[mbarker12474]

Private companies built railroads in the 1800s.

Imagine.

[garyb]

Private companies were given the right of way and land to be able to afford to build the railway.

http://www.loc.gov/teachers/classroommaterials/presentationsandactivities/presentations/timeline/riseind/railroad/grants.html

[PAR35]

Private companies built railroads in the 1800s.

And almost all of them went broke at least once. I think the Georgia Railroad was one of the few that avoided bankruptcy because the banking subsidiary was highly profitable and they got favorable tax treatment from the state.