New Haven Joe posted:bigkid posted:The Central Pacific was at a disadvantage, given having to fight through the mountains, but I seem to recall (anyone know? ) that the Central pacific got a 'sweetening' for building such a hazardous route.
The Central Pacific did get more money for the mountain building. One of the first actions of the Central Pacific was to get a surveyor to move the beginning of the Sierra Mountains west of where they were known to start. I have forgotten how many miles they moved the mountain range. I'll look it up when I gat a chance. This gave the company mountain compensation for building on flat land.
Those were the good old days of honest graft.
NH Joe
The "mountains" started at a low level bridge over a creek. Excuse was something about geology.