The Railroad, the Telegraph, and Other Technologies by Xina M. Uhl

Author:Xina M. Uhl
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Britannica Educational Publishing

This map from 1892 shows the route and connections of the Union Pacific railroad across the United States.

Grain, Goods, and Monopolies

The coast-to-coast rail system had a profound effect on the US economy. Towns could now grow in places other than coasts and waterways because they had efficient transportation. Food and manufactured goods could be distributed nationally. Train cars specially outfitted with ice transported meat, milk, and other goods. Farmers from the Midwest and West could send wheat and other grains to eastern ports, where ships could carry them across the world.

For rail travel and shipping to be efficient, it was essential to know the precise times of arrivals and departures. However, until the 1880s, towns used their own local times, which caused great confusion. On November 18, 1883, the major US and Canadian railroads adopted a time system called Standard Railway Time (SRT), which was used for all rail operations in North America. Many cities soon passed ordinances to create standardized time zones based on the railroads’ train schedules.

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