Answer: The government gave land to the railroads to spur the development of a transcontinental railroad.
Explanation: To encourage the development of the railroad, the federal government passed the Pacific Railroad Act that granted land grants to railroads. The government gave public lands to railroad corporations in trade for building tracks in particular locations. Much of the growth can be associated with the building of the cross-country railroads. In 1862, Congress legislated the Pacific Railway Act, which approved the construction of a transcontinental railroad. The first such railroad was built on May 10, 1869.
