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?

The government wanted to promote the growth og railroads for a couple of reasons. First, the more railroads the easier it is to move out west and settle the land. Second, if more people settle out west that is more people the government can tax. Finnally, the more people out west the more crops grown and the more cattle the more money is brought into the economy buy buying and seeling those things and the more food for the people.