What is the difference between scarcity and opportunity cost?

Scarcity is a condition that results from the lack of adequate resources to satisfy all the wants of individuals or society. As a result, individuals are forced to make choices on how to use such resources. Opportunity Costs refers to the  next highest valued alternative that is given up when such a choice is made.

in the 1800s, locomotives powered by steam made transportation faster and cheaper. the resulting rapid growth of railroads led to the connection of the atlantic and pacific railroad in oklahoma city in 1897.

in the last years of the century, the improvement of steam-based engines the expansion and growth of railroads. this growth increased when the companies started to build and expand, such as the atlantic and pacific railroad, which connected new mexico with california, and missouri with oklahoma. many of these new networks were built in oklahoma, and these changes transportation henceforward.