Central Pacific Railroad Photographic History Museum
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Sunday, October 29, 2006
Chinese to Pacific Coast
From: KyleKWyatt@gmail.com
I came across this Chinese to Pacific Coast engraving in the California On Line list. At a guess, it dates from the late 1870s or early 1880s, based on the presence of the Canadian Pacific in the drawing.
In checking the dates of Gen. Dimond of the Pacific Mail and also the Canadian Pacific Steamship Company, this anti-Chinese cartoon could not be any earlier than 1889 — a surprisingly late date for such an item.
The presence of the Canadian Pacific in the image may in part be due to the use of Chinese laborers in building the CPR line through British Columbia during the early 1880s. The decision to use a Chinese workforce was extremely unpopular, made during and just after the height of the anti-Chinese movement in the United States. Ironically it was made by American contractors, building the line for the CPR.
Studying the image itself, I note ALL Chinese come to San Francisco, regardless of where they debark for ships (US or Canada). That suggests the locality of interest for the maker of the poster.
From: "Mullaly, Larry" LMullaly@roguecc.edu
ReplyDeleteIn checking the dates of Gen. Dimond of the Pacific Mail and also the Canadian Pacific Steamship Company, this anti-Chinese cartoon could not be any earlier than 1889 — a surprisingly late date for such an item.
—Larry
From: "Jim Wilke" woodburner@earthlink.net
ReplyDeleteThe presence of the Canadian Pacific in the image may in part be due to the use of Chinese laborers in building the CPR line through British Columbia during the early 1880s. The decision to use a Chinese workforce was extremely unpopular, made during and just after the height of the anti-Chinese movement in the United States. Ironically it was made by American contractors, building the line for the CPR.
—Jim
From: KyleWyatt@aol.com
ReplyDeleteStudying the image itself, I note ALL Chinese come to San Francisco, regardless of where they debark for ships (US or Canada). That suggests the locality of interest for the maker of the poster.
—Kyle