The Railroad Fuels Westward Expansion (1870's)

There was once a time when the idea of a transcontinental railroad was considered foolish - a waste of time and resources. After all, what use was a railroad through the desolate regions of western America? However, as the United States began to expand and more and more settlers made their way west by horseback or covered wagon, the concept of a railroad spanning the country made more and more sense. Finally, in the midst of ah epic civil war, President Abraham Lincoln signed the law that called for the building of a transcontinental railroad.