Transportation Development Quotes
While all the benefits of building the Trans-Continental Railroad that were claimed for the public during the Congressional debate turned out to be untrue, many of them were sincerely believed by the Congressmembers and special interests who advocated them. Not only were the benefits claimed unreal in practice, but none of the negative consequences were anticipated. (The destruction of the great Buffalo herd, and the huge foreign immigration were just two.) At the same time, the true benefits were also unanticipated. (The development of the telegraph system of the nation and the standardization of time zones in the country are two of these.) It is a profound historical example of unanticipated consequences, both good and bad, of government policy and programs.
Bonnycastle was one of the earliest visionaries of a transcontinental railroad. The Canadian version however was constructed after the United States.
In America that had almost happened as the farmers were at the mercy of the railroad monopoly in any one area.
The notion of government subsidies to private companies that performed valuable pubic services—public-private partnerships was used extensively by Clinton and was one of reasons that New York developed faster than the other Colonies. At the formation of America, Virginia and Pennsylvania were much bigger and wealthier states than New York. In large part, Clinton led the rapid growth and development.
