Private enterprise (aka Capitalism) brought this country together, not taxpayer subsidies. Once the railroads stopped making money, the owners found other things to do.
Incorrect.
Construction of the original transcontinental railroads was heavily subsidized with massive government land grants.
The transcontinental railroad construction was accompanied by governmental fraud, waste and abuse on a scale that was unknown in this country until that time.
Willie Green - Incorrect. Construction of the original transcontinental railroads was heavily subsidized with massive government land grants.
Professor Schweikert addressed this in his book, A Patriot's History of the United States.
Perhaps he would be kind enough to weigh-in on the subject. Incidently, Willie failed to address SZonian's charge that the owner's dropped rail once the profits fell.