THE BIG FOUR AND OTHER MEANS OF MONEY
Collis Huntington, Leland Stanford, Charles Crocker and Mark Hopkins, or the big four, were all fairly wealthy in the early part of there lives. After the gold rush they became some of the richest men in America, more than ready to donate back to their country many libraries, colleges, and theaters. The biggest being their investments to the Transcontinental Railroad in which they invested millions of dollars. The rest of the money came from other investors and grants from the government.
"THE PACIFIC RAILWAY ACT OF 1862"
This government act enables the construction of a transcontinental railroad. It also sets land apart for the railroad and pays for most of it.