12 
The new system of transportation, as well as new inventions in the 
construction of the railway track, rolling-stock, and machinery were 
rapidly adopted, so that in a few years the principal Atlantic States 
were in railroad communication with each other. 
The increase of railway mileage from 1830 to 1840 was 2,795 nriles,. 
and the mileage of 1850 was reported as 9,021 miles. 
LAND-GRANT ROADS. 
Up to this time the railways were constructed and equipped by the 
people, unaided by the Government, State or Federal j but in consider- 
ation of the benefit accruing from them to the country at large, and 
desiring to extend these motors of civilization over the young and 
sparsely-settled States of the Union, Congress adopted a new policy, of 
momentous importance to the internal improvements of the Union. The 
year 1850, therefore, on account of this precedent established by Con- 
gress, may be regarded as the second epoch in the construction of the 
railways of the United States.* 
Although at first the grants were made to the several States, they 
were in ail cases transferred as speedily as possible to railroad com- 
panies which were chartered by them to construct the lines upon the 
general route specified in the act of Congress by which the lands were 
granted. 
The enormous increase of mileage constructed during the ensuing 
decade speaks eloquently, not merely for the object aimed at by Con- 
gress in making so magnificent a grant from the public domain, but 
likewise of the indefatigable energy of the American people. 
The mileage of railways in 1860 was 30,635 miles, being an increase 
over 1850 of 21,614 miles. In the decade from 1860 to 1870, embracing 
the turbulent time of the civil war and its consequences, the question 
of railway construction assumed of necessity an aspect different from 
that of a time of peace and prosperity. In order to strengthen the in- 
tegrity of the Union, Congress determined upon the construction of a 
system of railways connecting the Atlantic and Pacific States, making, 
however, the grants and concessions necessary for the consummation of 
so grand a project, not to the several States but to corporations organized 
directly for this purpose. 
* "In the case of the Illinois Central and Mobile and Ohio Railroads it granted to 
States in aid of railroad construction, upon specified routes, six sections of public 
lands of 640 acres each, for every mile of road built, to be taken by the odd numbers 
■within 6 miles of the proposed route, provision being made that under certain circum- 
stances the grant may be enlarged to apply to odd sections within 15 miles on either 
side, so as to make up the full amount intended to be granted. Many of the grants 
were subsequently further enlarged to apply to sections of odd numbers within 20 miles 
of the line. Upon the sections of public land of even numbers within the limits of 
the grant the price was raised from $1.25 to $2.50 per acre."— (Poor's Manual of the 
Railroads, 1876.) 
