[bagman]

I think that you will find that the Union Pacific and Central Pacific had substantial backing from the Federal government.

[massgopguy]

Who do you think sent the new sheriff to Rock Ridge?

[massgopguy]

Who do you think sent the new sheriff to Rock Ridge?

[N. Theknow]

I think that you will find that the Union Pacific and Central Pacific had substantial backing from the Federal government.

Correct.

Each railroad was given 6400 acres of land, which they could sell to settlers to help populate the route with customers, and each railroad was paid $48,000 per mile of track laid.

However, they had 14 years from the passage of the Pacific Railroad Act of 1862 to complete the job, or they would forfeit ALL the land AND the money.

And in typical Government fashion, the two lines passed each other in Utah because no one was thinking ahead to establish a junction point.

Promontory Point, Utah was selected and the Golden Spike was driven on May 10, 1869. 7 years ahead of schedule.

[hsalaw]

I think that you will find that the Union Pacific and Central Pacific had substantial backing from the Federal government.

Maybe to the extent that the government gave them the power of eminent domain/inverse condemnation so they could take the land they needed, but did it provide any funding?