The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-09-29
TIE cELEsTIAL WORkERs.
John ch,naman a. a Railroad Builde
The san Francisco Times says:

The San Francisco Times says:
1t is significant fact that at the laying of
tho last rail on the Pacific Railroad, John
Chinaman occupied prominent position. He
it was who commenced and itwas he who
finished, the great work; and, but for his skill
might not now have beon carried eastward OF
the SierIas. The experience Of this undertake
ing has proved that the Chinaman ia an admi-
r,ble railroad builder. His labor is cheap. his
industry is un1sgging, his strength and on.
durance are wonderful, and his mechanical
skill is remarkable. There are !Ohinamen in
the employ of the Central -Pdcffc Company
who are more clever in aliening roads than
many white men who bavo been educated to
the insness, aud these Mopgols will strike O
truer line for longer distance. with the un-
assisted eye, thnn most whito mon can with
the aid Of instruments. ~ sH
A good deal OF nonsense has been talked
about the Chlnaman's want OF stamina, and his
inferiority to tho white laborer in point OF
strength and capacity tor work Tho Central
Railroad has pretty thoroughly settled that
point; for numerous experiments have been
made during its constructions, with d Wow to
test the respective capabilities, OF the two
races. On one occasion. party OF IrIshmen
and q party Of Chinamen were ptIed against
each other in blaeting hard rock for tunnel.
Bets were freely made that the whito mem
day, when the work OF esch party Was measur-
cd, it was found that John Chinaman had bur
rowed futEher into tho rock than his antago.
mist, and was moreover, legs fatigued.
Tho bands OF Chinese now organized by tho
Central Company are ns fine railroad builders
as, can be found anywhere. The officers of the
Union Pacific Road were amazed at the work
these fellows did, and It Is by no means inn
rrohable that our Eastern friends will endsavor.
to secure some Of these trained gangs for the
next railroad enterprise in whtohithey may en-.
gage. Many ofthe Chinese ''bosses," or heads
NT gangs. on tho Pacific Railroad, are very in-
teligent men, and a fow days since we were
present when ono of these. entered a car
and engaged in conversation then going
on, speaking good English, and showing an ex-
tensive acquaintance with railroad matters
It is we'll that we should bear in mind the
great assistance that the Chinese have afforded
to the Pacific Railroad, and that we should re-
member the difficulties which their presence
dssipated. The training which they have fo-
ceived on that road has giveneto California 2
! large body of men peculiarly adapted to tlIis
description of work, and 1t Las rendered conn
paratiyely easy the carrying out OF other en-
| terprises OF the same character. They will,
probably, be largely employed in the const.uc-
tiOn OF the California aud Oregon Railroad.
now about TO be enteled upon; and, while, hey.
do not prevent tho eI gaRement OF whito men,
they viii facilitate Enterprises which mi ght be
imprscticablo. lacking their aid. Tho China
man is q born railroad builder, and as such he
is destined TO be most useful to California, and,
indeed, TO the whole Pacific slope. y - "a