From Town to City: Transportation
Figure 4: Boston and Providence Railroad Station, Boston, MA.
Prior to 1831, Boston didn’t have a railroad system. However, as the first locomotive engine was introduced in 1834, Boston quickly took advantage of these new technological advancements and introduced the Boston and Providence railway in June 1835 and the Boston and Worcester in July of the same year. With both government funds and private investments of approximately accumulating to a hundred million dollars, Boston quickly became the lead in railway expansion and commerce.[1] Through the development of such means of transportation, the city of Boston was able to create alternatives in which residents could easily access the city, while simultaneously allowing easier trading options between other cities and businesses. In order to attract more commuters, some rail lines offered lower fares for short trips to and from Boston, which allowed the working class to work within the city and live in the suburbs. However, more significantly, the railway system provided a convenient transport of goods from the Great Lakes, along the East Coast, and additional shipments to European countries with the help of steamboats, allowing Boston to become the central hub of transportation.[1] With such a significant role in the trading of goods, transportation also contributed to a major factor in the city’s urban space. With railways such the Boston and Worcester Railroad, easier accessibility to the Back Bay became convenient, and it also widened the Neck. With the countless numbers of railways leaving and enter Boston, such as the Old Colony Railroad and the Providence Railroad, entrepreneurs saw opportunities in benefitting from future business developments. Through the flow of commuters leaving Worcester on a daily basis, businessmen built the United States Hotel and other developments had many ideas of developing new infrastructures that would become economically beneficial.[2] Through the development of other business around major railroad lines, Boston’s commercial industries quickly flourished. Due to these newly developed railways, many individuals found it easier to commute to the city and this accessibility ultimately pushed families to move into the suburbs. In addition to railways running within Massachusetts’ state lines, the Western Railroad also became a milestone in locomotive transportation as it reached to cities as far as Albany.
On September 17, 1851, thousands of Bostonians thousands of Bostonians gathered at the Boston Common to celebrate the Great Boston Railroad Jubilee which marked the completion of railroad lines within Boston and the introduction of transportation between Montreal, the Great Lakes, and Chicago, as well as steamships which could travel to England.[1] Through such a significant improvement in transportation, Boston proved to obtain the most efficient source of transportation, and with these global and national links, it quickly became the center of commerce during the nineteenth century. Through such a rapid growth in transportation advancements, many immigrants saw this land to be promising and full of opportunities for a better future, which also led to the immigration of the Italians.
With such a large degree of developments in transportation, Boston was able to grow at an extremely rapid pace. By 1851, Boston had seven rail lines, five bridges, and two ferries, with an average of tens of thousands of commuters on a daily basis. In addition, the city became the center of commercial systems as it connected European countries with the American states.[1] Apart from its international and national effects, this massive development in transportation also created a significant shift within Boston’s urban space as suburbanization accelerated at much higher rates. Unfortunately, with the expansion of transportation, came an increase in property value. Although the more affluent families enjoyed this housing boom, many middle and low-income families could no longer afford homes in the downtown area and ultimately moved into neighborhoods such as Dorchester, Roxbury, and West Roxbury, while poor immigrant families flooded to the North End.[1] With a significant distinction of socioeconomic values in each neighborhood, also came a difference in the presence of transportation. While the wealthier and more affluent families enjoyed the benefits of the railroads and ferries, many of these poorer immigrants moved from place to place on horse railroads.
References:
[1] Puleo, Stephen. A City So Grand: The Rise of an American Metropolis, Boston 1850-1900. Boston: Beacon, 2010. Print.
[2] O’Connor, Thomas H. The Hub: Boston Past and Present. Boston: Northeastern University Press. 2001. Print. 105.
On September 17, 1851, thousands of Bostonians thousands of Bostonians gathered at the Boston Common to celebrate the Great Boston Railroad Jubilee which marked the completion of railroad lines within Boston and the introduction of transportation between Montreal, the Great Lakes, and Chicago, as well as steamships which could travel to England.[1] Through such a significant improvement in transportation, Boston proved to obtain the most efficient source of transportation, and with these global and national links, it quickly became the center of commerce during the nineteenth century. Through such a rapid growth in transportation advancements, many immigrants saw this land to be promising and full of opportunities for a better future, which also led to the immigration of the Italians.
With such a large degree of developments in transportation, Boston was able to grow at an extremely rapid pace. By 1851, Boston had seven rail lines, five bridges, and two ferries, with an average of tens of thousands of commuters on a daily basis. In addition, the city became the center of commercial systems as it connected European countries with the American states.[1] Apart from its international and national effects, this massive development in transportation also created a significant shift within Boston’s urban space as suburbanization accelerated at much higher rates. Unfortunately, with the expansion of transportation, came an increase in property value. Although the more affluent families enjoyed this housing boom, many middle and low-income families could no longer afford homes in the downtown area and ultimately moved into neighborhoods such as Dorchester, Roxbury, and West Roxbury, while poor immigrant families flooded to the North End.[1] With a significant distinction of socioeconomic values in each neighborhood, also came a difference in the presence of transportation. While the wealthier and more affluent families enjoyed the benefits of the railroads and ferries, many of these poorer immigrants moved from place to place on horse railroads.
References:
[1] Puleo, Stephen. A City So Grand: The Rise of an American Metropolis, Boston 1850-1900. Boston: Beacon, 2010. Print.
[2] O’Connor, Thomas H. The Hub: Boston Past and Present. Boston: Northeastern University Press. 2001. Print. 105.