Question

Which circumstance was most directly responsible for the rapid growth of the railroad industry?

Inventors developed air brakes and more efficient train-car connectors


Builders agreed on a universal width for train tracks


Railroad owners sold stock to investors to finance the construction of railroads


Pullman began manufacturing cars for overnight travel

Answer 1

Option C- Railroad owners sold stock to investors to finance the construction of railroads

This was the most important reason that was directly responsible for the rapid growth of the railroad industry because constructing railways was a very expensive capital investment business. Hence railroad owners sold stock to investors to finance the construction of railroads.