The Evolution of Mail Transportation
Foot and Horse Mail Delivery-
For hundreds of years, all supplies, packages, mail, messages, etc. was delivered by foot or by horseback, and later on by Horse drawn carriages. This was how word go around, and it was slow. If a message had to be delivered across the country by foot or by horse, then it would take months. That is why people started to invent new forms of transportation of mail and new forms of communication. Even when simple sail boats were invented they didn't provide a much faster travel time than, especially since they were wind powered and could only travel downstream. This inconvenience spurred the idea of having improved technology such as the Telegraph and even before that improved boats such as Steam Boats.
For hundreds of years, all supplies, packages, mail, messages, etc. was delivered by foot or by horseback, and later on by Horse drawn carriages. This was how word go around, and it was slow. If a message had to be delivered across the country by foot or by horse, then it would take months. That is why people started to invent new forms of transportation of mail and new forms of communication. Even when simple sail boats were invented they didn't provide a much faster travel time than, especially since they were wind powered and could only travel downstream. This inconvenience spurred the idea of having improved technology such as the Telegraph and even before that improved boats such as Steam Boats.
Steam Boat Mail Delivery-
For a while supplies, food, materials, and mail was delivered by simple boats, which was quicker than by foot. But the only problem was that these boats didn't have enough power to go upstream, it was such a hassle that some men would just deliver the supplies by boat going downstream and then walk back, which was a long journey. One man knew that solving this problem would really help the delivery of mail and supplies everywhere and improve peoples lives, especially delivery men. This man was Robert Fulton. On August 14,1807, Fulton started up his new invention, a boat powered by steam. On this boat sat a large copper boiler with a cylindrical steam engine, and on top of that was a smokestack. The first boat that invented powered by steam was the Clermont. Although this boat looked crazy, with all of its black steam pouring out, it worked it was chugging its way up the Hudson river without having to battle the winds and currents. This new form of transportation improved the delivery between the North and South. Materials, supplies, or even urgent messages and mail could be delivered upstream.
For a while supplies, food, materials, and mail was delivered by simple boats, which was quicker than by foot. But the only problem was that these boats didn't have enough power to go upstream, it was such a hassle that some men would just deliver the supplies by boat going downstream and then walk back, which was a long journey. One man knew that solving this problem would really help the delivery of mail and supplies everywhere and improve peoples lives, especially delivery men. This man was Robert Fulton. On August 14,1807, Fulton started up his new invention, a boat powered by steam. On this boat sat a large copper boiler with a cylindrical steam engine, and on top of that was a smokestack. The first boat that invented powered by steam was the Clermont. Although this boat looked crazy, with all of its black steam pouring out, it worked it was chugging its way up the Hudson river without having to battle the winds and currents. This new form of transportation improved the delivery between the North and South. Materials, supplies, or even urgent messages and mail could be delivered upstream.
Train Mail Delivery-
Trains were invented very early, which helped with the quick transportation of supplies, freight, mail, packages and passengers. But these earlier trains were invented on wooden rails, which were less sturdy. Then in 1776 wooden rails were replaced with with Iron rails. Then more efficient Trains were invented in 1814, with steam powered engines. This increased the speed tremendously and improved the efficiency of delivering mail, messages, packages, and all early far distance communication. Railroads started popping up everywhere =, and this increased the business of railroad companies. It started to become very popular to travel by train and to transport supplies and messages. By the mid 19th century train business was booming. By 1870, there were 53,000 miles of Railroads tracks across America, and hundreds of different railroad companies. Railroads and street cars became the big form of transportation before automobiles were invented.
Trains were invented very early, which helped with the quick transportation of supplies, freight, mail, packages and passengers. But these earlier trains were invented on wooden rails, which were less sturdy. Then in 1776 wooden rails were replaced with with Iron rails. Then more efficient Trains were invented in 1814, with steam powered engines. This increased the speed tremendously and improved the efficiency of delivering mail, messages, packages, and all early far distance communication. Railroads started popping up everywhere =, and this increased the business of railroad companies. It started to become very popular to travel by train and to transport supplies and messages. By the mid 19th century train business was booming. By 1870, there were 53,000 miles of Railroads tracks across America, and hundreds of different railroad companies. Railroads and street cars became the big form of transportation before automobiles were invented.