This seminal work examines the economic and political factors that have shaped the development of transportation infrastructure in the United States. The author explores the advantages and disadvantages of waterways and railways as modes of transportation and argues that a balanced approach is necessary to ensure sustainable economic growth. The book is a must-read for scholars and policymakers interested in transportation policy and economic development. 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.