THE INDIAN TRADER May 2020
Page 7
s d a o r Rail e h t n e p O d Helpe
West
Perhaps the most significant factor in the settlement of the American West was the construction of the railroad, bridging the continent and connecting the cities of the East with California and the Pacific. For years, efforts had been made to arouse Congress to the need of a transcontinental railroad. Some short railroads had been built in the West prior to the Civil War, but a transcontinental railroad was an enormous project required the government’s cooperation and financing. Theodore Judah was the man who almost single-handedly pushed the Pacific Railroad act through Congress. He had unsuccessfully tried to get the legislation through several sessions. When the Civil War broke out lawmakers saw the need for such an enterprise, and on July 1, 1862, President Lincoln signed the act. The legislation provided for the building and operating of a railway between Sacramento and the Missouri River. Two companies were given the contracts, the grants, and the financing for its construction; the Central Pacific and the Union Pacific. Beginning in 1864, the two companies were to build simultaneously, Central starting from the west, Union from the east. For each mile built the railroad would get a loan for $16,000-$48,000, depending on the difficulty of construction in the specific area, and a grant of 10 alternate sections of land on both sides of the railway. To augment the labor supplied, the Union Pacific brought west many Irishmen from New York as well as from Ireland. The Central Pacific found it easier to use Chinese laborers imported from China by way of San Francisco. Workers from both companies faced enormous challenges and dangers. Imposing mountains and bad weather were just a few of the obstacles they met and overcame. During the course of construction across Indian lands there was some trouble, most notably with the Sioux. Many of the Union Pacific men were ex-soldiers, and were supplied with firearms. There were many raids and fights, but they were more like harassment than actual battles. continued on page 8
Above: The painting depicts the ceremony of the driving of the “Last Spike” at Promontory Summit, UT, on May 10, 1869, joining the rails of the Central Pacific Railroad and the Union Pacific Railroad. Below: Indian viewing railroad from top of Palisades. 435 miles from Sacramento.
