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The early days of railroad cars saw accidents due to faulty brakes. Progress expanded at the development of that new and reliable invention known as the air brake, the transcontental railroad was completed, andnow it was more feasible, cheaper, and safer than ever to travel to the West. Refrigeration saw the expansion of moving fresh produce for sale in Eastern markets.
A new age of high speed and lighter labors are ushered in as electricity begins to replace steam. The problem is how to get the power distributed.
George Westinghouse develops the first distribution of AC rather than DC power. Arguments rage as to how safe it might be, but technical developments roll on. Is it actually a better power source than even natural gas?
To prove it’s merit, the Worlds Fair is powered by electricity for the first time, and thousands of electric lights light up the festive night. Soon power plants are being installed at Niagra Falls to harness its natural power to light the city of Buffalo, 20 miles away.
