Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1869-07-08
The chinaman as a RAILROAD Builder.


it is significant fact that at the lay
ing of the last rail on the Pacific Rail-
road, John Chinaman occupied prom
inent position. He it was who COM
menced, and it was he who finished the
great work; and but for his skill and
industry the Central Pacific Railroad
i might not have been carried eastward
of the Sierras. The experience of this
undertaking has proved that Chinaman
is an admirable railroad builder. His Ia
Dor is cheap, his temper is good, his
disposition is docile, his industry is un-
/ tagging, his strength and endurance
are wonderful, and his mechanical skill
| is remarkable. There are Cinnamon in
the employ of the Central Pacific Com
pany who are more clever in aligning
roads than many white men who have
been educated to the business; these
Monguls will strike a truer line for a
longer distance with the unassisted eye
than most white men can with the aid
of instruments. A good deal of nom
sense has been talked about the China
mans want of stamina, and his inferi-
ority to the white laborer in point of
strength and capacity for work. The
Central Railroad has pretty thoroughly
settled that point; for numerous expert
ments have been made during its con-
struction, with a view to test the re-
spectiye capabilities of the two races
On one occasion q party of Irishmen and
party of Cinnamon were pitted against
each other in blasting hard rock for
tunnel. Bets were freely made that the
white men would come out winners;
but at the end of the day, when the
work of each party was measured, it
was found that John Chinaman had
burrowed further into the rock than his
antagonist, and was, moreover less IA
tigued.
The bands of Cinnamon now organ
ized by the Central Company are as fine
railroad builders as can be found any
where The officers of the Union Pa
cific road were amazed at the work
these fellows did, and it is by no means
improbable that our Eastern friends
will endeavor to secure some of these
trained gangs for the next railroad en-
terprise in which they may engage
Many of the Chinese bosses, or heads of
gangs on the Pacific Rrailroad, are very
intelligent men, and q few days since
we were present when one of these en-
tered a car and engaged in a coLveTsa-
tion then going on, speaking good Eng
lish, and showing an extensive acquaint-
ance with railroad matters. 1t is well
that we should bear in mind the. great
assistance that the Chinese have afford
ed so the Pacific Railroad, and that We
should remember the difficulties which
their presence dissipated. The training
they have received on that road has
given to California large body of men
peculiarly adapted to this description of
work, and it has rendered comparative
ly easy the carrying out OF other enter
prises of the same character. They will
probably be largely employed in the
of the California and Ore
gon Railroad, now about to be entered
upon, and, while they do not prevent
the engagement of white men, they will
enterprises which might be
lacking their aid. The
Chinaman is born railroad builder,
and he is destined to be the most useful
10 California, and, indeed, to the whole
Pacific slope.-[San Francisco Times.