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Typical Ambrose.
Interesting discussion and description of the financing and land-grant provisions backing the construction of the railroad. I particularly liked reading about the cut-and-fill, tunneling, and problems associated with winter construction especially in the Sierras. Brigham Young plays an interesting albeit brief roll in the construction of the railroad through Utah.
Too bad that there isn't more known about the Chinese workers. Ambrose makes the point that they came, they worked (v ...more
Interesting discussion and description of the financing and land-grant provisions backing the construction of the railroad. I particularly liked reading about the cut-and-fill, tunneling, and problems associated with winter construction especially in the Sierras. Brigham Young plays an interesting albeit brief roll in the construction of the railroad through Utah.
Too bad that there isn't more known about the Chinese workers. Ambrose makes the point that they came, they worked (v ...more
Good solid book by Ambrose, which is not surprising. There are some really good references on some of the names of the towns and places along the railroad. Of course most to all are named after the people that worked on it... There were a tad long parts to it, but otherwise a good book if you like history and are interested in the railroad. Because of this railroad being built this pretty much sealed the fait of the Indians in that America would spread out across the country to settle land. Peop
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I am NOT an Ambrose fan, but this is a great business story as well as a cultural history. It is amazing what the Big Four of Stanford, Hopkins, Huntington, and Charles Crocker accomplished collectively in getting the Central Pacific railroad built, even though after their first couple of meetings they never met together again to coordinate their efforts. A superb lesson for modern business enterprise today!
Sucked to be a Chinese worker building this railraod, though.
Ambrose: OK writer, but a li ...more
Sucked to be a Chinese worker building this railraod, though.
Ambrose: OK writer, but a li ...more
It was really interesting to know more about Crocker, Stanford, Dodge and others involved in getting the railroad built. I didn't realize Brigham Young and the mormons were as involved in the construction as they were.
I guess people in the 1800s were just as greedy and crooked as people today. Ego, power, money, greed and shoddy workmanship were some of the main drivers in getting the transcontinental railroad built. ...more
I guess people in the 1800s were just as greedy and crooked as people today. Ego, power, money, greed and shoddy workmanship were some of the main drivers in getting the transcontinental railroad built. ...more
Apr 19, 2010
Dave Gaston
rated it
it was amazing
Shelves:
nonfiction,
discovery,
america,
history,
invention,
survival,
classic,
racial-conflict,
chicago
The transcontinental railroad and Lincoln’s underwriting of a race between the two coasts during and after the Civil War. The link was a necessity to survive and protect our borders as one country. Cover to cover is stuffed with stories from immigrant labors; Chinese from San Francisco and Irish from Boston New York. Crooked deals and boom towns!
Aug 14, 2008
Boreal Elizabeth
marked it as to-read
Aug 20, 2008
Joe
added it
Oct 20, 2008
Nigel Hetherington
marked it as to-read
May 18, 2009
Martin
marked it as to-read
Jun 19, 2011
Kelly
marked it as to-read
May 14, 2017
Tim Goebel
marked it as wishlist
Sep 04, 2017
Gaijinmama
marked it as to-read
