Congress could not comprehend their possibilities or influence over the traffic of the country. nor how rapidly the railway would develop its usefulness. The building of railways and canals was thus left to the States. The gradeally opening West with the promise of its fertility and the inducements to emigrants to settle there produced the canals between the States of New York. Pennsylvania. and Maryland which led those States to constrct. or aid in the construction of. the canals to connect their chief cities on the Atlantic coast with the western lakes and rivers. that the promised prize of trade with the West that was to he might he secured to such cities. When the railway was first introduced into this country. about a half a century ago. its profitable use was thought to be limited to the largest centers of population and traffic.
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emigrants