Haney's book provides a detailed account of the legislative and economic factors that shaped the development of the American railroad system during its formative years. Drawing upon primary sources and meticulous research, he analyzes the impact of state and federal policies on railroad construction, financing, and competition, as well as the social and cultural implications of this new mode of transportation. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.