Although railroads caused certain problems, they also made possible the rapid growth of industry after 1865. Building rail lines created thousands of jobs. Steelworkers turned millions of tons of iron into steel for tracks and engines. Lumberjacks cut down whole forests to supply wood for railroad ties. Miners sweated in dusty mine shafts digging coal to fuel railroad engines. The railroad companies themselves employed thousands of workers. They laid tracks, built trestles across rivers, carved tunnels through mountains, and built countless railroad stations.
The large railroads also pioneered new ways of managing business. Rail companies created special departments for shipping and accounting and for servicing equipment. Expert managers headed each department, while chains of command ensured that the organization ran smoothly. Other big businesses soon copied these management techniques.
Question
Use the passage to answer the question.
Why would it be important for railroads to use strong management techniques?(1 point)
Responses
to ensure a complex business ran smoothly
to create more growth in other industries
to continue to employ thousands of people
to create more railways across the country
1 answer
The correct response is:
to ensure a complex business ran smoothly.
Strong management techniques were important for railroads to effectively coordinate their extensive operations, which included track laying, equipment servicing, and employee management.
