This paper will discuss the effects of transportation changes on Americans between the year 1800 and 1839. It is well known that moving from one place to another is in the nature of mankind. Even the modern man can be said to be still leading a nomadic life up till today. Man\u2019s intelligence and the continuous process through which man has adapted to his surroundings have been reflected in changes in the means of transportation and the improvements in transportation methods throughout history. In America, there were some changes in the mode of transportation between 1800 and 1839, and this affected the American people in various ways.<\/p>\n
Nowadays, transportation and communication are usually treated in different contexts.\u00a0 However, during early 1800\u2019s, long distance communication was very much dependent upon transportation.\u00a0 During that period, transportation was synonymous to communication, and the growth of transportation directly affected the developments in communication to a great extent.\u00a0 During the 1800\u2019s the \u2018pony couriers\u2019, a means of transportation as well as communication, influenced the history of transportation in America.\u00a0In order to appreciate the changes in transportation during that period, it is necessary to analyze the process under the then prevailing circumstances, and gain an understanding of transportation methods and processes back then. There were various means of transportation in America during the 1800\u2019s, including Steam Boats, Horses and the use of Public Ferry<\/p>\n
Transportation includes transportation of people, goods, and even animals.\u00a0 Transportation in sea or waterways was developed comparatively even before 1800.\u00a0\u00a0 Later after the invention of steam boats, they were the primary means of transportation by sea and inland waterways.\u00a0The commercial steam boat services started in 1807, transporting cotton, sugar, and passengers.\u00a0 Transportation of the agricultural and industrial commodities strengthened the economy of the country.\u00a0 Within few years steam boar services grown very fast, catering to the development of the economy, and a news article is given below.<\/p>\n
Natchiz, Jan 2: Important Arrival \u2013 Arrived here on Monday last, the Steam-Boat from Pittsburgh which had\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6 as a regular trader She was only 921 hours underway from Pittsburgh to this place a distance of near two thousand miles.\u201d\u00a0[1<\/a>]<\/span>\u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0It was only the inland transportation, which remained primitive on account of the slow pace of technological development, relying mainly on horses, mules and asses. Animals like horses, mules and asses were the means of transportation in the early days, and continued throughout the period, and thereafter also.\u00a0 \u00a0 Only a careful analysis of the newspapers of this period in the history provides glimpses of the status of transportations prevailed in those times.<\/p>\n During the 1800\u2019s it was normal to come across the advertisements in newspapers, a sample of which is given below, for trading in horses. \u201cA Mare and Horse for Sale, Classified Ad 4\u201d\u00a0[2<\/a>]<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Public ferries were also very much in use during that period, and adverts like the one below were to be regularly seen in the newspapers.<\/p>\n \u201cBe it ordained by the Mayor, Aldermen, Common Council, and Freemen of the City of Hartford, That if any person shall willfully, or negligently, ride or drive any kind of Carriage, or Vehicle, or ride, lead, or drive any horse upon any Side Walk in laid City, now laid out, or hereafter to be laid out, unless for the purpose of necessarily\u2026 and to pay to such party just damages.\u201d\u00a0[3<\/a>]<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n The early 1800\u2019s has been declared \u2018an era of good feelings\u2019 and it started with Thomas Jefferson becoming the first President of the country despite fierce opposition. The industrial revolution first started in Europe, and the technological and economic progress gained momentum first in Europe during this period. America was slow to catch up with the emerging trend on account of consolidation and internal problems during this period, and there was hardly any major development taking place in the transportation sector. Moreover, unlike European countries, America is vast and there were difficulties in reaching the interior parts of the country.\u00a0 People rarely traveled by coaches, they rode horse back or walked.\u00a0 The conditions of the roads were poor. Also there was another notice to the public from the City of Hartford by Solomon Porter on the same day next to the above.<\/p>\n \u201cThe port cities and ferry places were active with import and export of cargo of various types.\u00a0 Primitive types of vehicles and carriages were in use for transportation of goods to and fro ferry places.\u00a0 Wagons of various types, Stage coaches, etc. were all later developments.\u00a0 Carriage construction and repair industry developed well during the period prior to rail road era which started in 1820s.\u00a0 The role of stage coaches during this period was very important in the movement of goods and the economic development of the county.\u00a0 Advances made in technology helped improvements in the manufacturing of various types of wagons such as Conestoga, Concord and so on with improved designs which increased mobility of people.\u201d\u00a0[4<\/a>]<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n The conditions of the roads were poor, and it was a great impediment to trade and commerce.\u00a0\u00a0 The State Government took initiative to repair and maintain the roads in proper condition to ensure freedom of movement.\u00a0 They took efforts in this direction and gave importance to these projects on priority basis. In this connection, a notice in newspaper is given below.<\/p>\n \u201cNotice published by the Contractor: All persons who are under contract to keep in repair the Hartford and New London Turnpike Road are hereby notified that a punctual compliance with the with the last orders of the States Commissioners respecting that repairing said road is absolutely necessary to save them from incurring damages \u00e2\u20ac\u00a6 repair according to contract by the first Monday in July next to the acceptance of the States\u2019 Commissioners.\u201d\u00a0[5<\/a>]<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n We can understand that the traffic due to the increased movement put pressure on the roads and the Government took initiatives to put some control on traffic to improve the situation.\u00a0 A notice issued in this regard is reproduced below.<\/p>\n \u201cThe inhabitants of the Town of Hartford are hereby notified that the annual Town Meeting in the town of Hartford will be holden at the State House in Hartford on the fourth Monday of November instant, which is the 25th\u00a0day of said November at nine o\u2019 clock in the forenoon, for the purpose of transacting the ordinary business \u00e2\u20ac\u00a6 passing By-laws restraining cattle, horses. Asses, mules, sheep, swine and geese, from going at large on the highway\u201d\u00a0[6<\/a>]<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Federal Government understood the importance of creating a National road that would be important for the growth and development of the interstate travel, trade and commerce.\u00a0\u00a0 The Government planned to raise the resources by sale of public lands and utilize part of the sale proceeds to build National road project that ran from Maryland to Pennsylvania.\u00a0 They used the revenue from the sale of lands in Ohio in national road to speed up the interstate trade and economic development.\u00a0 The national road project started in 1811 was extended into 1839.\u00a0 National road reduced the barriers to the progress and the movement of goods considerably.\u00a0 The heavy traffic which ensued in the national road ensured safety from highway robbery, and the interstate travel gathered momentum, apart from economic development.<\/p>\n There were proposals in Legislature on taxation that reflected the developments in the field of horse wagons or coaches.\u00a0 It will be interesting to note an article in this respect.<\/p>\n \u201d\u00a0Mr. Austin said \u2026 coaches worth 300 dollars, and horses 600, but not one in thousand has a coach or rides in it, \u00e2\u20ac\u00a6 this system of taxation is no more like the one which he proposed to the U. States, than darkness is like light..\u201d\u00a0[7<\/a>]<\/span>\u00a0<\/p>\n Railroads began to dominate the transportation from 1820\u2019s.\u00a0 This rapid growth of railways was due to cost efficiency, speed, and reliability.\u00a0 It became the cheaper and effective alternative to traveling by coaches or steamboats.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n The expansion of railroads put breaks on the growth of the steamboats.\u00a0 Railways brought east and west closer which was an important step in the integration and consolidation of the economy. Initial reactions and support for this system of transportation may be observed.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen the steam coach is brought fully into use, practice will teach us many things respecting it, of which theory leaves us ignorant. \u00e2\u20ac\u00a6 It is impossible to anticipate the effects of such an extraordinary facility of communication\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6 \u2013 The Americans with their characteristic ardor of improvements, are now collecting information about railways and locomotive mechanics in England, and to them these inventions will prove of inestimable value.\u201d\u00a0[8<\/a>]<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Railways:\u00a0An article in the newspaper dwelt upon detailed technical aspects, cost factors, etc. with regard to the railways and stated \u201cRailways are a much more recent invention than canals; and for particular purposes, such as the conveyance of coal, stone or other heavy commodities down a short inclined plane, sloping at an angle of three or four degrees, they are decidedly superior. As a means of general communication, they are cheaper in the first outlay than canals, more commodious in some respects.\u201d\u00a0[9<\/a>]<\/span>\u00a0<\/p>\n The railroads have become the hub of economy in the interstate trade and commerce.\u00a0 Transportation by boat was slow and restricted to waterways and hence transport of perishable goods would be difficult.\u00a0 Tolls on canals were very high compared to railways.\u00a0 The organized growth of railways gave fillip to the \u2018freedom of movement\u2019<\/p>\n Cost of Transportation on Rail Roads:\u00a0 A report in this connection indicates organized growth in railways. \u201cWe have received a copy of the last Report of the Lehigh Navigation and Coal Co. which contains a statement of the actual expense of transportation on their Rail Road. This Rail Road, we understand, is about nine miles in length, and extends from the Lehigh Coat Mines to Mauch Chunk, where boat navigation commences.\u201d\u00a0[10<\/a>]<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n The repairs to railway tracks and maintenance are less expensive and easy compared to canals.\u00a0It should be understood that the growth and development of various forms of communication is inclusive.\u00a0\u00a0 The importance of canal and stage coaches has gone down significantly.\u00a0 But, there were needs for these forms of transportations for a balanced growth, since the vast land of the country was not completely connected by rail roads. \u00a0 The policies took into account these factors, as can be seen from an article about a meeting in Windsor in connection with the proposed projects.<\/p>\n \u201cFrom the New-Haven Chronicle: \u00e2\u20ac\u00a6 A meeting to be held at Windsor \u00e2\u20ac\u00a6 the \u201cthe variety of projects \u2013 a canal to New Haven \u2013 a rail-road to Boston \u2013 and a slack water navigation of the river \u2013 all contemplated at nearly the same time.\u201d\u00a0[11<\/a>]<\/span>\u00a0<\/p>\n The horses and horse coaches as the forms of transportations were also prevalent in this period, and a newspaper advertisement in this period may be useful for our understanding. An advertisement with the heading; \u201cNew Saddlery for sale of saddles, bridles, etc.\u201d\u00a0[12<\/a>]<\/span>\u00a0<\/p>\n Momentum in the growth of railways: There momentum in Rail Road activities picked up 1830\u2019s. The Government and public were participating in conventions throughout the country, held in connection with new rail roads connecting various cities and towns dotted the country.<\/p>\n \u201cRAIL ROAD CONVENTION: A Convention was held at Farmington, March 23rd 1836 to take into consideration the propriety of causing preliminary surveys for a Rail Road from the county of Berkshire, in Massachusetts, to intersect the Hartford and New Haven Rail Road\u201d\u00a0[13<\/a>]<\/span>\u00a0<\/p>\nHorses<\/h2>\n
Public Ferry<\/h2>\n
The political and social background in America<\/h2>\n
State Governments\u2019 initiative in repairs and maintenance of roads<\/h2>\n
The Federal Government and National Road<\/h2>\n
Legislature on transportation<\/h2>\n
Rail Roads<\/h2>\n