United States Senate Committee on the Pacific Railroad
The Senate Committee on the Pacific Railroad is a defunct committee of the United States Senate. It was first established as a select committee on July 7, 1861, to examine legislation to authorize construction of a transcontinental railroad. This legislation formed the basis of the Pacific Railway Acts enacted in 1862, which granted a charter to the Union Pacific Railroad Company to construct the first transcontinental railroad in the United States and to provide federal support in the form of land grants and bond subsidies. The committee was made a standing committee on December 22, 1863 during the 38th United States Congress to oversee matters related to construction of the railroad. After construction was completed in 1869, the committee decreased in relevance and in 1873 when it was replaced by the Committee on Railroads. Original Members, 38th Congress 
The standing committee consisted of nine members, each of whom were appointed to the committee on January 6, 1864. The committee's first chairman was Jacob Howard, a Republican from Michigan. Chairmen (1863-1873) 
 Jacob Howard, R-Michigan, 1863–1871
 William Stewart, R-Nevada, 1871–1873

References and sources 
 Chairmen of Senate Standing Committees 1789 – present, United States Senate Historical Office, November 2006

Pacific Railroad
1860s in rail transport
1861 in rail transport
1861 establishments in the United States
1873 disestablishments in the United States
History of rail transportation in the United States