New york city Quote by Bill Bryson
““With the canal, the cost of shipping a ton of flour from Buffalo to New York City fell from $120 a ton to $6 a ton, and the carrying time was reduced from three weeks to just over one. The effect on New York’s fortunes was breathtaking. Its share of national exports leaped from less than 10 percent in 1800 to over 60 percent by the middle of the century; in the same period, even more dazzlingly, its population went from ten thousand to well over half a million.””
About This Quote
Source Book: A Walk in the Woods, 1998
The Erie Canal dramatically cut shipping costs and time, spurring New York’s economic boom and massive population growth.
In simple terms: The canal made transport cheap and fast, boosting New York’s trade and size.
Key Takeaway
Invest in infrastructure to unlock growth.
Themes
economics
transportation
urbanization
industrialization
history
Mood
optimistic
reflective
Type
historical
analytical
When to use this quote
- business expansion
- city planning
- logistics
- policy making
Key Concepts
cost reduction
time efficiency
regional development
demographic shift
Questions to Reflect On
- How would modern transport upgrades reshape regional economies?
- What trade‑offs arise from rapid urban growth?
A Different Perspective
Infrastructure projects can have unintended environmental or social costs.
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