RE: the Flimsies piece below on the Anacostia African-American museum in D.C.. This is the first reference I've ever seen to slaves being used to build the UP. Is this just incorrect or are they perhaps referring to say, the ex-T&NO lines of the SP? I'm sure CSX and NS have some slave history in their construction, but was surprised to hear of the UP.

http://www.natcath.com/NCR_Online/archives/031403/031403q.htm
ryarger@rypn.org

> This is the first reference I've ever seen
> to slaves being used to build the UP. Is
> this just incorrect or are they perhaps
> referring to say, the ex-T&NO lines of
> the SP?

Several lines out of New Orleans used slaves for a short period but quickly converted to the use of Irishmen. It seems that the malarial swamps killed too many laborers and a slave was valued at $2000. The Irish were wage earners, but there was no attendent loss of "property" when they died. Some accounts estimate that 10,000 died on construction of the New Orleans Jackson and Great Northern (the IC mainline).

fred_ash@bankone.com

Yes That reference jarred me too!

The Union Pacific also called the National Railroad was chartered in 1866 some months after the end of the CIVIL WAR.

It is quite likely that Black workers were part of this project but slaves No Way!

ted_miles@nps.gov

Yes, I too was taken aback by the statement about slaves building the UP. I would be interested to learn about the primary source material that supports that declaration. Perhaps IÂ’ll send an inquiry to the authorÂ…

Keith Albrandt


Nevada Northern & Railroads of White Pine County
kalbrandt@rypn.org

Page 36 of the Time Life book “The Railroaders” has the actual document, on Union Pacific letterhead, dated November 3rd, 1864, signed by Durant, asking permission from President Lincoln to begin construction of the first 100 miles of the Union Pacific west from Omaha. President Lincoln’s hand written approval is shown on the back side of the same letter.

Slaves? I kind of doubt it.

> Page 36 of the Time Life book “The
> Railroaders” has the actual document, on
> Union Pacific letterhead, dated November
> 3rd, 1864, signed by Durant, asking
> permission from President Lincoln to begin
> construction of the first 100 miles of the
> Union Pacific west from Omaha. President
> LincolnÂ’s hand written approval is shown on
> the back side of the same letter.

> Slaves? I kind of doubt it.

Interesting story, see link

http://www.ku.edu/~kansite/hvn/books/nbstory/story
lamontdc@adelphia.net

The Emancipation Proclamation is dated September 22, 1862 effective January 1, 1863. While the Pacific Railroad Act is July 1, 1864 construction did not begin until the close of the Civil War. Conclusion - Slaves could not have been used in the construction of the original Union Pacific.

However - several corporate predecessors of the Southern Pacific in slave states could and almost certainly did use slaves in their construction. As the UP is the surviving corporation the statement that the UP used slaves would be technically correct though somewhat misleading.

> RE: the Flimsies piece below on the
> Anacostia African-American museum in D.C..
> This is the first reference I've ever seen
> to slaves being used to build the UP. Is
> this just incorrect or are they perhaps
> referring to say, the ex-T&NO lines of
> the SP? I'm sure CSX and NS have some slave
> history in their construction, but was
> surprised to hear of the UP.


Text of Emancipation Proclaimation
wrallenassoc@earthlink.net