TO THE READER
It is fifty years ago, this year 1919, that the first of the iron trails across the United States, between the East and the West, was finally completed. At noon of May 10, 1869, the last four rails in the new Pacific Railway were laid, and upon Promontory Point, Utah, about fifty miles westward from Ogden, the locomotive of the Union Pacific and the locomotive of the Central Pacific touched noses. That was indeed a great event.
The Union Pacific, coming from Omaha at the Missouri River, had built over one thousand miles of track in three years; the Central Pacific, coming from Sacramento at the Pacific Ocean, had built over six hundred miles in the same space. Altogether, in seven years there had been built one thousand, seven hundred and seventy-five miles of main track, and the side-tracks, stations, water-tanks, and so forth.
In one year the Union Pacific had laid four hundred and twenty-five miles of track; in the same year the Central Pacific had laid three hundred and sixty-three miles. In one day the Union Pacific had laid seven and three-quarters miles; in one day the Central Pacific had laid a full ten miles. These records have never been beaten.
The whole thing was a feat equaled again only when America speeded up in the war against Germany; for when they once get started, Americans astonish the world.
Twenty-five thousand men, including boys, were working at one time, on the twain roads. This book tells of the experiences of Terry Richards and George Stanton, who were two out of the twenty-five thousand; and of their friends.
The Author.
AT THE UNION PACIFIC END
| Terry Richards | On the Job | |
| George Stanton | Likewise on the Job | |
| Terry’s Father | } | The Crew of No. 119 |
| Stoker Bill Sweeny | ||
| George’s Father | Out on Survey | |
| Mother Richards | } | Heroines of the U. P. |
| Mother Stanton | ||
| Virgie Stanton | First Passenger Across | |
| Harry Revere | Expert Lightning Shooter | |
| Jenny the Yellow Mule | Dead in Line of Duty | |
| Shep the Black Dog | “Killed in Action” | |
| Jimmie Muldoon | Who “Stays Wid the Irish” | |
| Major-General Greenville M. Dodge | The Big Chief | |
| Colonel Silas Seymour | His New York Assistant | |
| Paddy Miles | Boss of the Track “Tarriers” | |
| General “Jack” Casement | The Scrappy Hustler | |
| Mr. Sam Reed | Construction Superintendent | |
| Major Frank M. North | White Chief of the Pawnees | |
| Lineman William Thompson | Who Rescues his own Scalp | |
General Grant, General Sherman, U. P. Vice-President Thomas C. Durant, Director Sidney Dillon, and other distinguished visitors; Major Marshall Hurd, John Evans, Tom Bates, Francis Appleton, and other daring survey engineers; General John A. Rawlins, young Mr. Duff, Mr. John Corwith, tourists; Mr. David Van Lennep, geologist; Sol Judy and old Jim Bridger, scouts; Chief Petalesharo’s Pawnees; United States soldiers; the Irish “tarriers” who built the road; Jack Slade’s “roaring town” toughs; and bad Injuns.
AT THE CENTRAL PACIFIC END
| Governor Leland Stanford | A President in Broadcloth |
| Vice-President Collis P. Huntington | Who Raises the Money |
| Mr. Charles Crocker | Commanding “Crocker’s Pets” |
| Mr. Sam S. Montague | Chief Engineer |
| Mr. J. H. Strowbridge | Construction Superintendent |
| Mr. Hi Minkler | Who Opens Paddy Miles’ Eyes |
Mike Shay, Pat Joyce, Tom Dailey, Mike Kennedy, Fred McNamara, Ed Killeen, George Wyatt, Mike Sullivan, the ten-miles-a-day “cracks”; and the 10,000 Chinks who saved the Central.
Time and Place: 1867-1869, upon the great plains, through the deserts and over the mountains, during the famous railroad-building race to cross the continent.