[ckilmer]

Here’s are a couple articles on the subject
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infrastructure_policy_of_the_United_States

https://eh.net/book_reviews/opening-the-west-federal-internal-improvements-before-1860/

https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/studies-in-american-political-development/article/abs/internal-improvements-and-the-union-17901860/3600F71EABC2CFC64CE08F66995F5B90

https://courses.lumenlearning.com/wm-ushistory1/chapter/on-the-move-the-transportation-revolution/

https://study.com/learn/lesson/henry-clay-american-system-overview-analysis.html

[Chad C. Mulligan]

OK, Cumberland Road, I’d forgotten that. But it provided an immediate tangible benefit, while this fusion project is pie-in-the sky, like the windmill and solar subsidies which have been either negative or have gone bankrupt, taking the federal subsidies with them.