What was the only use of trains before the 20th century?

Before the 20th century, the horse provided day to day transportation in the United States. Trains were used only for long-distance transportation.
   Today the car is the most popular sort of transportation in all of the United States. It has completely replaced the horse as a means of everyday transportation. Americans use their car for nearly 90 percent of all personal trips.
   Most Americans are able to buy cars. The average price of a recently made car was $ 2050 in 1950, $ 2740 in 1960 and up to $ 4750 in 1975. During this period American car manufacturers set about improving their products and work efficiency. As a result, the yearly income of the average family increased from 1950 to 1975 faster than the price of cars. For this reason purchasing a new car takes a smaller part of a family’s total earnings today.