1824–1826 brought news of multiple charter applications and grants for a variety of canal and turnpike and rail projects in the eastern and near midwestern states, then early March 1827 brought electric news to American financial markets: word that rails were being laid on the 9 miles wagon road's mountain descent from the anthracite mines at Summit Hill, Pennsylvania, to the Lehigh Canal at Mauch Chunk by the Lehigh Coal & Navigation Company &mdash; conversion of a well-known engineering marvel into a railroad.