The document summarizes the planning and construction of the First Transcontinental Railroad in the United States between 1863 and 1869. It discusses the debate around the proposed routes, including a central route along the Platte River, a southern route through Texas and New Mexico, and a northern route deemed impractical due to snow. A key figure, Theodore Judah, lobbied for and helped plan the central route over the Sierra Nevada mountains, which was ultimately chosen and built by the Central Pacific Railroad working eastward and the Union Pacific Railroad working westward to meet in Promontory Summit, Utah in 1869.

1. The First Transcontinental
Railroad
By: Kyle Lachance
November 16, 2011

2. Historical Facts
•Built between the years of 1863 and 1869
•Central Pacific Railroad of California
•Union Pacific Railroad
•Early debate questions about construction
•How to pay for the railroad?
•What route should the rail follow?

3. What Route to Follow?
•"Central route"
•Would avoid the Worst of the rocky mountains
•Follow Platte River in Nebraska
•Much of the "Oregan Trial" Path
•"Southern Route"
•Through TX and NM
•Through Sonora Desert
•Ending in Los Angeles
•"Northern Route"
•Deemed impractical
•Extensive snow in the Rocky Mountains
•Would have followed the path of Lewis and Clark

4. Asa Whitney
•Prominent "Central Route" supporter
•Would stretch from Chicago to Northern CA
•Land sales would fund
•June 1845
•Took team of men to assess proposed route
•Proposed rail to Congress
•They did not act on his proposal

5. Southern Route and Gadsden Purchase
•Concerns about snow remained
•Gadsden Purchase of 1853
•Bought NM and AZ for $10,000,000
•Allowed Southern Route to be built 100% on US land

6. Theodore Judah
•Proponent of "Central Route"
•Tried to solve biggest problem
•How to get over the Seirra Nevada
Mountains?
•Engineer for Sacramento Valley Railroad
•First railroad West of the Mississippi River
•1856 Proposal
•Formed 13,000 word proposal
•Distributed to many influential people
•1859
•Chosen as Pacific Railroad accredited lobbyist

7. Central Pacific Railroad and "The Big Four"