Land‐Grant Policy and Engineering Education

Abstract

The major elements of the study described are: (1) A brief historical background of the transcontinental‐railroad construction era; (2) a summary of arguments which appeared during debates over these railroads; (3) a comparison of two railroads that had opposite financial policies; (4) an assessment of the efficacy of the subsidy policies; and (5) an attempt to relate the experience of the transcontinental‐railroad case to the more general issue of governmental intervention in so‐called engineering projects. A variety of sources including historians, economists, philosophers, political scientists, and popular “literature” is cited. Many of these authors have expressed unfavorable opinions concerning the extent of subsidized railroad construction in the last half of the 19th century and the magnitude of government subsidies involved. A better understanding of long‐term effects of short‐term policy is urged. One justification for the present study is to bring this variety of materials to the attention of engineering students who may become planners or leaders of large‐scale projects during their careers.