150 years ago this week, that is, 1869 May, the intersection of railways made it possible for people to cross the North American continent by train for the first time. The Pacific Railway, which connects California in the west with other parts of the United States, is considered as one of the engineering wonders of that era. Leland, President of Central Pacific Company? Leland Stanford and his compatriots have won all the honors in history, but China people, who account for 90% of the Pacific Railway workforce, have not won these honors. "Without China people, the transcontinental railway could not have been built," Gordon Chang, a professor at Stanford University, wrote in a new research report on railways and the role of China people.
But China's achievements have been erased from history. 1969, when the United States celebrated the 0/00th anniversary of the completion of this railway, Richard? John, the secretary of transportation under President Richard Nixon? Volpe delivered a keynote speech, and Volp said, "Except Americans, who can drill 10 tunnels on a snow-capped mountain as deep as 30 feet? Who but Americans can drill through miles of granite? Besides Americans, who else can lay 10 miles of tracks in 12 hours? "
When volpe spoke, Philip? Philip Tsai sat there dumbfounded. He couldn't believe what he heard. These workers are not Americans. They are from China. They built one of the greatest projects called "American Century" by historians, but later American laws prohibited them from becoming American citizens.
Stanford University launched a large-scale project called "China Railway Workers" in North America, which gave voice to thousands of workers who built this railway. A book about workers in China, Ghost of Jinshan, was published. These workers were recruited in southern China. They were taken to San Francisco and then sent to the construction site. They finally settled in the Pacific Mail Pier at the foot of Bran South Street.
The research of Stanford University shows that the workers in China are not the faceless, indifferent and uncomplaining workers in the legend. This work is hard and dangerous. They work with picks, shovels and explosives. China workers held a large-scale strike, which was one of the first major labor disputes that occurred that year. But they work hard to develop their professional skills. They set a record, laying 10 miles of tracks in one day. Wendell from the Nevada Railway Museum? Wendell Hoffman said. "They have become experts in teamwork. They are like a football team and everyone knows what to do. " When the Pacific Railway was built, China people were not ignored. After the ceremony, James, director of China Pacific Construction? James Strawbridge invited his senior staff in China to have lunch in his private train car. On the day before 150, they were warmly welcomed.
But after that, the traces of China people were erased. Hoffman said: "This is an American story, but volpe forgot that China people are part of American history."