Final answer:
Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt chose to ship Goods and Merchandise to keep his trains full, leveraging his railroads to enhance the American economy and transport goods efficiently across the country.
Step-by-step explanation:
To maximize the efficiency of his railroad network and ensure his trains were always full, Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt decided to ship B) Goods and Merchandise. Vanderbilt's railroad empire, which consolidated smaller lines into the New York Central Railroad Company, centered on creating efficient connections from Midwestern suppliers to eastern markets.
His efforts bolstered the industrial contributions of the railroad sector, fundamentally changing the American economy. Vanderbilt's influence extended to the consolidation of major rail lines, which facilitated not only the movement of raw materials to factories but also the transportation of finished goods to consumer markets.
Fulfilling the demands of both freight and passenger traffic, Vanderbilt's railroads played a pivotal role in supporting the nation's first "big business." By the close of the 19th century, railroads had exploded in growth, laying a web of tracks that connected virtually every corner of the United States and dramatically increased the volume of transported goods and passengers.