Definition of Pacific Railroads

What does the word Pacific Railroads mean?

• part of speech: noun

  The outbreak of the Civil War and the feeling of necessity of a better connection with the Pacific coast, induced the Government to make large grants in favor of the Central Pacific, Union Pacific and Kansas Pacific Railroads, by an act of July 1, 1862. Later, 47,000,000 acres were granted to the Northern Pacific. The Central Pacific and Union Pacific were completed in 1869. The construction and finance of the Union Pacific were managed by the Credit Mobilier (see art.) and involved in legislative scandals. In 1878 the office of Commissioner of Railroads was instituted, to supervise the accounts of the Pacific railways.