Wheeler & Hall Expansion Pd.7

1845

Jan 1, 1845

Asa Whitney presented Congress a plan for a federal government plan to subsidise the building of a railroad from the Mississippi river to the Pacific

1846

Apr 9, 1846

Settlement of the Oregon boundary in 1846

1848

Apr 9, 1848

Accquisition of western territories from Mexico

1849

Apr 9, 1849

Discovery of gold in california, discovery of it increased support for the project

1853

Apr 9, 1853

Congress appropiated funds to servey various proposed groups

1854

Apr 9, 1854

Rivalry over the route was intense, Senator Stephen Douglas intorduced his Kansas-Nebraska act, wanted to win apporval for a railway from Chicago, hoping that the North and South wouldn't delay the plans

1862

Jul 1, 1862

During Civil War, Reoublic controlled Congress enacted legislation allowing for the construction of a trancontinental line, railroad would be built by two companies, each company recieved subsidies of 10 mile area around railroads, doubled in 1864, 30-year government loan for each track constructed.

1863

Apr 10, 1863

Union Pacific railroad started construction in Omaha, Nebr., Central Pacidic broke gorund at Sacramento CA.

1869

May 10, 1869

Golden spike joins the two railways, completeing the first continental railroad.

1883

Apr 10, 1883

3 additional lines were finished

1893

Apr 10, 1893

Great Nothern line completed