History of Transportation in America - Essay Example

Running Head: History of Transportation in America History of Transportation in America: The Love Between Man and Machine (School) Abstract The history of transportation is broad and dynamic. It has experienced mass growth and leaves one to wonder what direction we will head in next. The effect of growth of transportation has left our society in a state of constant movement. From buggy days to the air vehicles of the future, we are moving. Always seeming to be "going somewhere", the American people are slowly heating up the world with the fumes from our tailpipes. With an expanded mass transit system, and less reliance on oil, America could lessen the impact we are making while retaining our personal freedom. Unit 1 (1865-1876) During this time period, transportation in America was initially slow, tedious, and difficult. There were limited choices of transportation and they were all exhausting. Variations on the horse and buggy were the most popular means of transportation, which was adequate for journeys across town, but not for longer trips. Longer trips were very costly as well as dangerous. Covered wagon crossings were notorious for their hazards yet did not deter the pioneer spirit. The Civil war had both a positive and negative effect on transportation in America. Parts of the country - most notably the South were in ruins, and many citizens were bankrupted by the war and thus unable to travel. The B&O railroad suffered severely during Confederate raids. In one summer alone, Stonewall Jackson made off with fourteen locomotives. (Stover 1970) However many advancements were made in the name of warfare including a larger transportation system that was previously used to help move troops. With the development of the transcontinental railroad, and the final meeting of the two lines in 1869 transportation became more significantly easier. The project was originally established in the Pacific Railway Act of 1862. It quickly surpassed the former means of travel such as stagecoach lines and wagon trains. The achievement of a uniform gauge for the railroad tracks greatly assisted in the development of the transcontinental railroad. (Stover 1970) Also of note was the development of a uniform time zone system, allowing the trains to arrive and depart on a agreed upon schedule. (Stover 1970) The outcome of these advances led to drastic changes in the landscape of the country. The far reaches of the country were now reachable with a little bit of time and money. What would have previously taken months, and a significant risk and investment was now accessible for $65 and a 7 day train ride. (Stover 1970) Unit 2 1877-1920 Transportation in the time period between 1877-1920 was a fast paced race to development. Advancements in railroads continued, while the automobile, electric cable systems, and underground railway (subway) systems began their rapid growth. Socially speaking, Americans were now on the move with easier access to both personal and mass transit. Mass transit systems of electric cars became commonplace in the 1880's and 1890's, replacing the roads previously clogged with horses and buggies. (Carson 1999) The first underground subway system was built in Boston and opened in 1897. This allowed city dwellers to travel within their city with relative ease and comfort. Inter-city travel was still primarily by either train, or traveling along the mail route roads on some sort of horse-driven apparatus. People who resided further out in the country were still rather isolated as the only transportation accessible was the railways which usually ran only between larger cities with few stops in between. (Carson 1999) The railroads also catered to the wealthier clientele, leaving the common passenger looking for an alternative means of transportation. Then, the automobile arrived. The automobile is a four-wheeled vehicle powered by an internal combustion engine. It was the result of a series of inventions which began in 1769 with Cugnot's steam-powered road vehicle. A breakthrough in gas-powered automobiles came in 1860 when an internal combustion engine was patented in France. Finally, in 1885 Germans Dailmer and Benz developed the forerunners of the gas engines used today. (Carson 1999) The Europeans traditionally led the development in motor cars until the early 1900's when Henry Ford was able to mass produce the Model T for a reasonable price. Sales of the car soon soared, and once the moving assembly line was put into production (1914), cars soon became commonplace. With the popularity of the automobile, a new problem arose. The road system was inventoried by the Office of Public Roads Inquiry in 1904; finding only 153,662 miles of roads with any kind of surfacing. (Rubenstein 2003) In 1916 and 1921 the Federal Aid Road Act approved $75 million over the first five years, and $75 million per year there after. (Rubenstein 2003) This act matched the funds used by the individual states to repair or build their roadways. This was the beginning of the modern highway system, and far more advanced than anywhere else in the world. Air-transport was in it's beginning stages. The first flight was in 1903, and the first airmail flight was in 1911. (Kane 1987) In 1916 Congress appropriated $50,000 for the development of an airmail system. World War I interrupted the development of an airmail system, but in 1918 Congress allotted $100,000 for the establishment of an experimental airmail route. The War department allotted planes and pilots from the Army Signal Corps to use in delivering the mail. This was the precursor of Commercial Air Transportation. Unit 3 (1921-1945) The first major development of this time period was the call for an interstate roadway system for the entire nation in 1921. 1921 also saw the standardization of motor vehicle registration. The complete national system of 96,626 miles was approved in 1926 and identified by the U.S. highway numbers still in use. (Rubenstein 2003) As part of the Futurama exhibit at the 1939 New York World's Fair Norman Bel Geddes showcased a plan for a national motorway system. "Magic Motorways" was his follow up detailed discussion of said plan with photographs and diagrams. Geddes stated that the scope of his project was large, but not impossible. "The automobile has done great things for people. It has taken man out beyond the small confines of the world in which he used to live" (Geddes 1940). William Jennings Bryan delivered a speech at the National Good Roads Convention in 1903 in which he justified the expenditure on road systems as "(1) a matter of justice to the people who live in the country and (2) a matter of advantage to the people who do not live in the country and (3) on the ground that the welfare of the Nation demands that the comforts of country life shall keep pace with the comforts of city life". (Bryan 1903) What is interesting about these two quotes is between the years of 1903-1940 was the time of the Great Depression. In the 1930's, many families after losing their homes and livelihoods took to the road in their only possession left, their automobile. This enacted a great migration, people moving around to where ever they could find work. Gas was relatively cheap, despite the high demand due to oil fields found in the Southwest. Therefore, families could afford to follow the farming crops to seek work at harvesting, if nothing else. During the Depression, much of the WPA programs were spent on roadways, bridges, and public works that were used for transportation. Once the depression was over, and people were going back to work, the automobile again allowed more freedom. As it was not necessary to live within walking distance, or mass transit options - people were allowed more choice in place of residence. The suburbs had arrived. People were now living out, away from their work usually in ethnically and economically similar surroundings. The hindered the social diversification that one found in the city, but allowed families more space and quiet living. Driving merely for pleasure became popular about this time period. With better road systems, and more advanced automobiles more and more people were taking to the roads just for the enjoyment of it. Driving vacations became popular and there was a great increase in visitors to national parks and monuments. (Kyvig 2002) Hotels were now needed, along with more gasoline stations along side roads. Unit 4 (1946-1976) Transportation during this time period did not see as marked technological advances as in previous time periods, but it did see some advancements. Automobiles continued to develop and become a necessity for the American family. The suburbs were growing, and more and more people were commuting longer distances to their jobs. Air-transport was the one sector that was significantly growing. With the creation of the Civil Aeronautics Act in 1938, the airline industry had a firm regulatory system.(Kane 1987) Passenger transport was already on the rise, and it was apparent that it was a trend to be embraced. As time progressed, and there were more mid-air collisions, the need for better air traffic control became apparent. The Federal Aviation Act of 1958 further created and detailed the Federal Aviation Agency. They would bear the responsibility of ensure passenger's safety while in flight. The Department of Transportation Act was passed on October 15, 1966 creating a department consisting of parts of 31 agencies and employing approximately 100,000 persons. The purpose of the Act was to: assure the coordinated administration, facilitate the development of transportation service, stimulate technological advances, provide leadership, and recommend policies and programs to the President and the Congress. (Kane 1987) As demand for planes and commercial flights grew, technological advances allowed planes to be bigger. This allowed for more passengers, and more profit for the airlines. It also lowered the rates of tickets, making air travel more affordable and accessible to most travelers. Air travel quickly became the favored mode of transportation for long distance journeys. Unit 5 (1976-present) As the nation's love affair with transportation continued, it created a society dependant on that transportation for daily life. This formed a need for petroleum to fuel the various vehicles and created a complicated relationship with the nations who provide that oil. It also brought a new problem; the emissions from the vehicles are believed to be impacting the environment negatively. Let's go back to World War II. Society was less auto-dependent, but a majority of adult workers still owned cars and routinely used them for business and pleasure. Gas rationing dramatically changed commuting and recreational patterns.(Buell 2007) Drivers were driving as sparingly as possible. With the let-up of the gas rationing, drivers immediately began driving more, often taking long road trips they had been putting off due to the rationing. Automobiles became a symbol of power, freedom, and status. They were no longer a vehicle but a statement. Public transit on the other hand is often seen as a last resort. It's often cramped and crowded and forces interaction with other members of society some find offensive. There is privacy in one's car, even in the midst of a traffic jam. Walking is generally looked at as a waste of time in an era of "instant gratification". People are driving more and more; the small fluctuations in gas prices are not enough to seriously impede driving. Buell suggests a heavy tax on gasoline in order to curtail unnecessary driving. While this may seem harsh, it would have the intended effect. There should be some middle ground in between driving enough, and driving too much. The history of transportation is broad and dynamic. It has experienced mass growth and leaves one to wonder what direction we will head in next. The effects of the growth of transportation has left our society in a state of constant movement. From buggy days to the air vehicles of the future, we are moving. Always seeming to be "going somewhere", the American people are slowly heating up the world with the fumes from our tailpipes. With an expanded mass transit system, and less reliance on oil, America could lessen the impact we are making while retaining our personal freedom. Works Cited Ambrose, Stephen E. (2000). Nothing Like It In The World; The men who built the Transcontinental Railroad 1863-1869. Simon & Schuster This book is a detailed look at the building of the Transcontinental Railroad and the politics behind it. Ambrose views it as a great democratic experiment and the driving force of Lincoln's presidency (next to the civil war). Bryan, William Jennings "The Road problem" in Proceedings of the National Good Roads Convention, Held at St. Lous, MO., April 27 to 29 1903. Washington D.C. Government Printing Office This speech outlines the ideas of Mr. Bryan, who said that the road system is unbearable and requires immediate attention. Buell, J.(Jan-Feb 2007)."Daydreams and nightmares: remaking modern transportation".(Cover story).The Humanist,67,1.p.13(4).RetrievedMarch 30, 2009,fromGeneral OneFileviaGale: http://find.galegroup.com/ips/start.doprodId=IPS A brief overview of modern transportation. Buell summarizes that the dependence on our automobiles is causing global warming and a tax on gasoline would help offset the dependence on it. Carson, Thomas&Bonk, Mary(Eds.), Automobile, Origin of.(1999). Gale Encyclopedia of U.S. Economic History,Vol.1.(68-69).Detroit:Gale.RetrievedMarch 29, 2009,fromGale Virtual Reference LibraryviaGale: http://find.galegroup.com/gvrl/infomark.do&contentSet=EBKS&type=retrieve&tabID=T001&prodId=GVRL&docId=CX3406400066&source=gale&userGroupName=tel_p_memshel&version=1.0 The history of the automobile, including invention and rapid rise in popularity. Fischer, Stanley; Moving Millions, Harper and Row Publishers (1979) A guide to mass transit and plans for the future. Fischer maintains that cars are not necessary and we should use public transit whenever available. Geddes, Norman Bel, Magic Motorways Random house (1940) Geddes' explanation of his popular "Futurama" exhibit. He details the possibilities with a organized system of interstates and highways which would allow travelers access to more of the country. Federal Aviation Administration, The Federal Aviation Administration: A Historical Perspective, 1903-2008 Updated: February 27, 2009 http://www.faa.gov/about/history/historical_perspective/ Overview of the history of the Federal Aviation Administration Kane, Robert M.; Vose, Allan D. Air Transportation 9th edition Kendall Hunt Publishing Company (1987) Detailed and lengthy book about the history of Air Transportation including the laws governing. Rubenstein, James M. "Transportation And Travel."Dictionary of American History.Ed.Stanley I. Kutler.Vol.8.3rd ed.New York:Charles Scribner's Sons,2003.185-192.10vols.Gale Virtual Reference Library.Gale.Memphis Shelby County Public Library.29 Mar. 2009 http://find.galegroup.com/gvrl/infomark.do&contentSet=EBKS&type=retrieve&tabID=T001&prodId=GVRL&docId=CX3401804264&source=gale&userGroupName=tel_p_memshel&version=1.0 Overview of the history of transportation specifically with the emergence of the automobile. Stover, John F; The Life and Decline of the American Railroad, New York Oxford University Press, (1970) An overview and explanation of the history of the railroad. Read More