Transcontinental+Railroads+Nf

=Transcontinental Railroads = ====﻿The railroad boom began in 1862 when Abraham Lincoln signed the Pacific Railway Act. This act provided the construction of a transcontinental railroad by two corporations. To encourage rapid construction, the government offered each company land along its right-of-way. A competition between the two companies developed, as each raced to obtain as much land and money as possible. ==== 