The Railroads

Pacific Railway Act- provided for the construction of a transcontinental railroad by two corporations (1862). It offered each company land along its right-a-way to encourage rapid construction.

Grenville Dodge-Former Union general. Engineer of the Union Pacific that pushed westward from Omaha, Nebraska (1865).

Leland Stanford- One of four owners of the Central Pacific Railroad Company. Founder of Stanford University. Hammered in the last “golden spike,” linking the Union Pacific and Central Pacific at Promontory, Utah (1869).

Cornelius Vanderbilt- One of the most successful railroad consolidators. Offered the first direct rail service between New York City and Chicago.

Time Zones- American Railway Association divided the country into four time zones in 1883. Prior to this each community set its clocks by the sun’s position at noon. This interfered with train scheduling. The time zones made train travel more practical and safe.

Land Grants- given to many railroad companies to encourage railroad construction across the Great Plains.

Jay Gould- most notoriously corrupt railroad owner.

Credit Mobilier- Construction company set up stockholders of the Union Pacific Railroad. Center of corruption when they would overcharge UPR, but UPR paid without questioning, because same people were in charge of both companies.

James J. Hill- Built and operated the Great Northern Railroad.