[SoCal Pubbie]

At least in that case the railroads were considered “public” transportation routes, like highways. They are highly regulated and almost like public utilities. It can be argued that railroads provide a vital public service.

The Kelo decision means that government can force you to sell your home so that a private yacht club or golf course can be built. The justification is that more tax revenues can be raised. It was criminal, IMHO.

[Hiddigeigei]

I’m not saying that the building of the railroads was a bad thing.
But a corrupt congress took land that had already been settled and gave it to the railroad companies (private enterprises just like Pfizer drugs); railroads that were largely financed by British capitalists. Corrupt congressmen got paid off, and the settlers got shafted. There are letters to congressmen in the Library of Congress voicing the settlers complaints.