CHANGE AHEAD
"Many public benefits resulted from the Railroad; however, the foremost benefit was expanded trade. Consumers had more choices and raised their standard of living. Also, farmers imported new fertilizers to increase crop yields. In particular, wheat, cotton, and tobacco production soared, but this crop growth resulted not from the increased purchase of slaves; the percentage of slave population growth (9%) was less than in the 1840s (15%)"(Kickler, 2012).
Completion and Other Important Aspects:
The Western North Carolina Railroad was officially completed in 1880
and successfully connected Western North Carolina to the rest of the state and neighboring states. With
WNCRR up and running, the need for such places along the railroad lines caused towns and
villages to develop more rapidly. Key factors of urbanization of rural counties taking place before the
construction of railroads, such as the Western North Carolina Railroad, were becoming increasingly evident.
The WNCRR brought businesses to these small rural towns, which in turn
attracted people to the area to fill the new job positions. Therefore, the
Western North Carolina Railroad was ultimately responsible for developing the
towns and villages along its railroad routes, moving the population of
North Carolina into more underdeveloped and "countryside" areas in Western N.C.,
which were previously unsettled and uninhabited. Along with being
able to transport residents more efficiently, the WNCRR was able to
increase the transportation time of goods across the state.
With an increased transportation time also came the decrease in the cost of
goods that were being transported. It was during times of rapid growth, which became evident in transportation, that mechanization replaced manual labor.
Advances in agriculture and improved production techniques decreased the need for farmhands. This caused workers to leave the rural countryside for the city. The resulting urbanization caused cities to grow sometimes stretching them to the limit. With less farming, people turned to the developing industry to ensure a higher quality of life. While some began to see the dark side including long hours and unsafe working conditions, many found that industry offered new opportunities and that the resulting changes would be very positive.
Other Improvements from the Construction of the WNCRR:
During the Industrial Revolution, the technological advances of the time, such as the
use of steam power, helped increase production capacity of those manufactured
goods. The development of Morse code was also a technological advancement for
the Western North Carolina Railroad and many other railroads as well. Through
the use of the telegraph, train stations amongst the WNCRR were able to dispatch
one another. Being able to communicate clearly across the tracks allowed for a
decreased risk in train wrecks and accidents. This saved the WNCRR time and
money by reorganizing the method of railroad transfers. It also profited the
WNCRR because telegraph companies would pay the railroad a small portion of
profit for the upkeep and maintenance of the telegraph lines (Kickler, 2012).
Completion and Other Important Aspects:
The Western North Carolina Railroad was officially completed in 1880
and successfully connected Western North Carolina to the rest of the state and neighboring states. With
WNCRR up and running, the need for such places along the railroad lines caused towns and
villages to develop more rapidly. Key factors of urbanization of rural counties taking place before the
construction of railroads, such as the Western North Carolina Railroad, were becoming increasingly evident.
The WNCRR brought businesses to these small rural towns, which in turn
attracted people to the area to fill the new job positions. Therefore, the
Western North Carolina Railroad was ultimately responsible for developing the
towns and villages along its railroad routes, moving the population of
North Carolina into more underdeveloped and "countryside" areas in Western N.C.,
which were previously unsettled and uninhabited. Along with being
able to transport residents more efficiently, the WNCRR was able to
increase the transportation time of goods across the state.
With an increased transportation time also came the decrease in the cost of
goods that were being transported. It was during times of rapid growth, which became evident in transportation, that mechanization replaced manual labor.
Advances in agriculture and improved production techniques decreased the need for farmhands. This caused workers to leave the rural countryside for the city. The resulting urbanization caused cities to grow sometimes stretching them to the limit. With less farming, people turned to the developing industry to ensure a higher quality of life. While some began to see the dark side including long hours and unsafe working conditions, many found that industry offered new opportunities and that the resulting changes would be very positive.
Other Improvements from the Construction of the WNCRR:
During the Industrial Revolution, the technological advances of the time, such as the
use of steam power, helped increase production capacity of those manufactured
goods. The development of Morse code was also a technological advancement for
the Western North Carolina Railroad and many other railroads as well. Through
the use of the telegraph, train stations amongst the WNCRR were able to dispatch
one another. Being able to communicate clearly across the tracks allowed for a
decreased risk in train wrecks and accidents. This saved the WNCRR time and
money by reorganizing the method of railroad transfers. It also profited the
WNCRR because telegraph companies would pay the railroad a small portion of
profit for the upkeep and maintenance of the telegraph lines (Kickler, 2012).