Within these belts, they were allowed to choose alternate mile square sections in a checkerboard pattern. Railroads withheld all land from other users until they determine the location of tracks and decided which sections were the choicest sections.
People later criticize that giving land to railroad companies was giving away valuable birthrights to greedy corporations. Granting land was a cheap way to promote the transportation system because it avoided new taxes for direct cash grants. Could turn the land into gold by using it as collateral for a loan from private banker or sell it.
They made more money than they used on construction and paid congressmen to look the other way so they were basically stealing from the government. Chinese laborers were cheap, efficient, and expendable but many lost their lives in explosions are other accidents.
Central Pacific railroad could only chip a few inches a day while the Union Pacific railroad used sledgehammers and was much more efficient. The transcontinental railroad connected east to the west and facilitated trade with Asia and allowed growth. Withheld all land from other users until they determine the location of tracks and decided which sections were the choicest sections.
Hurt land and because settlers who are following the roads plowed tall grass, planted corn fields and their cattle displaced. The success of western lines was facilitated by wielding together and expanding the older eastern network. He helped popularized steel rails which were safer and more economical because it could carry a heavy load.
