CONTENTS. 



PART I. 

 RAILROAD MONOPOLIES. 



CHAPTER I. 

 THE EISE AND PEOGEESS OF AMEEICAN BAILEOADS. 



The first Eailroad Enterprises The Pioneer Eailroad A Modest Begin- 

 ning The Mauch Chunk Eailroad Inauguration of the Eailroad Sys- 

 tem Introduction of Steam The First Locomotive Opening of the 

 Baltimore and Ohio Eailroad to the Potomac Improvements in the 

 Construction of the Eoads Eapid increase of Eailroads Building of 

 the Great Trunk Lines between the East and West Efforts of the 

 Eastern Cities to secure the Western Trade Completion of the great 

 Eoads Commencement of the Eailroad System of the West Its Eapid 

 Growth Statement of the Annual Growth and Cost of the Eailroads ot 

 the United States Their Present Condition 21 



CHAPTER II. 

 HISTORY OF THE " LAND GEAB." 



How to build Eailroads at the Expense of the People The Public Domain 

 of the Union a rich Field of Operations for Eailroad Managers 

 The first Land Grants How the Illinois Central Eoad obtained its 

 Lands A bad Example Handsome Profits Inauguration of the Sys- 

 tem of Land Grants The Eesult The Nation robbed by Wild Cat Eail- 

 road Companies How Congress aids the Eoads in robbing the People 

 Actual Workings of the Subsidy System Detailed Statement of the 

 Amount of the Public Lands granted to each Corporation Greed of the 

 Eailroads Bonds and Money demanded in addition to Lands The 

 Eailroad Eing Eloquent Denunciation of these Schemes of Plunder by 



Hon E. B. Washburne of Illinois 33 



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