A. GAST AND CO., Map of Nebraska Showing the Union Pacific Railroad Land Grant

A. GAST AND CO.Map of Nebraska Showing the Union Pacific Railroad Land Grantc. 1884Lithograph with original hand-coloringSheet size: 13 7/8 x 24 in.Frame size: 22 1/4 x 32 in. A RARE, UNRECORDED STATEIn order to help finance the construction of the nation’s first Transcontinental Railroad (and numerous subsequent lines), Congress enacted a series of bills that provided government bonds and land grants to various railroad companies. The Union Pacific was a huge recipient, and this map of Nebraska shows the twenty-mile limit along either side of the track that was allocated for sale.The land grants were heavily advertised and brought settlers to the state by the thousands, as evidenced by the plotted townships and labeled towns that hug the lines. A St. Louis real estate agent rubberstamp can be found on the verso and text underneath the title encourages the audience to address Leavitt Burnham, Land Commissioner in Omaha, for prices and terms of payment.The map is known in several separa