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Don, The conditions that existed back in the 1800s were different from those today with regard to new railroad construction. I am uninformed about the construction of Texas railroads so I can't say if it were good or bad that these were land grant roads. The original (rail)roads built in this country were private ventures with only government charters to provide emminent domain privilages to the rail companies. There was a rudimentary transportation network for these companies to use to help them construct their lines. They even had barges and steamboats transport materials for them before they put those jokers out of business. Life is strange that way. Out west, things were very different. Not only was there no existing transportation system, there was no labor, towns or anything before the railroads came along. I believe the reason the railroads were given land grants were to help overcome these obstacles and because the land wasn't worth anything to the US government either until the railroads were built. If you don't already have a copy, I recommend you read the book 'Nothing Like it in the World - The Men Who Built the Transcontinental Railroad' by Stephen Ambrose. I also think there is a dramatic difference between a one time land grant and the annual payments being made to Amtrak with no end in sight. - Ed
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