Hiring Workers

Hiring workers, there was labor shortage in 1865. In early 1865 the central Pacific had work for 4,000 men. But Charles Crocker barely manged to hold onto 800 laborers at any given time. Most of the early workers were Irish immigrants. Central Pacific officials believed Irishmen were inclined to spend their wages on liquor, and that Chinese were unreliable. Due to the shortage of men Crocker suggested that reconsideration be given to Chinese workers. He encountered strong prejudice from foreman James Harvey Strobridge. Strobridge attitude changed when a group of Irish laborers haggled over wages. Crocker said to recruit some Chinese in there place, instantly the Irishmen abandoned their dispute. Strobridge hired fifty Chinese workers to at least motivate his men with competition, their work ethic impressed him so he hired more workers for more difficult task. Crocker hired advertisement in China. The Chinese workers were punctual, willing and well behaved. The Chinese teams were organized into groups of 20 under one foreman. Chinese employees received wages of $27 and then $30 a month, minus the cost of food and board. The Irishmen were paid $35 per month, with board provided. Workers lived in canvas camps alongside the grade. Each gang had a cook who purchased dried food from the Chinese districts of Sacramento and San Francisco to prepare on site. Toward the end of the line, Crocker was so convinced of the skill of his Irish and Chinese workers that he decided to try for a record by laying 10 miles of track in one day. April 28, 1868 was the appointed day, and Crocker had prepared well. As work crews approached the summit, Strobridge continued to doubt the suitability of Chinese to certain tasks. When a group of Irish masons struck for higher wages, Crocker suggested using Chinese men in their place. The foreman objected. Famously, Crocker replied, "Did they not build the Chinese Wall, the biggest piece of masonry in the world?" Strobridge acquiesced, and Chinese crews were soon laying stone.