The Pacific Railway Act of 1862 set the pattern for government land grants by giving the builders of the Union Pacific and Central Pacific railroads
A) five square miles of public land on each side of their right-of-way for every mile of track laid.
B) a ten-year exemption from state taxes.
C) a twenty-year exemption from government regulation.
D) the right to import an unlimited supply of Chinese labor.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The Pacific Railway Act of 1862 granted the builders of the Union Pacific and Central Pacific railroads five square miles of public land on each side of their right-of-way for every mile of track laid, to support the construction and operation of the transcontinental railroad. This was a significant incentive for the railroad companies and helped facilitate the rapid expansion of the rail network across the United States.

The Pacific Railway Act of 1862 Set the Pattern for Government