Many factors combined to produce this burst of industrial activity. The exploitation of Western resources, including mines and lumber, stimulated a demand for improved transportation, while the gold and silver mines provided new sources of capital for investment in the East. The construction of railroads, especially in the West and South, with the resulting demand for steel rails, was a major force in the expansion of the steel industry and increased the railroad mileage in the United States from less than 93,262 miles (150,151 kilometres) in 1880 to about 190,000 miles (310,000 kilometres) in 1900.
The Industry benefited/benefits the U.S. since it helped us grow into a massive economical force that made other countries want to do business with us. Our market developed and growled exponentially, then we traded and sold the goods to other countries. It also helped with unemployment rates.
