overcrowding in the cities and the issue of pedestrian traffic, underground subway transportation came into being. Since space was a problem in the cities and skyscrapers were going up, it only made sense to take transportation underground. The subway was just another convenient way for citizens to get around the city in a timely fashion without having to maneuver through the crowds.
Corbett, et al., U.S. History, 545.
(Photo) Boston Public Library, August, 1897 -
First Airplane
As time evolved, so did means of transportation. We went from ground transportation, to water transportation, to air transportation. The Wright Brothers are responsible for inventing the first powered aircraft in NC. Flying eventually changed the way people traveled to and from distant destinations.
“Inventing a Flying Machine,” Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum, accessed June 22, 2017, https://airandspace.si.edu/exhibitions/wright-brothers/online/fly/1903/
(Photo) Smithsonian,1903 -
Ford Automobile's
On this date, Henry Ford from Michigan produced his 5,000,000 automobile. Automobiles had been around for several years; however this was the time when more consumers were in a better position financially to be able to purchase a vehicle. Automobiles gave people the opportunity to travel further distances and provided more jobs for others.
Henry Ford, My Life and Work, (New York: Doubleday, Page, & Co, 1922), accessed June 22, 2017, http://www.1920-30.com/automobiles/henryford/beginning.html -
Ethyl Gasoline
Ethyl Gasoline was produced by two General Motors scientists in Ohio. The significance of this gasoline in the transportation industry was to alleviate the knocking sound that engines made. This gas became popular among consumers and was used for aviation purposes as well. It wasn’t until 1986 that this gasoline was proven not to be ecofriendly.
“Ethyl Anti-Knock Gas,” American Oil & Gas Historical Society, accessed June 22, 2017, http://aoghs.org/products/tetraethyl-lead-gasoline/
