What was the primary means through which Union Pacific investors profited during the Credit Mobilier scandal?

The primary means through which Union Pacific investors profited during the Credit Mobilier scandal was through paying inflated bills from a construction company that they controlled. This situation involved Union Pacific creating a construction company, Credit Mobilier, which was then used to inflate the costs of railroad construction. Investors in Union Pacific effectively siphoned profits by overcharging the railroad for construction services that were either not performed or significantly overpriced. This scheme allowed them to make substantial profits while also disguising the transactions as legitimate costs. The scandal highlighted issues of corruption and conflict of interest within the railroad industry at the time, as many investors and government officials were implicated, further complicating the relationship between public infrastructure and private profit motives.