27．The railroad could be and was a despoiler of nature；furthermore，in its manifestation of speed andnoise，it might be adespoiler of human nature as well．

(关联结构could be and was)

铁路可以，事实上也是自然的掠夺者；而且，在其速度和噪音的表现上也可能是人性的掠夺者。

分句1. Therailroad could be and was a despoiler of nature

分句2. itmight be a despoiler of human nature as well．

1和2 是并列 （由分号连接的两个并列分句）