Question

Beginning in 1862, two companies competed to complete the Transcontinental Railroad. The Central Pacific built track eastward from California, while the Union Pacific built track westward from Nebraska.

Which statement is true about the Transcontinental Railroad?

A: after seven years of building track, the Union Pacific and Central Pacific met in Promontory Utah

B: the government supervised, funded and carried out the building of the Transcontinental Railroad

C: Public officials and railroad executives skipped the ceremonial driving of the final stakes.

D: The completion of the Transcontinental Railroad received little notice from newspapers.
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Answer 1

In 1862 Congress passed the Pacific Railroad Acts which designated the 32nd parallel as the initial transcontinental route and gave huge grants of lands for rights-of-way. The legislation authorized two railroad companies, the Union Pacific and the Central Pacific, to construct the lines.