Explain how the railroad helped transformed Chicago into an industrial metropolis during the 19th century and how it shaped relationships both within and outisde the city……….

Answer:

The emergence of inland transportation network (railroads) is the best thing that happened to Chicago. If we go back to the history of Chicago we find that in 1857 this state was badly hit by fire catastrophe that destroyed the central business unit and which almost wiped out the whole city.  With the coming of railway networks controlling access from the great lake to Mississippi river basin a great progress was realized in the effort of recovering the losses made by that catastrophe.

[1] The success of this railroad did not come to the people of Chicago on a silver platter. There were a lot of barriers hindering the development and expansion of the railroad. One of them was the greatest strike which was as a result of the railroad. Railroad required massive capital investments and therefore entailed great financial risk also a lot of loans and grants were required to clear the land which meant an increase in taxes levy since it was the role of the government to give grants and loans

[2]. Chandler in his book the visible hands discuss about the economic organization in the USA in the early 19th century.  It was seen that even with the expansion and improvement of waterborne transportation the economy didn’t have much improvement but an impact was seen in the economy after the development of steam power and especially steam railroad and telegraphy. These technologies produced an enormous expansion of both the volume and speed of economic activity. This consequently resulted to emergency of large enterprises which integrated many aspects of transport business.

[3]   Many skilled men from these areas were mostly attracted by the railroad, stockyard and other heavy industries that emerged from the city of Chicago. We see Chicago in 1840s being the ninety second most populous cities in the United States and in the same century after the coming of the railroad Chicago becomes the ninth most populous city in the country and by 1870 it became the second most populous city in the country and one of the largest cities from the world perspective. Many people praised this city and the people of Chicago boasted about this enormous city. Many came from country side to see the new face of this city, they came from markets and shops, schools and cells from mountain to witness the transformation of this glorious city.

[4]  Chicago was tremendously increasing in its population with its population nearly doubling in three years. The statistics shows that in a period of twenty years the population of Chicago had risen from four thousand people up to over ninety thousand. Within a life span of three decades that is, from 1870 to 1900 the city grew exponentially with its population raging from 299,000 to nearly 1.7 million people and emerge as the fastest growing town ever in history

[5]. Many immigrants came from Europe and Eastern states but only few came from Chicago rural hinterland. This enhanced the relationship of people both within and outside the city. This high increase in population was brought about by the coming up of railway networks. Many people especially merchants from other states and especially easterners invested in this state. This was all attributed to the growth of railway networks which enabled people to travel easily. This high population had an effect on the economy of this state in that it boosted business to a greater extent. This was largely seen through the men who were trading in small seven-by-nine tenement. They reported that they found their stock largely scarce enough to accommodate their customers’ demands.

In the Edward E. book it states that ‘the time thousand miles of rail road that center in Chicago like the radiating portion of a wheels, were the cause of salvation of the city.’

[6] The railway highway in Chicago improved the lives of the city dwellers slightly before 19th century The United States of America was changing and becoming an urban state and they really depended on the railway road to supply them with food, fuel, water as they developed the state even further. The railroad made access to market easy and therefore enhanced trade in Chicago and its suburbs.

Along the railroad highway a lot of big shops were set to cater for those people travelling on locomotives and the builders of this railroad some were this big see (picture 1).

It is evident from the picture a shop of this size will represent a greater portion of the economy of any state.

The coming up of railroad also facilitated communication in the Chicago state as well as the surrounding states of America. Many people in the upcountry and especially those in very remote areas were really challenged by the expensive way of communication which majority could not afford but consequently with the coming of this railroad it was easy and fast to deliver messages. This was greatly attributed to the railroad post office cars. The city of Chicago had only one road pass through it by 1850 that is the Galena and Chicago union road established in 1848 and did not actually reach Galena but we see with the opening of the railroad to Galena numerous avenues were opened for example the wheat arrived through rail and this highly facilitated business. The rail was made the primary mode of transport in this state.

Another way through which Chicago was transformed into an industrial metropolis in the 19th century was through the purchase of land in the state and eventually developing this land. The rail road developers were hindered from passing through some places for example, the railroad initially had been planned to enter the city through the western route but it was blocked by the rock islands that had purchased this land earlier during the railroad war. This forced the railroad to find its way through the Michigan Lake which brought issues as well but this time on the authentic grounds. This was to the advantage of the people residing around town because the only other alternative was to pass through the lakefront an area which was prone to floods. By passing the railroad through the lake front they were able to curb the regular floods that used to affect the Chicago city by building dam and dykes which would control flooding in the city.

Chicago city after the building of the famous railroad became an important transportation hub between the eastern and the western United States. Chicago first railroad the Chicago and Galena union railroad which was opened in 1848 lead to the opening of Illinois Michigan canal which facilitated transport through allowing steam boats and sailing ships to connect through great lakes to Mississippi river. This opened avenues for the manufacturing and retail sectors which dominated western cities and greatly impacted on the American economy.

Another way through which the railroad shaped the city of Chicago was that Chicago became a major market place through the economic efficiency of the railroad build in Chicago. Since it surpassed big cities like St Louis which depended on the steam boat the city was the market for vast corn, wheat and lumber which was highly traded in this city. This brought with it high traffic jam which Chicago had to deal with by expanding in order to accommodate the rising population and curb the traffic issue. Storey warehouse were built in Chicago to cater for the traders who came from the neighboring cities some spent days and weeks in Chicago and this opened another avenue for the investors in Chicago for example in 1855 the six-storey Richmond hotel one of the fifth hotel in Chicago was built to accommodate the travelers who came to do business in Chicago.

[7] This as well led to another avenue of newspapers, traders wanted to know how the exchange of foreign currency was moving as well as know how their countries are doing in politics as well as in the business arena. By 1853, the city had seven daily papers as well as weekly and monthly papers.

The new development in Chicago brought about the expansion of the railroad. Initially the city was depending on the steamboat which was quite expensive in comparison to the shipping of freight in the railroad which proved to be less costly. With this adoption of new way of travelling which led to massive expansion of railroad by 1856 the railroad had reached Mississippi which consequently resulted to decline of steamboat and predominance of railroad and eventually Chicago became a railroad town and was able to meet the rising demand of passengers and freight in the city. With the lowering of cost of transport many people were able to travel from one city to another which enhanced the relationship between the people of Chicago and the outsiders.

[8] With the city becoming a railroad town it significantly expanded the region’s economy where this supported the existing industries and enhanced the growth of new businesses across the Midwest by improving access between communities. This has greatly encouraged businesses to distribute their operation more widely into smaller and highly accessible to reach the community and the marginalized people in the country side.

From what has been discussed above it is clear that the idea of railroad in Chicago was what the people of Chicago were missing. It was like a wakening call to the people of Chicago to transform a city which was in ruins to the city it has become today. Much needed to be learned and borrowed from this city.

Picture 1

One of the biggest shops that emerged as a result of railroad construction in Chicago

 

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Barrett, Paul. The Automobile and Urban Transit: The Formation of Public Policy in Chicago, 1900-1930. (1983). 295 pp.

 

Work Cited

Alfred Chandler, The visible hand: the managerial revolution in American business, Cambridge: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 1977 (Chapter 3, 79-121). http://go.utlib.ca/cat/5347204

 

Barrett, Paul. The Automobile and Urban Transit: The Formation of Public Policy in Chicago, 1900-1930. (1983). 295 pp.

Beidler, Jacob Hoke, (1821). Centripetal Chicago Centralizing Columbia: Battle Creek Mich. pp 14

Caton, John Dean “Tis sixty years since” in Chicago: journal Atlantic monthly (1857-1901)pp. (588-597)

Edward Ely, the railroad of Chicago (The Western News Company, Chicago Ill: 1854)

Johnson, Henry C.: Northern Chicago Henry C. Johnson 1873

Pinkerton, A.: Striker, Communist, Tramps and detectives (New York G.W Carlton, 1878)

Ralph, Julian Chicago- The main exhibit, Journals: Harper’s new monthly Magazine (1850-1899).

Pictures.

Barrett, Paul. The Automobile and Urban Transit: The Formation of Public Policy in Chicago, 1900-1930. (1983). 295 pp.

 

 

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[1]Edward Ely, the railroad of Chicago (theWestern News Company, Chicago Ill: 1854)

 

[2] Pinkerton .A Striker, communist, tramps and detectives New York G.W 1978)

[3] Alfred D. C. jr.: the visible hand, the managerial revolution in American business Cambridge Mass.: Belknap press of Harvard university press, 1977. pp 608

[4] Beidler, Jacob Hoke, (1821). Centripetal Chicago Centralizing Columbia: Battle Creek Mich. pp 14

 

[5]Barrett, Paul. The Automobile and Urban Transit: The Formation of Public Policy in Chicago, 1900-1930. (1983). 295 pp.

 

[6]Edward Ely, the railroad of Chicago (the Western News Company, Chicago Ill: 1854)

 

[7]Barrett, Paul. The Automobile and Urban Transit: The Formation of Public Policy in Chicago, 1900-1930. (1983). 295 pp.

 

[8]Caton, John Dean “Tis sixty years since” in Chicago: journal Atlantic monthly (1857-1901) pp. (588-597)

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