How did transportation improve in the early 1800's. Give three examples.

The use of steamships became very popular in the United
States in the early 18oos after Robert Fulton had traveled to France and investigated
what had been done there with the steam engine.  In 1811, the first in a line of river
steamboats left the dock in Pittsburgh to steam down the Ohio River to the Mississippi
and on down to New Orleans, a major port of the United States.  Steamboats were used on
rivers and the great lakes for inexpensive transportation of goods.  However, there were
hazards and many ships were damaged in their excursions.  Also, they burned wood and
much deforestation took place during the era of
steamboats.

A third advancement was in the construction of
metal bridges which could sustain the weight of railroad cars, etc.  Plans for such
bridges such as the Manhattan Bridge date back to the early
1800s. 

Another great boon to transportation was
the creation of trains that could rapidly traverse the country with good.  Later, with
the invention of the refrigerator car, produce from California could arrive fresh in New
England, for example.  John Steinbeck's novel, East of Eden has a
character who seeks to make money by transporting lettuce on the railways.  However, his
idea was premature because the refrigerator cars were not yet
made.