Today in 1869, the Presidents of Union Pacific and Central Pacific railway companies, place the last spike needed to connect their railroads together. With the creation of the Transcontinental railroad, the idea of easy travel from East to West was now possible. Travelers no longer would have to travel in wagon carts on dangerous treks to reach the frontier of the West. Not only would the railway improve travel, it gave a greater opportunity to move goods across the country. No longer was it a struggle for those who worked in a trade to get their goods out to consumers. The plan for the Transcontinental railroad began around 1832, however Congress didn’t get the funds until 1853. As the Civil War broke out, tensions grew high and the railway would have to wait. However, one year into the war, Congress got things together and construction began in 1866.
