Little Rock and Fort Smith Railroad Land Grant Map

A map showcasing the land grant given by the Federal Government to Arkansas through The Pacific Railway Act of 1862, for the purpose of building a rail line between Little Rock and Fort Smith. Federal Subsidies boosted economic growth into States, and Arkansas was in desperate need of economic growth. Arkansas needed to shift agricultural development away from the traditional slave labor system, which contributed to the production of 75% of the world’s cotton by 1860. Railroads were a means to improve the country, allowing for connectivity in regions once isolated, it allowed for Arkansas to move shipments of people and products quickly and effectively.