[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?

[bagman]

Please see Post 65 of this thread. The railroads were given land, which they could sell and a substantial amount of Federal bonds which could be sold and converted to cash - $16,000 per mile built over an easy grade, $32,000 per mile in the high plains, and $48,000 per mile in the mountains.