Please, realize, that much like the thread on "intellectual property" the verses about the "Rock Island" are "poking-fun" at the ability to "slip-one-by" or "bye" or "buy" a large industrial conglomerate. An "awful" (original OE derivative "Full of Awe" ie "wonderful") lot of American songs take great pleasure in "giving-it-to-the-big-guy."
My opinion is, that in addition to "wonderful" "insider-innuendos" the "RailRoad Songs" like the "Cowboy" songs were able to capture the intrinsict rhythems within either the "rails" or the "trails."