American History Tellers: Transcontinental Railroad | Hell on Wheels | Episode 3

Hosted by Wondery’s Lindsay Graham

Introduction

In Episode 3 of "American History Tellers", titled "Transcontinental Railroad | Hell on Wheels | 3", Wondery delves deep into the tumultuous race to build America’s first transcontinental railroad. This episode narrates the intense competition between the Central Pacific and Union Pacific railroads, highlighting the political maneuvering, labor struggles, and confrontations with Indigenous populations that defined this pivotal moment in American history.

The Central Pacific's Struggle in the Sierras

Setting the Scene:
In the spring of 1866, the Central Pacific Railroad faces significant challenges constructing tracks through the formidable Sierra Nevada mountains. The company’s progress is stymied by federal regulations limiting their expansion to 150 miles into Nevada, a constraint that threatens their competitive edge against the Union Pacific.

Key Figures and Actions:

• Collis Huntington, Vice President of Central Pacific, becomes increasingly anxious as reports reveal the Union Pacific’s rapid advancement across the Great Plains. To counteract potential obsolescence, Huntington hires Richard Franchot, the first paid lobbyist in Congress, to advocate for amending the railroad bill.
• In a pivotal moment, Huntington asserts, “We will beat the Union Pacific to Salt Lake. Stick a pin there” (31:43), illustrating the high stakes and aggressive strategies employed to secure passage and funding.

Political Maneuvering:
Through strategic lobbying and financial incentives, Franchot successfully influences President Andrew Johnson to amend the railroad bill (July 3, 1866), granting Central Pacific the right to build eastward beyond previous limits. This amendment ignites a fierce competition, essentially sanctioned by the federal government, between the two railroads.

Union Pacific's Advancements and Internal Conflicts

Union Pacific’s Progress:
While the Central Pacific struggles in the mountains, the Union Pacific makes steady progress across the Great Plains from Nebraska. By early 1867, their momentum threatens to overshadow Central Pacific’s efforts, prompting internal power struggles within Union Pacific’s boardroom.

Boardroom Battles:

• Thomas Durant, Union Pacific’s speculator, clashes with Oakes Ames and his brother Oliver Ames over control and profit distribution within the company.
• By the end of 1866, Oliver Ames is elected president of Union Pacific, leading Durant to file legal injunctions that hinder construction. This internal strife paralyzes the organization, allowing Durant to continue profiting from Credit Mobilier’s burgeoning stock.

Impact on Construction:
Despite these internal battles, Chief Engineer Grenville Dodge remains focused, pushing for ambitious track-laying goals. By March 1867, even amid legal turmoil, Union Pacific advances, setting the stage for a prolonged rivalry with Central Pacific.

Labor Conditions and the Chinese Workers' Struggle

Challenges Faced by Chinese Laborers:
Central Pacific employs thousands of Chinese immigrants under grueling conditions. Tasked with blasting through solid granite in the Donner Pass, these workers endure extreme weather, dangerous working conditions, and systemic exploitation.

The Strike of June 25, 1867:

• Frustrated by inadequate wages and excessive working hours, over 2,000 Chinese workers initiate a strike, demanding $40 a month and reduced hours (14:35).
• James Strowbridge, a construction chief, vehemently opposes the strike, emphasizing the increased wages from $31 to $35 as insufficient.
• The company’s response is ruthless: cutting off provisions leads to the strike’s suppression within a week. However, this collective action challenges prevailing stereotypes of Chinese immigrants as passive workers and underscores their resilience and agency.

Long-term Implications:
The strike not only momentarily halts progress but also signals a shift in labor dynamics, prompting Central Pacific to recruit even more Chinese workers to sustain their ambitious construction goals.

Violence, Lawlessness, and Indigenous Resistance

Expansion and Conflict:
As Union Pacific extends its tracks into Wyoming and Nebraska, resistance from Plains Indians escalates. Indigenous groups, driven to defend their ancestral lands and buffalo herds from the encroaching railroads, engage in violent confrontations.

Notable Incidents:

• Plum Creek Derailment (August 7, 1867): Cheyenne warriors led by Chief Pawnee Killer sabotage Union Pacific tracks, resulting in a catastrophic train crash that kills and scalps crewmen (27:11).
• Julesburg Massacre: In response to rampant crime in Union Pacific’s makeshift town, Chief Engineer Dodge orders the brutal suppression of dissent, exemplifying the era’s ruthless approach to maintaining railroad expansion.

Peace Negotiations:
A September 1867 peace conference in North Platte, Nebraska, epitomizes the failed attempts at reconciliation. Sioux and Cheyenne leaders demand the cessation of railroad construction to restore their hunting grounds, but government representatives and military leaders dismiss their grievances, leading to continued violence and unrest.

Technological Innovations and Construction Challenges

Engineering Feats:
Both railroads employ cutting-edge technologies and innovative strategies to overcome natural and logistical barriers. Central Pacific’s use of liquid nitroglycerin, despite its dangers, accelerates progress through the Sierras.

Central Pacific’s Breakthrough:
By November 1867, Central Pacific successfully constructs the Summit Tunnel, piercing the Sierra Nevada and allowing trains to traverse the previously impassable mountain range. This monumental achievement revitalizes the company’s efforts, positioning them to compete aggressively with Union Pacific.

Union Pacific’s High Altitude Construction:
In 1868, Union Pacific tackles the demanding Sherman Summit in Wyoming, laying track at over 8,200 feet above sea level. The engineering challenges, including constructing a wooden bridge over Dale Creek, highlight the relentless push for progress despite environmental adversities.

Conclusion: The Intensifying Race to the Rockies

As 1868 dawns, the competition between Central Pacific and Union Pacific reaches its zenith. Both companies employ unscrupulous tactics, including fraudulent lobbying and aggressive land claims, to outpace each other. Huntington’s Central Pacific, having overcome the Sierras, shifts focus to securing Utah’s lucrative coal deposits and strategic locations near Salt Lake City.

Key Takeaways:

• The race epitomizes the American spirit of determination and innovation, albeit marred by exploitation, violence, and corruption.
• Labor struggles and Indigenous resistance underline the profound human costs of this infrastructural triumph.
• The episode concludes with both railroads poised for a final showdown, setting the stage for the eventual completion of the transcontinental railroad and its lasting impact on America’s development.

Notable Quotes

• James Strowbridge:
  “We're doing the hardest work on the line. We deserve more money.” (14:35)

• Central Pacific Treasurer Mark Hopkins:
  “We will build as fast as possible to be acceptable to the commissioners.” (31:43)

• Cheyenne Chief Pawnee Killer:
  “The railroad is the root of all these troubles. If your people stopped building, then there would be peace.” (27:28)

Final Thoughts

Episode 3 of "American History Tellers" masterfully captures the intricate web of ambition, conflict, and resilience that fueled the construction of the transcontinental railroad. Through vivid storytelling and detailed accounts, listeners gain an in-depth understanding of how this monumental project reshaped the American landscape, economy, and society.

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