"Old Sacramento Celebrates 150th Anniversary Of The Transcontinental Railroad"

"Old Sacramento Celebrates 150th Anniversary Of The Transcontinental Railroad." © CBS Sacramento 13, May 8, 2019. (News Video)

"We talk with the great great great great nephew of Theodore Judah, the engineer of the Central Pacific Railroad." [More]

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"Historic telegrams tell the story of how the Transcontinental Railroad ushered in new era"

"Historic telegrams tell the story of how the Transcontinental Railroad ushered in new era" by The Associated Press, © The Salt Lake Tribune, May 9, 2019. (Article)

" ... The Baltimore Sun, relying on telegraphed dispatches by other cities and The Associated Press, published the following article on the event and how it was celebrated across the U.S. It first appeared on May 11, 1869. The AP is reprinting it in honor of the Transcontinental Railroad’s 150th anniversary.
... The AP Corporate Archives contributed to this report." [More]

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Completion of the Pacific Railroad

Official Announcement — Telegraphing the Hammer Strokes — Rejoicing and Congratulation — Ringing of Bells and Other Demonstrations.

Promontory Summit, Utah, May 10, noon. — To the Associated Press: The last rail is laid. The last spike is driven. The Pacific railroad is completed. The point of junction is 1,086 miles west of the Missouri river, and 690 miles east of Sacramento.

LELAND STANFORD, Central Pacific Railroad

T.C. DURANT, SIDNEY DILLON, JOHN DUFF, Union Pacific Railroad
The news received in New York



New York, May 10. — The last spike in the Pacific railroad was driven today at five minutes past 3 o’clock P.M., New York time. San Francisco, Chicago, St. Louis, New Orleans, New York, Boston, Philadelphia and Plaister Cove, the end of the cable, were connected with Promontory Point by telegraph, and the hammer strokes on the last spike were duly transmitted according to arrangement.

When the news was received in New York a hundred guns were fired in the City Hall Park, and Mayor Hall forwarded a congratulatory message to the Mayor of San Francisco. A commemorative celebration had previously been held in Trinity Church, at which a telegram forwarded by the Chamber of Commerce to the Chamber in San Francisco was read, and an address delivered by Rev. Dr. Vinton.

After prayer and reading of portions of the Episcopal service, the organ pealed and chimes rung as the large congregation left the church. Flags on the city hall and on many public and private buildings were displayed all day in honor of the great event.



Free trade and the Pacific Railroad

A meeting of the American Free Trade League of New York was held at Cooper Institute tonight at which many of the prominent members of the organization were present. David Dudley Field called the assemblage to order, and Howard Potter presided. Addresses were delivered by William Cullen Bryant and Edward Atkinson, and the following resolution was adopted:

"Resolved, That in the opening of the great Pacific railroad today, connecting New York and San Francisco, we recognize a pledge, not only for one country, one constitution and one destiny, but with a due regard to the revenue, for the freest sort of trade with all countries and all continents."
Ringing the bells in Philadelphia

Philadelphia, May 10. — At 2:30 o'clock P.M. precisely, Philadelphia time, the news was received of the driving of the last spike of the Pacific railroad. Word was sent to the mayor, and in a few minutes the bells in Independence Hall and the various fire stations were rung, drawing crowds into the streets under the impression that a general alarm of fire was being rung. The people soon ascertained the reason of the ringing of the bells, and flags were immediately displayed everywhere. A large number of steam fire engines ranged in front of Independence Hall with screaming whistles and hose carriage bells ringing. Joy was expressed in every face at the completion of this great work of country. The sudden flocking of the people to the State House reminded one of the reception of the news of the surrender of Lee's army, when a similar scene was enacted.


The Rejoicing at Chicago

Chicago, May 10. — The celebration of the completion of the great inter-ocean railroad connection today was the most successful affair of the kind that ever took place in Chicago, and probably in the West. It is entirely impromptu, and therefore almost every man, woman and child in the city did their part toward making it a success. The procession was unique in appearance and immense in length, the lowest estimate putting it down at seven miles. During the moving of the procession, Vice President Colfax received the following dispatch:

"Promontory Summit, Utah, May 10. — Hon. Schuyler Colfax, Vice President: The rails were connected today. The prophecy of Benton is today a fact. This is the way to India.

"G.M. DODGE,

"JOHN DUFF,

"SIDNEY DILLON,

"T.C. DURANT."


This evening Vice President Colfax, Lieut. Governor Bross and others addressed large audiences at Liberty Hall, in which they spoke eloquently of the great era which this day marks in the history of our country. During the evening there was general indulgence in fireworks, bonfires, illumination, &c.
The celebration elsewhere

There was great rejoicing over the event at Scranton, Pennsylvania, where cannon, bells and whistles of locomotives were employed to give eclat to the occasion.

In Buffalo, New York, a large gong was attached to the telegraph wire, and at 2:41 P.M. by the time of that city began to ring out the hammer strokes. The crowd sung the Star-Spangled Banner, and jubilee speeches were made by the orators.

Omaha dispatches say that telegrams from Echo City report that the troubles of the railroad laborers near Piedmont were amicably settled.

"150 years of railroad snow removal in the Sierra"

"150 years of railroad snow removal in the Sierra" by Jerry Blackwill , © Sierra Sun, May 9, 2019. (News Article)

" ... The first surveyors of the transcontinental railroad thought the snows could be handled with the equipment of the day. They planned to use 'Bucker' snowplows almost 20-feet tall pushed by six to nine wood-burning locomotives. ... " [More]

[Courtesy Google Alerts.]

"150 Years Ago, America Was United By Train"

"150 Years Ago, America Was United By Train: Railroads were America's first big business and still help to build U.S. industry" by Thomas Black
and Marisa Gertz , © bloomberg.com, May 9, 2019. (Article)

" ... Railroads were the nation’s first big business, spawning fortunes for entrepreneurs including Cornelius Vanderbilt and Jay Gould and spurring financial markets. J. Pierpont Morgan, a major financier and railroad shareholder, helped bring stability to an industry plagued by overcapacity and price wars. The most famous agreement, the 'Corsair Compact,' was named for Morgan’s yacht after the banker invited Vanderbilt and Gould aboard in July 1885 and insisted on sailing until the two feuding magnates struck a deal. The result -- which eventually led to price fixing and sharing customers -- triggered a Congressional crackdown, including passage of the Sherman Antitrust Act in 1890. ... " [More]

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"Building the Transcontinental Railroad: How 20,000 Chinese Immigrants Made It Happen"

"Building the Transcontinental Railroad: How 20,000 Chinese Immigrants Made It Happen" by Lesley Kennedy, © history.com, May 10, 2019. (News Article)

" ... At first railroad companies were reluctant to hire Chinese workers, but the immigrants soon proved to be vital. ... " [More]

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CPRR subsidy bonds, 1887

"The Central Pacific Railroad Company in equitable account with the United States, growing out of the issue of subsidy bonds in aid of construction Central Pacific Railroad Company. H. Bessey, printer, New York, 1887" Courtesy Smithsonian

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"Thousands gather to reclaim Chinese railroad workers' place in history"

"Thousands gather to reclaim Chinese railroad workers' place in history" by Chris Fuchs, © nbcnews.com, May 10, 2019. (News Article)

" ... Friday’s commemoration, which officials said drew an estimated 20,000, contrasted from the one held in Promontory in 1969 for the 100th anniversary celebration, when nothing more than a 'passing mention of the Chinese' was made. ... " [More]

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