CPRR Discussion Group

Thursday, December 01, 2005

Hand Held Stereoscope

From: Debe07@aol.com

We have a hand held stereoscope, it is a Sun Sculpture Trademark. The Manufacturers are Underwood & Underwood in New York. We also have some original photographs. We would like to know the history on these. We only have what our Sweet Beloved Mother has told us. —Debbie

WP and SF&SJ inclusion in Pacific Railway Legislation

From: "Larry Mullaly" lmullaly@jeffnet.org

Two questions:

1) The original Pacific Railway Act of 1862 did include transfer of rights from the CP to the [Western Pacific Railroad] to build a connector line between Sacramento to San Francisco. Was there subsequent legislation that allowed the Western Pacific to be awarded federal lands?

2) Although the Department of Interior appointed Commissioners to examine the San Francisco & San Jose in 1866, I do not see that the road was ever awarded government assistance. Why did the inspection take place if there were no benefits attached?

Any assistance would be appreciated.

—Larry Mullaly

Great Grandfather, Benjamin Daniel Hayes

From: "Loni Hayes-Mazzocco" mudsock@sbcglobal.net

Will you help me? With your extensive research with the transcontinental railroad workers, I'm hoping you can direct me to web sites or railroad companies with phone numbers that could possibly have the records I need.

I am looking for the railroad line, the exact dates of employment and any other information on my Great Grandfather, Benjamin Daniel Hayes. He worked on the railroad in security. He would travel on the train to protect the railroad's payroll being delivered. I actually have the pistol he used, which has seven knotches in the wood of the handle representing the number of men he killed in this line of duty.

He was born 1859 in Shelbrock County, Iowa and died 1933 in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Therefore, I assume it is a rail line in that area that was active during that time frame.

From what I can gather in the Net, railroad lines in that time changed companys and renamed several times. It's all confusing to me and I have no idea where to look. Is there one major list of railroad employees during that time I can check that will specifiy what company he worked for?

Is it also possible the my Great Grandfather worked for a security company that was hired by the railroad line and I'm not looking in the right direction at all? If there were such companies, what are their names or how can I find them?

Any information you can provide me would be tremendously and greatly appreciated.

—Loni Hayes

Charles W. Fox, leader of a CPRR Chinese work gang

From: "Linda Moorhouse" Linda.Moorhouse@JenconsUSA.com

... Are there any documents still in existence that would list the personnel that were involved with the building of the Transcontinental Railroad. I am researching my family, and my Great-Grandfather always told us that he was a gang leader for a Chinese work gang and was present during the driving of the Golden Spike. His name was Charles W. Fox originally of Pittsburgh Pennsylvania.

Any information or direction you could give me would be greatly appreciated.

Linda H. Moorhouse
Operations Manager
Jencons Scientific
Bridgeville Pennsylvania

What happened to the last tie?

From: Linda Bridges bridgesl@liveoakpl.org

I've found out where the Golden Spike from the Transcontinental Railroad is, but I'm curious about the final tie. Is it still in existence? If so, where is it housed? Thanks for your help.

Linda Bridges
Effingham County Children's Librarian
a branch of Live Oak Public Libraries
Savannah, GA

Welcome to the CPRR Discussion Group at the Central Pacific Railroad Photographic History Museum.

See HOW TO POST to the CPRR Discussion Group.

© 2005 CPRR.org. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of the User Agreement which permits personal use web viewing only; no copying; arbitration; no warranty. Only send content intended for publication.

CPRR Museum Category Tags:
Transcontinental Railroad
Central Pacific Railroad, Union Pacific Railroad
Railroads, Trains, Locomotives
History of the American West, Chinese railroad workers
Photography, Photographs, Stereoviews, Stereographs
Central Pacific Railroad Photographic History Museum
Central Pacific Railroad Photographic History Museum