- Joined
- Apr 4, 2017
- Location
- Denver, CO
Although Chris Gabel computed how much better railroads were than mule wagons with respect to tonsXmiles/ton of fuel, file:///C:/Users/BOB/AppData/Local/Temp/a445773.pdf, he admitted in one his oral talks, steamboats and steamships were even better.
The history of the quartermaster corps confirms that observation.
see page 406. https://books.google.com/books?id=U...hur Edwards" Quartermaster Bridgeport&f=false
And of course a large volume ocean transport would be even more efficient even if had to dock at a city away from the front and discharge its cargo into a shallow draft vessel. The savings were so numerous I probably will miss some. But there was less wear and tear on railroad lines and equipment. Fewer mules and horses were needed, so more food and forage could be directed to the front. Long logistical lines could be patrolled by naval vessels, which at least the US had to have anyway. The manpower requirements of staffing the steamboats and steamships were also probably less per ton of cargo.
The history of the quartermaster corps confirms that observation.
see page 406. https://books.google.com/books?id=U...hur Edwards" Quartermaster Bridgeport&f=false
And of course a large volume ocean transport would be even more efficient even if had to dock at a city away from the front and discharge its cargo into a shallow draft vessel. The savings were so numerous I probably will miss some. But there was less wear and tear on railroad lines and equipment. Fewer mules and horses were needed, so more food and forage could be directed to the front. Long logistical lines could be patrolled by naval vessels, which at least the US had to have anyway. The manpower requirements of staffing the steamboats and steamships were also probably less per ton of cargo.