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 ecist, let lone improved roads. The Persian and Roman rioads were exceptions. Overland transport was expensive, meaning uneconomical for most goods. This severely limited commerce for millenia. And this did not change with the settlement of America. Land trnsport 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 animsls, 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 bssed on the horse. Which meant that transport for Americs'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 obnly change the world, but the industry that produced it would be a major cog in the Arenal 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 acoast-to-coast U.S. Army convoy which highlighted the inadequate American road system (1919). Wiil Rogers would quip that "America is the only countytry to go to the poor house in an automoble". 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 fructiin/resistance and thus needs the greatest anount of endergy to overcome. As a result, road transport is the most expensive form of long distance transport. Where raod transport becomes important is the final few miles from the rail depot or port.

Created: 6:18 AM 7/13/2023
Last updated: 6:18 AM 7/13/2023