One of the most important contributions to the economic growth of the United States in the first half of the 19th century was the development of a railroad network that, by 1860, had 30,000 miles of track and connected almost all of the country east of the Mississippi River.The railroads quickly relegated other advancements in transportation such as steamboats and canals to second class importance.Discuss how this impacted economic growth in the country.Why did the railroads become more import than canals?How was business organization forced to change as railroads grew larger in size?