The Central Pacific Railroad (CPRR) is the former name of the railroad network built between California

and Utah, USA that formed part of the "First Transcontinental Railroad"

in North America. It is now part of the Union Pacific Railroad.

Source: Wikipedia

Chinese Immigrants and the Transcontinental Railroad

• The first Chinese were hired in 1865 at approximately $28 per month to do the very dangerous work of blasting and laying ties over the rough terrain of the high Sierra mountains. They lived in simply dwellings and cooked their own meals, often consisting of fish, dried oysters and fruit, mushrooms and seaweed.

Chinese Workers

Getting ready to enter mines……

Why was it Dangerous?

• The Chinese workers used techniques they had learned in China to complete similar tasks. They were lowered by ropes from the top of cliffs in baskets, and while suspended in the air, they chipped away at the granite and planted explosives that were used to blast tunnels. Many workers risked their lives and even died in the harsh winters and dangerous conditions.

They often worked in the cold, snowy, weather.

Did it make a difference?

• Without the efforts of the Chinese workers in the building of America's railroads, our development and progress as a nation would have been delayed by many years. Their toil in severe weather, cruel working conditions and for very small wages cannot be under appreciated.

“10 Mile Day” Connection:

• A Chinese (and Irish) crew was chosen to lay the final ten miles of track, and it was completed in only twelve hours!

Hurray!