![]() Once again, the Chinese railroad men had been renderedfaceless. But there was no drawing of the three railroadmen. Beneaththe painting there was a drawing in which the people who had gathered forthe joining of the tracks were outlined, each face numbered, so the viewersmight identify who was who. And yet, inthe reproduction of the painting a curious thing had happened. ![]() That famouspainting was reprinted in hundreds of thousands of copies it proudlyhung in saloons and brothels throughout the West for years. Oneoil painting of the event later symbolically depicted three railroad mencrouching beside the tracks as they drove in the Golden Spike. ![]() These Chinese workingmen had become faceless. Nowhere to be seen were the thirteen thousand railroadmen from China who had dug the tunnels, built the roadbeds, and laid thetrack for half of the transcontinental line-that of the Central PacificRailroad-crossing the most precipitous mountains and torturous desertsof the West. Of the hundreds of people in that memorable photograph taken at Promontory Point in Utah, on May 10, 1869, there was one large group who were wholly invisible. In celebration of the occasion, the dignitaries came-bankers and railroad tycoons, politicians and railroad men-to be photographed at the uniting of the nation. There was no train to Jerusalem, andthe Lord of Life rode into the city in the humblest guise, upon a donkey.ĪND THEN the day came when the final spike, the "Golden Spike," was to be hammered down to bold the last length of track. Theirancestors had built fortresses in the Yangtze gorges, carved and laid thestones for the Great Wall. Men of China (the Chineserailroad foreman said) were skilled at work like the big job. LYNN FARRAR, VALUATION ENGINEER (RETIRED), SOUTHERN PACIFIC RAILROAD It takes away from the marvelous work you have done." ![]() I most sincerely regret that you are using Steiner's trash. He is the very worst historian it has been my misfortune to read about. There is not one shred of evidence that I have found in my very extensive studies of the building of the first railroad across the Sierra to support anything even close to what Steiner wrote. Especially his saying the Chinese lived in tents in winter while working in the Sierra. His work is so ludicrous as to make any knowledgeable historian shake his head in disbelief. "I am sorry to have to say to you that I think you are making a grave error in listing anything on your website by Stan Steiner. We will embrace this book as partof our arsenal of citizenship papers." At last-a book that recognizes and celebratesour discovery and building of America. We are an integral, heroic part of her history, and Stan Steinergives the facts, the history, the research to confirm what we should nothave forgotten during Exclusion. "Fusang is a book of marvels-whichwe Chinese Americans performed as we built this country. In Fusang he does this once again for that wonderfulpeople, the Chinese. "Stan Steiner is a national treasure.He is one of our most eloquent defenders of the Faith, the Faith in thehumanity of all men and women everywhere, and of those especially who helpedto build America. Views Along the Line of the Pacific Rail Road. Printed in the United States of America.No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoeverwithout written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodiedin critical articles and reviews. NEW YORK, HAGERSTOWN SAN FRANCISCO LONDONĬopyright © 1979 by StanSteiner. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of the User Agreement which permits personal use web viewing only no copying arbitration no warranty. THE CHINESE RAILROAD MEN Central Pacific Railroad PhotographicHistory Museum
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