Transportation

During the 1850s most Texans tode on horseback or in wagons, but they saw room for improvement. Debris made it impossible to sail a boat down all rivers except the Rio Grande where there was regular shipping during the war with Mexico. Many towns had stagecoaches, which could bring a few passengers at a time. Constriction of railroads started in the 1850s and about 400 miles of track were in service by 1860 and were used mainly to transport goods to ports and markets.