Transportation

You are late to a very important business meeting at work, what is the quickest way for you to get there? Today we walk into the garage and take our own cars to work. However, the quickest way to get to work in the 1880s was to hop on a train.

Advancements in technology began to make traveling on a train more comfortable. In 1880, railroad companies began to use steam heat and electric lights. Around this time there were an abundance of problems in the railroad industry. Although they were improving the machinery and making production faster and more efficient, the workers were on strike. This caused the owners to slash wages and caused many workers to lose their jobs. The now higher cost to run the railroads caused many companies to work together and share equipment to save money and increase their profit.

Soon after the workers well publicized strike, a bicycle craze began. People began to use bicycles for recreation as well as alternative to traveling on the train. The method used to produce bicycles was later used to manufacture automobiles. Also during the protest by the train workers, drudge boats became an important use for shipping.

The advancements of the transportation industry help progress the city. These advancements encouraged innovation, culture, and entertainment. The transportation industry also opened the door to new technology such as streetlights, networks, and sewage systems.