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In 1845, Asa presents a plan to Congress for the building of a railroad from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean.
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The settlement of the Oregon boundary, acquisition of western territories from Mexico, and discovery of gold in California all increased support for the project.
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Congress gives the funds to survey the proposed routes for the track.
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Created the territories of Kansas and Nebraska introducing more land for settlement.
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During the Civil War, Congress enacted legislation providing construction of the Transcontinental Railroad. Two companies build it and a 30-year government loan is given for each mile of track constructed.
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The Union Pacific starts construction at Omaha, Nebraska and the Central Pacific starts construction in Sacramento, California.
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In Promontory Summit, Utah a golden spike joined the two railways and creating the first transcontinental railroad.
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One railroad was from Lake Superior to Oregon, another was from Kansas to Los Angeles, and the third one is from Los Angeles to New Orleans.
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This line ran from Minnesota to Washington. Every company after the first two only received land and no government loans and scandals like Crédit Mobilier were frequent. These new railroads aided both settling in the West and the economy.
