Final answer:
Cornelius Vanderbilt built a Railroad Junction where the tracks of several major railroads connected. This consolidation provided more efficient connections from Midwestern suppliers to eastern markets.
Step-by-step explanation:
Cornelius Vanderbilt built a place where the tracks of several major railroads connected, which is known as a Railroad Junction. Vanderbilt consolidated smaller railroad lines to create the powerful New York Central Railroad Company and later purchased stock in major rail lines that connected his company to Chicago, creating a railroad network between Chicago and New York City. This consolidation provided more efficient connections from Midwestern suppliers to eastern markets.