Question

the railroads were both a cause and a victim of the economic downturn. overbuilding in the 1880s meant that many railroad companies finances were fragile - they were barely making money. in 1893, the philadelphia and reading railroad went bankrupt, helping to start the panic. many other leading railroads followed. industries, like steel, and a wide variety of businesses that had come to depend on the railroad were hurt, as were businesses that depended on those businesses. through a ripple effect, the whole economy suffered. reading check summarize how did railroad owners make profits?

Explanation:

The text describes the over - building of railroads in the 1880s and the financial fragility of railroad companies, but there is no information about how railroad owners made profits in the given text. We would need to look at other factors such as charging freight and passenger fees, land speculation related to railroad construction, and government subsidies (if applicable) in a broader context.

Answer:

The text does not provide information on how railroad owners made profits.