May 15, 1856 – The Iowa Land Bill passes in the U.S. Congress, opening up our state to four competing railroads.
The dream of a Transcontinental Railroad began as early as 1838, but by the 1850’s, serious investors were putting big money into that dream. Chicago was becoming the nation’s new railway center and with the dream of reaching California, the bridge to getting there went directly through Iowa. On May 15, 1856, the Iowa Land Bill opened up our state to four competing railroads and now, the race to the West was on! Allow me, here, to introduce you to the four start-up railroads that were given Iowa Land Grants in 1856…
The Mississippi and Missouri Railroad (M&M).
The Burlington and Missouri River Railroad (B&MR).
The Chicago, Iowa and Nebraska Railroad (CI&N).
The Dubuque & Pacific Rail Road Company (D&P).
A Day-by-Day Calendar of Historical Events In Iowa, William J. Petersen, State Historical Society of Iowa, 1946, p 47
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