In the 1800s, Cornelius Vanderbilt consolidated a number of small railroad

lines into the country's first railroad system. What was Vanderbilt's motive?

Vanderbilt's motive was simply to monopolise the railway system inorder to give him an edge in business transactions betwwen him and manufacturers.

He was aware that, the consolidation of the small railroad lines into the country's first railroad system would enable him to have an effective system of managing that means through which goods are transported. this he believe would give him an edge in determining the prices to be charged in trian tickets for individuals.

This exact approach was what Rockafellar adopted leading to him being able to buy up small oil firms. He achieved this by threatening to refuse to transport the goods of the smaller firms through railroad if they refused to allow him to buy a stake in the company.