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ive wagons and was known； in the vernacular of the plains； as a 〃bull…outfit〃； the drivers were 〃bull…whackers〃； and the wagon master was the 〃bull…wagon boss。〃
The old story； however； was repeated again here on the boundless plains of the West。 The Western trails streaming out from the terminus of steamboat traffic between Kansas City and Omaha had scarcely time to become well known before the railway conquerors of the Atlantic and Great Lakes regions were planning the conquest of the greater plains and the Rockies beyond。 The opening of the Chinese ports in 1844 turned men's minds as never before to the Pacific coast。 The acquisition of Oregon within a few years and of California at the close of the Mexican War opened the way for a newspaper and congressional discussion as to whether the first railway to parallel the Santa Fe or the Overland Trail should run from Memphis； St。 Louis； or Chicago。 The building of the Union Pacific from Omaha westward assured the future of that city； and it was soon joined to Chicago and the East by several lines which were building toward Clinton； Rock Island； and Burlington。
But the construction of a few main lines of railway across the continent could only partially satisfy the commercial needs of the West。 True； the overland trade was at once transferred to the railroad； but the enormous equipment of stage and express companies previously employed in westward overland trade was now devoted to joining the railway lines with the vast regions to the north and the south。 The rivers of the West could not alone take care of this commerce and for many years these great transportation companies went with their stages and their wagons into the growing Dakota and Montana trade and opened up direct lines of communication to the nearest railway。 On the south the cattle industry of Texas came northward into touch with the railways of Kansas。 Eventually lateral and trunk lines covered the West with their network of lines and thus obliterated all rivalry and competition by providing unmatched facilities for quick transportation。
In the last days previous to the opening of the first transcontinental railway line a unique method of rapid transportation for mail and light parcels was established when the famous 〃Pony Express〃 line was put into operation between St。 Joseph and San Francisco in 1860。 By relays of horsemen； who carried pouches not exceeding twenty pounds in weight； the time was cut to nine days。 The innovation was the new wonder of the world for the time being and led to an outburst on the part of the enthusiastic editor of the St。 Joseph Free Democrat that deserves reading because it breathes so fully the Western spirit of exultant conquest：
〃Take down your map and trace the footprints of our quadrupedantic animal： From St。 Joseph； on the Missouri； to San Francisco； on the Golden Horn two thousand milesmore than half the distance across our boundless continent； through Kansas； through Nebraska； by Fort Kearney； along the Platte； by Fort Laramie； past the Buttes； over the Mountains； through the narrow passes and along the steep defiles； Utah； Fort Bridger； Salt Lake City； he witches Brigham with his swift pony…ship through the valleys； along the grassy slopes； into the snow； into the sand； faster than Thor's Thialfi； away they go； rider and horsedid you see them？ They are in California； leaping over its golden sands； treading its busy streets。 The courser has unrolled to us the great American panorama； allowed us to glance at the home of one million people； and has put a girdle around the earth in forty minutes。 Verily the riding is like the riding of Jehu； the son of Nimshi for he rideth furiously。 Take out your watch。 We are eight days from New York； eighteen from London。 The race is to the swift。〃*
* Quoted in Inman's 〃The Great Salt Lake Trail；〃 p。 171。
The lifetime of many and many a man has covered a period longer than that interval of eighty…six years between 1783； when George Washington had his vision of 〃the vast inland navigation of these United States；〃 and the year 1869； when the two divisions of the Union Pacific were joined by a golden spike at Promontory Point in Utah。 In point of time； those eighty…six years are as nothing； in point of accomplishment； they stand unparalleled。 When Washington's horse splashed across the Youghiogheny in October； 1784； the boundary lines of the United States were guarded with all the jealousy and provincial selfishness of European kingdoms。 But overnight； so to sneak these limitations became no more than mere geometrical expressions。 〃Pennamite；〃 〃Erie；〃 and 〃Toledo〃 wars between the States； suggesting a world of bitterness and recrimination； are remembered today； if at all； only by the cartoonist and the playwright。 The ancient false pride in mock values； so cherished in Europe； has quite departed from the provincial areas of the United States； and Americans can fly in a day； unwittingly； through many States。 Problems that would have cost Europe blood are settled without turmoil in the solemn cloisters of that American 〃international tribunal；〃 the Supreme Court； and they appear only as items of passing interest in our newspapers。
In unifying the nation the influence of the Supreme Court has been priceless； for it has given to Americans； in place of the colonial or provincial mind； a continental mind。 But great is the debt of Americans to the men who laid the foundations of interstate commerce。 No antidote served so well to counteract the poison of clannish rivalry as did their enthusiasm and their constructive energy。 These men； dreamers and promoters； were building better than they knew。 They thought to overcome mountains； obliterate swamps； conquer stormy lakes； master great rivers and endless plains； but； as their labors are judged today； the greater service which these men rendered appears in its true light。 They stifled provincialism； they battered down Chinese Walls of prejudice and separatism； they reduced the aimless rivalry of bickering provinces to a businesslike common denominator； and； perhaps more than any class of men； they made possible the wide…spreading and yet united Republic that is honored and loved today。
BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTE
The history of the early phase of American transportation is dealt with in three general works。 John Luther Ringwalt's 〃Development of Transportation Systems in the United States〃 （1888） is a reliable summary of the general subject at the time。 Archer B。 Hulbert's 〃Historic Highways of America；〃 16 vols。 （1902…1905）； is a collection of monographs of varying quality written with youthful enthusiasm by the author； who traversed in good part the main pioneer roads and canals of the eastern portion of the United States； Indian trails； portage paths； the military roads of the Old French War period； the Ohio River as a pathway of migration； the Cumberland Road； and three of the canals which played a part in the western movement； form the subject of the more valuable volumes。 The temptation of a writer on transportation to wander from his subject is illustrated in this work； as it is illustrated afresh in Seymour Dunbar's 〃A History of Travel in America；〃 4 vols。 （1915）。 The reader will take great pleasure in this magnificently illustrated work； which； in completer fashion than it has ever been attempted； gives a readable running story of the whole subject for the whole country； despite detours； which some will make around the many pages devoted to Indian relations。
For almost every phase of the general topic books； monographs； pamphlets； and articles are to be found in the corners of any great library； ranging in character from such productions as William F。 Ganong's 〃A Monograph of Historic Sites in the Province of New Brunswick〃 （〃Proceedings and Transactions〃 of the Royal Society of Canada； Second Series； vol。 V； 1899） which treats of early travel in New England and Canada； or St。 George L。 Sioussat's 〃Highway Legislation in Maryland and its Influence on the Economic Development of the State〃 （〃Maryland Geological Survey；〃 III； 1899） treating of colonial road making and legislation thereon； or Elbert J。 Benton's 〃The Wabash Trade Route in the Development of the Old Northwest〃 （〃Johns Hopkins University Studies in Historical and Political Science；〃 vol。 XXI； 1903） and Julius Winden's 〃The Influence of the Erie Canal upon the Population along its Course〃 （University of Wisconsin； 1901）； which treat of the economic and political influence of the opening of inland water routes； to volumes of a more popular character such as Francis W。 Halsey's 〃The Old New York Frontier〃 （1901）； Frank H。 Severance's 〃Old Trails on the Niagara Frontier〃 （1903） for the North； and Charles A。 Hanna's 〃The Wilderness Trail〃； 2 vols。 （1911）； and Thomas Speed's 〃The Wilderness Road〃 （〃The Filson Club Publications；〃 vol。 II； 1886） for Pennsylvania； Virginia； and Kentucky。 The value of Hanna's work deserves special mention。
For the early phases of inland navigation John Pickell's 〃A New Chapter in the Early Life of Washington〃 （1856）； is an excellent work of the old…fashioned type； while in Herbert B。 Adams's 〃Maryland's Influence upon Land Cessions to the United States〃 （〃Johns Hopkins University Studi