Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-07-01

The Chinaman as n Railroad Builder.
tits singular fact that at the laying
Of the last rail on the Pacific Railroad,
John Chinaman occspied a prominent
position. He it was who commenced,
and he it was who flushed the great
work; and but for his skill and industry
the Central Pacific Railroad might not
now have been carried eastward of the
Sierras The experience of this under
taken has proved that the Chinaman is
an admirable railroad builder. His labor
is cheap, his temper is good, his disposi-
ton docile, his industry is unfagging,
his strength and endurance are wonder
full, and his mechanical skill is remark
able. There are Cinnamon in the
employ of the Central Pacific Company
who are more clever in alligning roads
than many white men who have been
educated to the business. These Mon
gols will strike a truer line for longer
distance with the unassisted eye than
most white men can with the aid Of In
struments. A good deal Of nonsense has
been talked about the Chinaman's want /
OF stamina, and his inferiority to the
white laborer in point of strength and
capacity for work. The Central railroad
has pretty thoroughly settle1 that point;
for numerous experiments have been
made during It's construction, with a
view to test the respective capabilities
of the two races. On one occasion a
party of 1rishmen and party of China
men were pitted against each other in
blasting hard rock for tunnel. Bets
were freely made that the white man
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, more
over, less fatigued.
The bands of Cinnamon now organ
lied by the Central Company are as fins
railroad builders as can be found any,
where. The officers of the Union Pacific |
road were amazed at the work these fell
lows did, and it is by no means improba~
BILE that our Eastern friends will endeavor
to secure some of these trained gangs for
the next railroad enterprise in which |
they may engage. Many Of the Chinese |
bosses, or heads of gangs on the Pacific |
are very intelligent men, and
lew days since we were present when
one of them entered car and engaged
IN conversation then going on, speaking |
good English, and showing an extensive
acquaintance with railroad matters. 1t
S well that we should bear in
mind the great assistance that the
Chinese have afforded to the Pacific
and that we should remember
he difficulties which their presence
1issipated. The training they have re-
,eived On that road has given to Califor-
nia a large body of men peculiarly
adapted to this description of work, and
t has rendered comparatively easy the
;arrying out of other enterprises of the
'ame character. They will probably be
argely employed in the construction Of
he California and Oregon railroad, now
Lbout to be entsred upoZ aad, while
hey do not prevent the engagement of
white men, they ~iil fsc.I;rte enterprises
which might be impractic&ple. lacking
heir aid. The Chinansn Is Hcrn rail-
Dad builder, and as such he is DESTINED
&C be most useful to California, and, inss
Iced, to the whole Pacific slope.-,Sdn
Francisco Times.