sidies the several companies were to receive land grants of 12,800
acres to the mile in alternate sections contiguous to their lines. Upon
the same terms the Central Pacific, a company incorporated under the
laws of California, was authorized to construct a line from the Pacific
coast, at or near San Francisco, to meet the Union Pacific Railroad.

* These ambitious designs were never fully realized. The main
line ran eventually west from Omaha, meeting the Sioux City branch at
Fremont. The only other branch which was constructed to connect with the
Union Pacific was that from Kansas City and it ran first to Denver.

The public was quick to realize the significance of this huge
enterprise, for the papers of the day were full of such comments as the
following:

"It is useless to enlarge upon the value and importance of this great
work. It concerns, not the United States alone, but all mankind. Its
line is coincident with the natural and convenient route of commerce for
the world.... Over it the trip will be made from London to Hong Kong in
forty days, over a route possessing every comfort and attraction,
which takes a continent in its course, and which, from the variety and
magnitude of its sources, from the race which now dominates it, and from
the extent of their numbers, wealth and productions, must soon give law
to the commercial world."

Notwithstanding these and similarly optimistic sentiments, the meager
financial support given to the enterprise by the public at large had
been very discouraging. Although the construction had been liberally
subsidized by the Government, gross extravagance had promptly crept
in; juggling of accounts for the purpose of securing profits on the
government advances was freely indulged in, and after only a small
section of the line had been completed it was announced that more
capital must be forthcoming or the work would cease. Out of this
situation grew the plan for subletting the work to a construction
company known as the Pennsylvania Fiscal Agency--a name which was
afterwards changed to that of the Credit Mobilier of America. The story
of the Credit Mobilier, with its irregularities involving conspicuous
politicians, is one of the most disgraceful in American history. The
detailed history of these operations need not be considered here; it
is sufficient to say that finally, in spite of political scandals, the
Union Pacific lines were brought to completion. Within two years