As the need to travel across the country soon grew, there was an idea to build a Transcontinental Railroad. The Western Pacific, the Central Pacific, and the Union Pacific Railroad Companies all agreed to build separate railroads across America, and then connect them to form the Transcontinental Railroad. When these companies began building, they looked to hire cheap labor in the form of immigrants. Many Asian Americans helped with this project, but despite all their hard work to better America’s transportation system, they were still violently discriminated against.
“Secret Town Trestle”, photographed in the Sierra Nevada Mountains
Date and photographer unknown
This photograph depicts Chinese railroad workers transporting dirt in carts. The Railroad support has been built and the workers were moving dirt to help the foundation of the tracks. The workers are all wearing traditional Chinese rice hats to block out the hot sun. The Transcontinental Railroad ran through the Mountains of Nevada. This document shows Chinese workers working in brutal conditions, out in the hot desert sun all day constantly working. The Secret Town trestle, which was the largest on the entire railroad, was completely buried and filled in with dirt to stabilize it. The trestle was 1,100 feet long and 90 feet high !
Date and photographer unknown
This photograph depicts Chinese railroad workers transporting dirt in carts. The Railroad support has been built and the workers were moving dirt to help the foundation of the tracks. The workers are all wearing traditional Chinese rice hats to block out the hot sun. The Transcontinental Railroad ran through the Mountains of Nevada. This document shows Chinese workers working in brutal conditions, out in the hot desert sun all day constantly working. The Secret Town trestle, which was the largest on the entire railroad, was completely buried and filled in with dirt to stabilize it. The trestle was 1,100 feet long and 90 feet high !
“10 Miles of Track, Laid in One Day”, photographed by Southern Pacific Photograph
When the Union Pacific Railroad Company laid the most train tracks in one day of 7 and a half miles, Charles Crocker of the Central Pacific Railroad Company was determined to beat it. On April 28, 1869, Crocker and his Irish and Chinese workers laid down 10 miles and 56 feet of train tracks in less than twelve hours. The photograph shows the commemorative sign of the event that states the accomplishment. Such a feat shows the amount of hard work and dedication Chinese American workers put into helping their country.
When the Union Pacific Railroad Company laid the most train tracks in one day of 7 and a half miles, Charles Crocker of the Central Pacific Railroad Company was determined to beat it. On April 28, 1869, Crocker and his Irish and Chinese workers laid down 10 miles and 56 feet of train tracks in less than twelve hours. The photograph shows the commemorative sign of the event that states the accomplishment. Such a feat shows the amount of hard work and dedication Chinese American workers put into helping their country.
“The Massacre of the Chinese at Rock Springs, Wyoming”, 1886
Published in Harper’s Weekly
This is a lithograph of the Chinese miners at Rock Springs, Wyoming attacked by the white men. The Rock Springs massacre happened due to tensions between Chinese and white miners. The Union Pacific Coal Department, paid Chinese American workers lower wages than white workers, which led to less job security for white workers. The angry white workers resorted to violence by killing 28 Chinese miners and burning down 75 Chinese homes. The tensions between Asian workers and White Americans led to discrimination and violence.
Published in Harper’s Weekly
This is a lithograph of the Chinese miners at Rock Springs, Wyoming attacked by the white men. The Rock Springs massacre happened due to tensions between Chinese and white miners. The Union Pacific Coal Department, paid Chinese American workers lower wages than white workers, which led to less job security for white workers. The angry white workers resorted to violence by killing 28 Chinese miners and burning down 75 Chinese homes. The tensions between Asian workers and White Americans led to discrimination and violence.