Search

Search results

Displaying 1 - 10

transcontinental railroad

(Encyclopedia) transcontinental railroad, in U.S. history, rail connection with the Pacific coast. In 1845, Asa Whitney presented to Congress a plan for the federal government to subsidize the…

Whitney, Asa

(Encyclopedia) Whitney, Asa, 1797–1872, American merchant and transcontinental railroad projector, b. North Groton, Conn. He entered the mercantile business in New York City, acted as a foreign buyer…

Laning, Edward

(Encyclopedia) Laning, EdwardLaning, Edwardlănˈĭng [key], 1906–1981, American painter, b. Petersburg, Ill., studied Art Institute of Chicago and Art Students League of New York. He is best known as a…

Whipple, Amiel Weeks

(Encyclopedia) Whipple, Amiel Weeks, 1818–63, American soldier and topographical engineer, b. Greenwich, Mass. He became (1841) a topographical engineer in the U.S. army and engaged in surveying the…

Union Pacific Railroad

(Encyclopedia) Union Pacific Railroad, transportation company chartered (1862) by Congress to build part of the nation's first transcontinental railroad line. Under terms of the Pacific Railroads Act…

Brigham City

(Encyclopedia) Brigham City, city (2020 pop. 19,650), seat of Box Elder co., N Utah; inc. 1869. It is the center of a large farm area served by the…

Scott, Thomas Alexander

(Encyclopedia) Scott, Thomas Alexander, 1823–81, American railroad president, b. Fort Loudon, Pa. He was employed by the Pennsylvania RR as a station agent in 1850 and rose to become general…

Evanston

(Encyclopedia) Evanston. <1> Residential city (2020 pop. 78,110), Cook co., NE Ill., on Lake Michigan; settled 1826, inc. 1892. A largely…

Saint Joseph, cities, United States

(Encyclopedia) Saint JosephSaint Josephsānt jōˈzəf [key]. 1 City (1990 pop. 9,214), seat of Berrien co., SW Mich., a port on Lake Michigan at the mouth of the St. Joseph River across from Benton…

Two Centuries of Railroading

Source: Association of American Railroads. Web: www.aar.org .1797The steam locomotive is invented in England. 1823The first public railway in the world opens in England.1827The first railroad in…