Bibliograph

Empire express, building the first transcontinental railroad, David Haward Bain

Type

Label

Empire express, building the first transcontinental railroad, David Haward Bain

Language

eng

Bibliography note

Includes bibliographical references (pages 759-777) and index

Illustrations

illustrationsmapsplates

Index

index present

Literary Form

non fiction

Main title

Empire express

Nature of contents

bibliography

Oclc number

41488719

Responsibility statement

David Haward Bain

Sub title

building the first transcontinental railroad

Summary

Chronicles the events that took place in the thirty years it took to complete the first transcontinental railroad, profiling the key players in its development, the major setbacks the workers faced, and the public objections to the railroad's completion

Table Of Contents

pt. I. 1845-57: A procession of dreamers : "For all the human family" ; "Who can oppose such a work?" ; "I must walk toward Oregon" ; "The great object for which we were created" ; "An uninhabited and dreary waste" -- pt. II. 1860-61: Union, disunion, incorporation : "Raise the money and I will build your road" ; "There comes crazy Judah" ; "The marks left by the Donner Party" ; "The most difficult country ever conceived" ; "We have drawn the elephant" -- pt. III. 1863: Last of the dreamers : "Speculation is as fatal to it as secession" ; "I have had a big row and fight" -- pt. IV. 1864: Struggle for momentum : "First dictator of the railroad world" ; "Dancing with a whirlwind" ; "Trustees of the bounty of Congress" -- pt. V. 1865: The losses mount : "The great cloud darkening the land" ; "If we can save our scalps" ; "I hardly expect to live to see it completed" -- pt. VI. 1866: Eyeing the main chance : "Vexation, trouble, and continual hindrance" ; "The Napoleon of railways" ; "We swarmed the mountains with men" ; "Until they are severely punished" -- pt. VII. 1867: Hell on wheels : "Nitroglycerine tells" ; "Our future power and influence" ; "They all died in their boots" ; "There are only five of us" -- pt. VIII. 1868: Going for broke : "More hungry men in Congress" ; "Bring on your eight thousand men" ; "We are in a terrible sweat" ; "A man for breakfast every morning" -- pt. IX. 1869: Battleground and meeting ground : "A resistless power" ; "We have got done praying" -- pt. X. 1872-73: Scandals, scapegoats, and dodgers -- "Trial of the innocents."

Classification

Creator