Chinese Workers May 10,1869 U.S. Time Zones The idea of a transcontinental railroad had been around since the 1850’s but sectionalism stopped it cold. After the Civil War there was a new effort and the impossible feat was accomplished when the Union Pacific Railroad met up with the Central Pacific Railroad at Promontory Point, Utah in This was the first transcontinental railroad on earth and now people could travel from east to west in a relatively short time. It also created many changes. C.F. Dowd proposed and got the nations of the world to accept the time zones we use today! This was efficient and prevented accidents.

Chicago Rail Yard Credit Mobilier Scandal The railroads provided new business opportunities for Americans. Chicago, by virtue of its location, became a major rail hub for the whole country. Many new cities grew up along the railroad tracks and that increased commerce. Every train had a Pullman Car on it, where passengers could ride first class. Pullman was not well-liked by his workers. In 1894 he reduced wages at his plant but kept the rental fees in his town the same. That led to a strike. Corruption was rampant; the Credit Mobilier company overcharged for their work and gave dividends from the profits to a good number of Congressmen. The scandal involved many prominent Republicans.

As mentioned in Chapter 5, farmers were tired of being ripped off by the railroads. The Grange society fought rail companies in the courts and in the 1877 Munn v. Illinois case farmers were able to at least have states regulate the fees. It was soon overturned so Congress responded with the Interstate Commerce Act of But the rail companies kept it in the courts until 1897, when they lost. This established the ICC (Interstate Commerce Commission). The railroads again used their influence to stop rate controls and were successful until Teddy Roosevelt forced a change in 1906.

“THE MODERN COLOSSUS OF (RAIL) ROADS” Joseph Keppler drew this cartoon in 1879, featuring the railroad “giants” William Vanderbilt (top), Jay Gould (bottom right), and Cyrus W. Fields (bottom left). The three magnates formed a railroad trust out of their Union Pacific, New York Central, and Lake Shore & Dependence lines. The original: Colossus of Rhodes