Question

It was a simple matter to find fault with the railroad; it has always been its fate to arouse the opposition of the farmers. this hostility appeared early and was based largely upon grounds that have a familiar sound even today. the railroad, they said, was a natural monopoly; no private citizen could hope ever to own one; it was thus a kind of monster which, if encouraged, would override all popular rights. from this economic criticism the enemies of the railroad passed to details of construction: the rails would be washed out by rains; they could be destroyed by mischievous people; they would snap under the cold of winter or be buried under the snow for a considerable period, thus stopping all communication. to all these pleas the advocates of the railroad had one unassailable argument—its infinitely greater speed. after all, it took a towboat three or four days to go from albany to buffalo, and the time was not far distant, they argued, when a railroad would make the same trip in less than a day.

Answer 1

The primary criticism against the railroad in its early days centered on its perceived monopolistic nature and potential dangers in construction. However, advocates countered these concerns by emphasizing the significant advantage of speed that railroads offered over other modes of transportation.

Step-by-step explanation:

During the early days of the railroad, critics primarily focused on the economic implications, arguing that the railroad industry was a natural monopoly inaccessible to private citizens. They feared that this monopoly would infringe upon popular rights, potentially leading to exploitation. Furthermore, concerns about construction details like rail vulnerability to natural elements (rain, cold, snow) and potential destruction by malicious individuals added to the opposition.

Advocates of the railroad, however, presented a compelling argument: speed. They highlighted the immense advantage of rapid transportation. For instance, while it took several days for a towboat to travel from Albany to Buffalo, they predicted that a railroad could complete the same journey in less than a day. This emphasis on increased speed became the cornerstone of their defense against the criticisms.

The debate over the railroad's pros and cons highlighted contrasting perspectives. Critics expressed apprehensions regarding its monopolistic nature and vulnerability, while supporters championed its unparalleled speed as a transformative factor in transportation. Ultimately, the emphasis on speed became a crucial point in advocating for the widespread adoption of railroads despite the initial skepticism and opposition.

Answer 2

The correct answer is D - the central idea of the passage is that while the railroad faced opposition from farmers and was criticized for being a threat to their natural rights, its advocates highlighted its greater speed compared to other modes of transportation.

The central idea of the passage is that farmers opposed the railroad due to concerns about its potential monopolistic power and threats to their natural rights. However, its advocates highlighted the railroad's greater speed compared to other modes of transportation.

The passage mentions that farmers believed the railroad to be a natural monopoly that would override popular rights, and they also criticized its construction and durability. However, the advocates of the railroad argued that it offered much greater speed than other means of transportation, such as towboats, and would eventually be able to make trips in less than a day.