[roadcat]

First, Lincoln didn’t build the transcontinental railroad; the railroads built the line themselves with minimal support from Congress.

Well, the railroad companies did build it themselves, but they ripped off the U.S. taxpayers with fraudulent subsidies from Congess. Nothing changes! They were given subsidies for laying rail at different rates, depending on the terrain. Of course, they greatly overstated the mileage for mountainous grade versus flat terrain. Part of the money needed for the transcontinental railroad was gotten by cheating investors and customers on the vision of infrastructure (towns and commerce) that did not exist - again, nothing changes.

[org.whodat]

Actually they, the railroad people were stealing land, not building a railroad. They were given millions of acres along the rail line. One of the biggest scams ever.