Question

How did the growth of the rail networks impact the meatpacking industry?
The meatpacking industry shrank because the demand for other natural resources increased.
The meatpacking industry grew because the cattle population increased.
The meatpacking industry grew because railroads were used to deliver large quantities of meat from processing plants to locations across the country.
The meatpacking industry shrank because there was no safe way to transport meat on rail cars.

Answer 1

Correct answer: "The meatpacking industry grew because railroads were used to deliver large quantities of meat from processing plants to locations across the country."

Explanation: Rail networks (and refrigerated railcars) let packing centers ship boxed and processed meat nationwide and bring live cattle to centralized stockyards (e.g., Chicago). That created national markets, economies of scale, and rapid industry growth. The other options are inaccurate or incomplete.