Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-06-05
THE CELESTIALS.
IOhn Chiaaman as a Railroad Builder.

! From the San francisco Times
] 1t is a significant fact thatat the lay.
ing of the last rail on the Pacific Rail.
road, John Chnaman occupied a
prominent position. He it was who
e0mmenced, and it was he who fin
ished 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 undertaking has
proved that the Chinaman is an adj
mirable railroad builder. His labor
is cheap, his temper is good, his dis
position is dOcile, his industry is un-
tagging, his strength and endurance
are wonderful, and his mechanical
skill is remarkable. There are China
men in the employ of the Central Pa
citic Company who are more clever in
aligning roads than many white men
who have been educated to the busi-
ness, and these MOngols 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 nonsense has been
talked about the Chinaman' want of
stamina, and his infeTiOrity to the
white labOrer in point Of strength and
capacity for work. The Central Rail-
road has pretty thoroughly settled
that point, for numerous experiments
have been made during the cOnStruc-
ton with a view to test the respective.
capabilities of the two races. On one
occasion a party of Irishmen and a
party OfChinamen were pitted against
each other in blasting a hard rock for
a tunnel. Bets were freely made that
the white men would come out VIM
ners, 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 antagonists, and was, moreover,
less fatigued. The Meands of China
men now organized by the Central
Company are as fine railroad builders
as can be found anywhere. The Off
GERS Of the Union Pacific Railroad
were amazed at the vpOrix theSefellOWs
did, and it is by no means improbable
that our Eastern friends will endeavor
to secure some Of the trained gangs
for the next railroad enterprise in
which they may engage. Many of
the Chinese bosses, or heads of gangs,
ON the Pacific Railroad, are very in
telligent men, and a few days since we
were present when one of these en-
tered car and engaged in cOnver-
satiOn then going on, speaking good
English, and showing an extensive
acquaintance with railroad matters.
1t is well that we should bear in mind
the great assistance that the Chinese
have afaIaed to the Pacific Railroad,
and that we should remember the diff
ticultfes which their presence dissipa-
ted. The training they have received
On that read has given to California a
large body Of men peculiarly adapted
to this description of work, and il has
rendered comparatively easy the car
rying out of other enterprises of The
same character. They will probably
be largely employed in the construc-
ton of the California and Oregon
Railroad, now. about t0 be entered
upon; and while they do not prevent
the engagement Of white men, they
will facilitate enterprises which might
be impracticable, lacking their aid.
The Chinaman is 4 born railroad
builder, and as such he is destined t.
be most useful to California, and, In
deed, to the whole Pacific slope.