Electric transmission lines, railroads and pipelines, among other utilities, provide little if any direct benefit to the people whose land they cross.
But they are absolutely essential if products are to be moved around efficiently. Which is precisely why the Constitution allows for eminent domain. Even if it’s abused wildly today.
I wonder if Tesla got this much grief when he was involved with those hydro electric projects at Niagara Falls.
There was probably a big WHALE OIL lobby that was totally against it.