in 1793 and interchangeable parts in 1798--the former enabling growth of a plantation and slave economy in the South and the latter prefiguring mechanized, standardized manufacture as a replacement for domestic craft (Burke, 1978).
In one way English and American versions of the Industrial Revolution were similar: Producers of materials faced the problem of transporting goods to market. In England, colliers created "wooden rails on which were drawn the little cars used . . . to carry the coal from the mines to tidewater" (Moody, 1921, p. 2).
The driving of large coal wagons along the public highway made deep ruts in the road, and some ingenious person began repairing the damage by laying wooden planks in the furrows. The coal wagons drove over this crude roadbed so successfully that certain proprietors started constructing special planked roadways from the mines to the river mouth. (Moody, p. 2)
The planked roads had logs, or ties, crosswise at intervals. On top of these, wood rails were laid. That reduced wagon friction and the number of horses nee
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