Getting There: The Epic Struggle Between Road and Rail in the American Century"A readable and concise overview of how U.S. transportation came to its present pass. . . . Goddard is at his best when recounting the complex and interesting history of what has come to be called 'the highway lobby.'. . . An excellent book for the general reader with an interest in getting around."—Larry Fish, Philadelphia Inquirer "This is a riveting story: of mighty railroads hamstrung almost overnight by government bureaucrats; of road interests led by General Motors Corp. conspiring in city after city to destroy efficient trolley systems . . . and of freeways that are far from free."—Bill Laitner, Detroit Free Press "The combination of forces and fates that turned America into a giant parking lot from sea to shining sea is the subject of Stephen B. Goddard's lively pop history. . . . As Mr. Goddard ably points out, road-building and the creation of car-dependent suburbs have become ends in themselves."—James Howard Kunstler, Wall Street Journal "The strength of Goddard's book is that he understands the complexities of manipulating public opinion to influence legislatures."—David Young, Chicago Tribune "[Goddard's] book is a deft and easily read history of how transportation has shaped the nation and its economy, and ultimately, how a federation of truck and car interests drastically tilted national policies. . . . For many reasons this is an exceptionally important work."—Jim Dwyer, New York Newsday |
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GETTING THERE: The Epic Struggle Between Road and Rail in the American Century
User Review - KirkusA lively, sometimes polemical, but often persuasive look at the rise and decline of the once-mighty railroads and the ills of America's exclusive reliance on the ``highway-motor complex.'' The car and ... Read full review
Getting there: the epic struggle between road and rail in the American century
User Review - Not Available - Book VerdictGoddard tells the story of how the struggle between the highwaymen and the railroaders ultimately changed the course of modern transportation systems and the U.S. economy. He describes how the ... Read full review
Contents
1917 | |
THE RUNAWAY IRON HORSE | 16 |
THE GOOD ROADS CRUSADE | 37 |
THE ELECTRIC SHOOTING STAR | 59 |
MOTORING FOR PROFIT THE BIRTH OF TRUCKING | 78 |
THE TROJAN HORSELESS CARRIAGE | 96 |
DERAILING THE TROLLEYS | 114 |
APPLYING THE BRAKES | 132 |
THE UNSHACKLING | 220 |
SAME GAME NEW RULES | 229 |
TAKING STOCK | 240 |
TECHNOLOGY TO THE RESCUE? | 251 |
SINKING OR SWIMMING IN A GLOBAL ECONOMY | 265 |
NOTES | 277 |
BIBLIOGRAPHY | 308 |
| 326 | |
HARD TIMES | 145 |
A WAR ABROAD A CONFLICT AT HOME | 158 |
INTERSTATE SOCIALISM | 173 |
A NEW AMERICA | 192 |
TROUBLE IN PARADISE | 201 |
| 328 | |
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS | 329 |
| 333 | |
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Common terms and phrases
American Association auto automobile become began bill build built called carriers carry cars century chapter charge Chicago cities Commerce Commission Committee commuters companies compete competition Congress costs Court created decades demand developed dollars drive early economic electric engineers European fact federal financing forced freight gridlock hand haul Hearings highway House hundred Ibid increase industry interstate land later less limited lines live MacDonald mass Michigan miles million motor move offer operating passenger percent political president production profits rail railroads railways rates regulation road and rail roads routes Senate soon Street streetcar superhighways thousand track traffic trains transit Transportation trolley truckers trucks turned United urban vehicles Washington World York
Bibliographic information
| Title | Getting There: The Epic Struggle Between Road and Rail in the American Century Chicago Lectures in Mathematics |
| Author | Stephen B. Goddard |
| Edition | illustrated, reprint |
| Publisher | University of Chicago Press, 1996 |
| ISBN | 0226300439, 9780226300436 |
| Length | 351 pages |
| Subjects | › › History / United States / General Transportation / General |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |