Did Railroads Cause or Contribute to the Civil War

[us920669]

I read a book once - wish I still had it - fellow stressed the importance of the issues involving California statehood.  Questions included whether the new state would be slave or free, and of course the fortune in gold being pulled out of the ground.  Perhaps the most ticklish was the route of the railroad link, since development and prosperity would follow the right-of-way.  Many routes were feasible and different sections of the country were lobbying hard for their favorite one.  Many in the north were heap POed to learn that their tax dollars had been used for the Gadson purchase (Tucson), the south's preferred one. 

[williamlayton]

The route was tricky, that's for sure.
What hurt the South's desire was the line needed to go to the Northern part of California.
The route thru Omaha did not have the mountains on th Easter seaboard to contend with and made a quicker build. Both had the Sierra's and Rockies--but that was a problem for the folks in California.
It would have dramatically changed rail traffic in the South as standard guage Rails would have been used. it could have helped the South later.
Lots of folks left the North and South to work this build and see the West.
Blessings

 

[us920669]

The book made it sound like the southern route was best from an engineering perspective, although the Gila stretch would have been challenging.  Of course, California in those days meant San Francisco and the gold fields in the north.

[williamlayton]

There was no Los Angeles---Virginia, W.Virginia (same state then) N/S Carolina, Tennessee and kentucky were terrible. The Hill coutry of Central texas was a barrier.
Chicago was a large city with rail connections to the East and South + ports and watherways. The Plains states were easy pickings until you got to the Rockies.
If the South would have co-ordinated rail guages it would have been true.
Then there were the swamps of Louisiana and the Big Thicket of East Texas.
logistics were much easier handled from the North---Supplying Rail and Timber.
The south was also tied up in itsowself and felt no compulsion for rail.
Blessings