Why was Private Investment Necessary for the Growth and Development of Both Canals and Railroads? So which way do you think would have been the best way to move goods between Philadelphia and Baltimore in the early 19th century - land or water? Back then, the land route was shorter but the roads were very bad. Cargo went by horse drawn wagon which was bumpy and unreliable. The water route was smoother but took much longer. Ships had to go all the way around the Delmarva Peninsula. There had to be a better way! In the 1820's, merchants in Baltimore realized that America's transportation system had to improve or they would soon be out of business. There was a growing need to move raw goods, resources, and farm products out of America's interior to the cities. There was also a need to move finished goods both in and out of Baltimore - to Philadelphia and to cities up and down the east coast, and around the world. Merchants, bankers, and other business people banded together to develop new modes of transportation to carry the growing trade of a growing country. These modes included canals and railroads. Different groups invested in different systems. Which would be better? Which would be cheaper? Which would win the race to connect America's cities and her rural areas. In this Maryland Exploration, you will learn about both canals and railroads. The focus will be on the Chesapeake and Delaware (C&D) Canal, and the Baltimore and Ohio (B&O) Railroad. You will discover for yourself which is faster, cheaper, and more efficient.

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