Making the Grade, Comparing Elevations

[THE PILGRIM]

Since we already know a lot of you guys never heard of bar ditches or borrow ditches, let's try another one.
I will cut you Yankee boys some slack on this one, but no excuses allowed for Southerners! Besides, when you cut people slack they just want more slack. Slack is more addictive than crack cocaine.
Did you ever notice that when you're driving across a low swampy area, you will often see something nearby that's level and higher than the highway?
That is usual a railroad. Apparently Railroad Presidents told their construction people 'I don't ever want to be underwater'. You guys got that?
Whereas various governors have said 'its gonna cost how much? You got to find a way to lower the cost.'
So highways are generally lower than railroads. Often when all the roads including interstates are flooded, the railroads are still above the water.
You don't have to take my word! Travel around and look around.