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Article: Central Pacific–Union Pacific Race
- Article from:
- Dictionary of American History
- Author:
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CENTRAL PACIFIC
–
UNION PACIFIC RACE
CENTRAL PACIFIC
–
UNION PACIFIC RACE,
a construction contest between the two railroad companies bidding for government subsidies, land grants, and public favor. The original Pacific Railway Act (1862) authorized the Central Pacific to build eastward from California and the Union Pacific to build westward to the western Nevada boundary. This legislation generated almost no investment interest in the project and therefore was unpopular with the nascent railroad companies. The more liberal Pacific Railway Act of 1864 and later amendments brought greater interest in the project and authorized the roads to continue construction until they met. ...