What problems did the builders of the transcontinental railroad face?
They had to face dangerous work conditions – accidental explosions, snow and rock avalanches, which killed hundreds of workers, not to mention frigid weather. “All workers on the railroad were ‘other’,” said Liebhold. “On the west, there were Chinese workers, out east were Irish and Mormon workers were in the center.
What problems did the railroads face?
They were tight quarters in which conditions could be squalid. Also troubling were fears of the Native Americans across whose land the laborers built their road. There were Native American snipers, raids, livestock rustlings, scalpings, and burnings all along the railroad right of way.
What were some of the problems with the first railroads?
The greatest problem for railroad developers was money. Building a line was very expensive—purchasing right of way, paying wages for large work forces, and buying rail and rolling stock. State and local governments offered what financial assistance they could in the hope of attracting railroads to their areas.
How did the growth of railroads impact society?
The simple presence of railroads could bring a city economic prosperity. Railroads even helped shape the physical growth of cities and towns, as steam railroads and then electric street railways facilitated growth along their lines and made suburban living feasible.
What was one positive and one negative effect of the growth of railroads?
One negative effect were building and running the railroads was difficult and dangerous work. More than 2,000 workers had died. Another 20,000 workers had been injured. A positive is railroads made long-distance travel a possibility for many Americans.
How did the railroad affect the frontier quizlet?
The transcontinental railroad also brought settlers to the frontier. they brought lumber, wood, people, and other necessities. the railroads also brought settlers and miners who laid claim to Native American land. thus, weakening the Native American hold on the west.
How did Vanderbilt change the railroad industry?
Shipping and railroad tycoon Cornelius Vanderbilt (1794-1877) was a self-made multi-millionaire who became one of the wealthiest Americans of the 19th century. In the 1860s, he shifted his focus to the railroad industry, where he built another empire and helped make railroad transportation more efficient.