Figure 1.-- Horses were vital to humsns for millennia. Our modern highway system is actually misleading. For most of history, roads and overland transport were not a major method for moving goods. Even in America at the turn of thev 20th century, roads were primtive and and local transport still based on the horse, including rural and urban transpoert. Rural fsmilies had places for horses, but very few urban families could affiord ior had plves where gthey could kep a horse. Here we see a rural scene wityh a father and son in a horse-drawn carriage. In fact the first automobils were called horseless carriages and modern engines still rated in horsepower. Click here

The modern American highway system is misleading. For most of history and not just American history, roads and overland transport were not a major method for moving goods or people. Rivers were what was important and than sea transport eventually aided by canals became increasingly important. The silk road is of course famous in history, but carried a very small quantity of goods. And only very valuable luxury goods could be transported over the Silk Road. Roads often did not even exist, let lone improved roads. The Persian and Roman roads were exceptions. Overland transport was expensive, meaning uneconomical for most goods. This severely limited commerce for millennia. And this did not change with the settlement of America. Land transport was only feasible for the farmers bringing goods into nearby cities, commonly ports. Roads were rudimentary and farmers to get their goods to market relied heavily on rivers if if producers needed to move their produce any distance. A major issue in American politics during the early-19th century was internal improvements, including roads and canals. This did not change America until first the river boats and then the coming of the railroad (mid-19th century). River boats were limited to the major rivers. The rails could go virtually anywhere. This for the first time in history, land transport was not based on animals, primarily the horse. But this still meant that roads except in the environs of major cities were not very important and thus undeveloped. And until the turn-of the 20th century, individual transport was still based on the horse. Which meant that transport for America's growing urban population was very limited. Cites had improved roads--streets. What did change the importance of roads was Henry Ford and his Model-T Tin Lizzy. The Model-T and the assembly line provided unprecedented mobility not only to individuals, but as a result of trucks, to businesses as well. This led to a major effort at road building. While the railroad connected the country. There were no roads that connected the country. This began to change when Henry Ford invented the Model-T. Americans adopted the automobile with a passion began buying Model-Ts and other cars in large numbers. The automobile would not only change the world, but the industry that produced it would be a major cog in the Arsenal of Democracy that saved Western Civilization. Americans had cars, but they did not have many decent highways. None other than a young officer named Dwight Eisenhower went on coast-to-coast U.S. Army convoy which highlighted the inadequate American road system (1919). Will Rogers would quip that "America is the only country to go to the poor house in an automobile". All those car owners began demanding improved highways. Four decades later that same Dwight Eisenhower after viewing the German Autobahns at the end of World War II would launch the American Interstate Highway System (1950s). The economics of road transport is a matter of basic physics. Road transports involves the greatest traction/resistance and thus needs the greatest amount of energy to overcome. As a result, road transport is the most expensive form of long distance transport. Where road transport becomes important is the final few miles from the rail depot or port.

Modern Development

The modern American highway system is misleading. For most of history and not just American history, highways did not exist. We do not see improved highways until the 20h century. Roads and overland transport were not a major method for moving goods or people. Fir millennia there were a few notable roads such as the Persia and Roman roads, but even these these were not built to move goods long distances. Roman roads were used to move armies. Goods could be moved short distances from the county side into towns and cities, but not any distance. The Silk Road is of course famous in history, but was not an actual road. It did move very high-value (but a very small quantity) of goods long distances. It was a route, not a road. Roads basically did not even exist, let alone improved roads. Overland transport was expensive, meaning uneconomical for most goods. This severely limited commerce for millennia.

Rivers and Seas

Rivers for most of history were vital. Sea transport involved greater technology, but developed developed during ancient times. As technology increased, sea transport expanded. The greatest step in this process was the Portuguese rounding the Cape of Good Hope opening direct European trade with Asia (1488). Canals expanded riverine routes. Americans even before the Revolution had a major merchant navy. The Erie Canal played a huge role in American economic history. The economics of road transport is a matter of basic physics. Road transports involves the greatest traction/resistance and thus needs the greatest amount of energy to overcome. It takes more than 10 times the energy to move goods over roads than over riverine or sea routes. As a result, road transport is the most expensive form of long distance transport. Where road transport becomes important is the final few miles from the rail depot or port.

Early Republic

his was the situation during the early-Republican era. Land transport was only feasible for the farmers bringing goods into nearby cities, commonly ports. Roads were rudimentary or non existent and farmers to get their goods to market relied heavily on rivers if if producers needed to move their produce any distance. The major problem was the Appalachians Mountains. Farmers west of the Appalachians (Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky) had no way of getting their low-value products (like grain) over the mountains to eastern markets. One solution was to convert the corn into high-value whiskey.. This led to the Whiskey Rebellion (1791-94). Geography was a great boon to America. The Mississippi River System provided transport for the vast area of the county west of the Appalachians to to he Rockies, This made New Orleans vital to he American economy. None other than a young Abraham Lincoln rafted a load of goods south down the Oho to the Mississippi and eventually New Orleans which Col. Andrew Jackson saved from the British (1815). Lincoln had to walk all the way back home. A major issue in American politics during the early-19th century was internal improvements, including roads and canals. The term was 'internal improvements' and Henry Clay of Kentucky became the great promoter under his American System. We see turn pikes, toll roads, and cord roads. Of all people, westerner Andre Jackson opposed Federal funds for Clay's American System. His primary objection was the corruption connected with government at the time. This was the great issue in ante-bellum politics until slavery came to dominate political discourse.

Steam Power

This did not change America until the advent of steam power. At first this meant the great river boats. This was a relatively brief interlude. Soon after came the railroad (mid-19th century). River boats were limited to the major rivers. The rails could go virtually anywhere. Thus for the first time in history, land transport was not based on animals, primarily the horse.

American Roads: The 20h Century

The railroads solved the problem of long-distance transport. But this still meant that roads except in the environs of major cities were not very important and thus undeveloped. And until the turn-of the 20th century, individual transport was still based on the horse. This is why the power of engines are still measured in horsepower. And it limited cargoes that could be delivered. Wagons were basically limited to four-horse teams. Can you imagine what life would be like today with engines limited to four horse-power. Which meant that transport for America's growing urban population was very limited. Established cites had improved roads--streets. But the new towns springing up as the Frontier moved west had muddy morasses for years. And outside of city centers few streets and roads were improved. What did change the importance of roads was Henry Ford and his Model-T Tin Lizzy. The Model-T and the assembly line provided unprecedented mobility not only to individuals, but as a result of trucks, to businesses as well. A young Lieutenant Colonel Dwight Eisenhower did not get to France during World War I. He did participate in the first transcontinental motor convoy--a coast-to-coast U.S. Army convoy which highlighted the deplorable American road system (1919). All of this his to a major effort at road building. While the railroad connected the country. There were no roads that connected the country. This began to change when Henry Ford invented the Model-T. Americans adopted the automobile with a passion began buying Model-Ts and other cars in large numbers. The automobile would not only change the world, but the industry that produced it would be a major cog in the Arsenal of Democracy that saved Western Civilization. Americans had cars, but they did not have many decent highways. None other than a young officer named Dwight Eisenhower . Will Rogers would quip that "America is the only country to go to the poor house in an automobile". All those car owners began demanding improved highways. Four decades later that same Dwight Eisenhower who slooged through American Wetern highways commanded Amercan troops who slogged tgrough France and Belgium until they got to the Reich and the the marvelous German Autobahns in te final months of World War II. A decde later he would launch the American Interstate Highway System (1950s).

Created: 6:18 AM 7/13/2023
Last updated: 11:53 PM 12/4/2024