Government Role In RR Development

Question 0

How did the government drop the ball in RR development?

Answer 0

Do not provide a blueprint of RR network

Did not develop a standard rail gauge (all the trains ran on different tracks)

Question 1

What was the governments role in RR development

Answer 1

Virtually non existent

Government took a “Laissez faire” hands off approach

Question 2

How did the government assist RR speculators

Answer 2

Government gives grants of cash to railroad developers (to encourage them to build railroads)

Government gives them land grants (5 miles out on each side of the track)

Question 3

What is the nickname of the governments assistance to RR speculators

Answer 3

Corporate welfare