One of the most colorful yet neglected eras in American transportation history is re-created in this definitive history of the electric interurbans. Built with the idea of attracting short-distance passenger traffic and light freight, the interurbans were largely constructed in the early 1900s. The rise of the automobile and motor transport caused the industry to decline after World War I, and the depression virtually annihilated the industry by the middle 1930s. Part I describes interurban construction, technology, ...
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One of the most colorful yet neglected eras in American transportation history is re-created in this definitive history of the electric interurbans. Built with the idea of attracting short-distance passenger traffic and light freight, the interurbans were largely constructed in the early 1900s. The rise of the automobile and motor transport caused the industry to decline after World War I, and the depression virtually annihilated the industry by the middle 1930s. Part I describes interurban construction, technology, passenger and freight traffic, financial history, and final decline and abandonment. Part II presents individual histories (with route maps) of the more than 300 companies of the interurban industry. Reviews "A first-rate work of such detail and discernment that it might well serve as a model for all corporate biographies. . . . A wonderfully capable job of distillation." -- Trains "Few economic, social, and business historians can afford to miss this definitive study." -- Mississippi Valley Historical Review "All seekers after nostalgia will be interested in this encyclopedic volume on the days when the clang, clang of the trolley was the most exciting travel sound the suburbs knew." -- Harper's Magazine "A fascinating and instructive chapter in the history of American transportation." -- Journal of Economic History "The hint that behind the grand facade of scholarship lies an expanse of boyish enthusiasm is strengthened by a lovingly amassed and beautifully reproduced collection of 37 photographs." -- The Nation
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Seller's Description:
Fair. Acceptable-This is a significantly damaged book. It should be considered a reading copy only. Please order this book only if you are interested in the content and not the condition. May be ex-library. PAPERBACK Standard-sized.
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Seller's Description:
Ex-Library in ex-lib jacket. Hardcover. ix+ 463 pp. with index of interurbans and general index. Map endpapers. Illustrated with photographs, charts, and maps. Ex-lib with the usual markings, in ex-lib dust jacket. Largely built in two great booms in the early 1900s with the idea of attracting short-distance passenger traffic and light freight, the interurbans were often locally financed and promoted. Though still rich in the imaginations of historians and railroaders, they had only moderate success, primarily due to the simultaneous ride of the automobile. This work, still considered a landmark study in its field, in Part I it covers the building and technology of the interurbans, their passenger and freight traffic, regulation by public authorities, finacial history, and their final decline and abandonment; in Part II, it presents histories of more than 300 companies that comprised the industry, organized by state,
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Seller's Description:
Very Good in Good jacket. 1st Printing. Very good, clean, tight condition. First edition. Edge worn jacket in mylar cover. Text free of marks. Professional book dealer since 1999. All orders are processed promptly and carefully packaged.
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Very good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
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Seller's Description:
Fair. Ex-library with typical library markings/labels. Tight binding. Unmarked text pages. Tan boards lightly scuffed/soiled. No DJ Your purchase benefits world-wide relief efforts of Mennonite Central Committee.
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Seller's Description:
VG+ in VG+ jacket. Octavo. Khaki colored cloth covered boards and spine with black lettering on the spine and a black illustration of an electric train on the lower corner of the front board. Book has very light sunning at the head of the spine where pieces of the dust jacket have been chipped away and some bumping at the tail. Mustard yellow endpapers with map and illustrations. Binding is straight and tight. Light cream colored pages are all clean and crisp, but there are two different shades, as if there was a change in the paper stock partway through the print run. Illustrated with a section of photographs in the center of the book and with a number of maps in "Part II The Individual Interurbans, " which begins on page 253. Dust Jacket-has light rubbing at the head and tail of the spine and at the tips of the outside corners. Some accompanying light chipping in all the same places. Bigger chip in the upper edge of the front cover near the outside corner is about 3/4" deep and 1/2" long. There are a couple closed tears in the lower edge of the rear cover with light accompanying wrinkles. Original $9.50 price on the upper corner of the front inside flap. Not a terribly common book.
