Why did railroad leaders consolidate their lines in the 1880s?

Responses

to reduce competition and increase efficiency
to reduce competition and increase efficiency

to keep from becoming “too big too quickly”
to keep from becoming “too big too quickly”

to ensure vertical integration
to ensure vertical integration

to increase rapid construction of railroad lines

1 answer

Railroad leaders consolidated their lines in the 1880s primarily to reduce competition and increase efficiency. By merging smaller, competing lines into larger networks, they aimed to streamline operations, reduce duplicate services, and create a more cohesive and cost-effective transportation system. This consolidation allowed for better management, resource allocation, and coordination in railroad operations, ultimately leading to improved profitability and service reliability.