Federal Land Grants in Aid of Railroads

Federal land grants were made available to railroads during the two decades ending in 1871. Historically they are of significance in any consideration of the development of transportation systems in the West. But their influence has extended beyond the era of a past generation. Certain grants are as yet unadjusted and have constituted a fruitful source of litigation and controversy. Today reduced rates apply to the transportation of government property and troops and the mails over a large part of the land grant mileage. Needless to state this situation constantly furnished fuel for heated argument. Finally the status of the grants in their relation to the valuation problem is a present day question.This study attempts to present a fairly complete picture of the federal land grant policy in aid of railroads. The scope extends from the grants which furnished precedents to the unsettled questions of today.