[WalterBright]

1. It finished the railroad in 1869. 1873 was four years later. 1893 was 24 years later - a generation.

2. Check out "Nothing Like It in the World" by Ambrose.

[AnimalMuppet]

Right, but four years later was definitely caused by the problem of (and shenanigans around) financing the original construction. Even if you want to say that 1893 was too late to be relevant, 1873 wasn't. It was the problem of financing the original construction that damaged the entire US economy.