why was the government so eager to promote the growth of railroads in the 1870's?

Question

some good well thought-out answers will be posted as "the best answer" and recieve 5 points

10 points i mean, sorry i didnt realize:)

Answer 1

Short answer.

During this period, horses were pretty much the mode of transportation, if you wanted to get anywere.

So the railroad was a good idea for it's time, it got people from point A to point B much faster than by horse. Supplies were also available faster for those who needed them.

Answer 2

With the end of the War Between the States,there was a Westward expansion. The problem was that the railroads were trespassing on Indian lands and expected the Army to make way for the railroads.

Answer 3

Best answers are worth 10 points so i do not appreciate you trying to keep half of them, however Transportation would be the reason for promoting the railroad.

Answer 4

Mostly it was for economic growth. And it was cheap too. All the gov't had to do is give the railroads some worthless land to the railroad companies, and they built the railroads at their expense, turning that land into valuable land.

Answer 5

The connect the nation. It would promote the growth of the entire nation.

Answer 6

Trade networks. Plain and simple. Move goods faster. Move the military faster. Colonize the West faster.

Answer 7

Because it would lead to greater economic growth. Just like the highway system.