why are our railroads so important?

The vital function of railroads is to move anything, [music] anywhere, anytime to mills, markets, and ports swiftly and safely at low cost, giving the nation's products meaning and value for both producer and consumer. [music and bell] Railroads are the common denominator of American industry. Agriculture, mining, manufacturing, each in its own right, a [music] great and vital industry, but each dependent on another basic industry, transportation by rail. The food we eat, [music] the clothes we wear, the fuel we burn, the cars we drive, all depend at some stage of their production upon railroads.