Railroad Development

The federal government gave land and made loans to the railroad companies. Why was the government so eager to promote the growth of railroads?

Because they knew that the railroads were important for settling in the West and for developing the country, the government made huge land grants and loans to the railroad companies. And although they led to widespread abuses that spurred citizens to demand federal regulation of the industry, they caused the standard time and time zones to be set and influenced the growth of towns and communities.