POLI 100K, Railroads and American Politics: Topic 2,
American Politics, Economics, and Business prior to the Railroads: 1800 - 1830
The Railroads Eclipse the Canals
By 1840 there was about 3000 miles of railroad trackage in the United
States – almost the same mileage as the canals. By the Civil War about
$1.2B (1909 $$) had been invested in the railroads of which about 25 to
30 percent was government funds. By 1849 freight receipts exceeded
passenger receipts.
