Before the advent of highways and air travel, the paths of inland commerce were the lifeblood of America's economy. In this comprehensive history, Archer Butler Hulbert takes us on a tour of the trail, road, and waterway systems that connected the nation, from the earliest Native American trade routes to the great canals and railways of the modern era. Drawing on extensive research and illustrated with dozens of maps and photographs, 'The Paths of Inland Commerce' is an essential guide to understanding the foundations of America's economic and social development. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.