Otto-Friedrich-Universität Bamberg
Fakultät Sprach- und Literaturwissenschaften - Fach: Anglistik
Proseminar "The Geography, History, Folklore, and Literature of American Transportation"
SS 2001

The First
Transcontinental Railroad

by

Moritz Oehl

Semester: 03

Table of Contents

1. Introduction 3

2. Still a long way to go... 3
2.1 The System of Transportation in the US before 1860 3
2.2 Importance of a Transcontinental Railroad 4
2.3 The Preparations begin 5

3. Linking the Oceans 6
3.1 Working Details and Methods 7
3.2 The Welding of the States 8
3.3 Consequences of the first Transcontinental Railroad 9

4. Summary 10

Bibliography: 12

1. Introduction

The building of the first Transcontinental Railroad marks one of the highlights in American History. Nearly 20,000 workers, mostly immigrants or Chinese, especially engaged for this job, had build a line stretching from Omaha, Nebraska, to the eastern boundary of California within just six years. This largest project in the history of American transportation cost about $ 50 Mio., a number not reached ever before. Huge discussions preceded the project, even more were held afterwards. This termpaper will deal with the preparations for, the actual work and the consequences of this enormous construction.

2. Still a long way to go...
2.1 The System of Transportation in the US before 1860

Until 1825, when the Erie Canal was opened, the few existing land routes to the west were very dangerous. Only beyond the Mississippi River transportation on roads was suitable, for there the rivers were bad to travel on.

By 1860 the system of railroads in the U.S. was only well developed in the regions of the thirteen first colonies and in the Midwest. The only way into the North American interior was along the waterways. The railways which existed just reached as far as the Mississippi (South) and the Missouri (North, St. Joseph).¹

Fig. 1: US railway system by 1860²

[...]

2.2 Importance of a Transcontinental Railroad

As Americans realized that there were lands, natural resources and lots of possibilities in the West, first thoughts of constructing a railway to Oregon arose. The first person to start the public discussion of building such a Transcontinental Railroad was Asa Witney, a New York merchant, in 1845. He was convinced that without this railway the then independent region of Oregon would separate and become a sovereign state. Witney therefore addressed the following to the 28th Congress:

“[…] the time is not far distant when Oregon will become a State of such magnitude and importance as to compel the establishment of a separate Government – a separate nation, which will have cities, ports, and harbors, all free, inviting all the nations of the earth to a free trade with them; when they will control and monopolize the valuable fisheries of the Pacific; control the coast trade of Mexico and South America, of the Sandwich Islands, Japan, and all China, and be our most dangerous and successful rivals in the commerce of the world. But your memorialist believes that this road will unite them to us, enabling them to receive the protecting care of our Government, sharing in its blessings, benefits, and prosperity, and imparting to us our share of the great benefits from their local position, enterprise and industry.”³

But Congress took no definite action. Time went on and public thought changed: Was Oregon the best solution regarding the western end of the railway? 

On January 24, 1848, an event in California finally determined the path of the route: rich gold deposits, found on the American River, caused another “Goldrush”. The news spread throughout the West and reached the middle and Atlantic states by late summer.

[...]

1 Cf. Handouts Bamberg SS 2001 (2001: 40)

2 Martin (1992: 47)

3 Dunbar (1915: 1327)