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Enticing The Iron Horse: The Unexpected Effects Of Railroads On Town-Building In The Great Plains, Robert Voss
Enticing The Iron Horse: The Unexpected Effects Of Railroads On Town-Building In The Great Plains, Robert Voss
Robert J. Voss
Town building in the Great Plains during the 19th century centered on railroads. Railroads were promoted as the means for fiscal success through direct and ancillary sources. When railroads did not transpire in the manners expected, towns sometimes resorted to drastic measures to lure railroads. These drastic measures could, and did, backfire as in the case of Brownville, Nebraska. Located in southeastern Nebraska, Brownville offers an interesting study in the manner railroads affected town development. Planning, attempting and ultimately failing to entice railroads proved devastating to the town. The actions taken to get an effective railroad eventually led to lawsuits, …