Transcontinental Railroad
1866 First Attempt to make it through Alameda Cañon
These documents talk about this attempt:
Wikipedia Western Pacific Railroad (1862–1870)
The NPS document for the Niles Canyon Railway (written by Alan Frank, Al Minard was official author) It was here for a long time: https://web.archive.org/web/20210326185216/https://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/Asian_American_and_Pacific_Islander_Heritage/NHLpdfs/Niles%20NHL%20nomination.pdf
Niles Canyon Trail has some resources
The story of the Dead Cow Curve which is where the 1866 picture is taken.
Check out the Bridge of the Week series.
1866 photo from NPS document, an original from Ardenwood? This is apparently "Dead Cow Curve". Photo is also here on History San Jose 1993-106-8
(Note that the NPS document was moved from here and we now get it from the Wayback machine.
"Dead Cow Curve" is approximately where the "N" in Niles Canyon Rd. is located. When looking at an aerial photo, the curve is the largest seen in canyon.
See also photos from History San José: 1993-106-10, 1993-106-7, 1993-106-9, 1993-106-6
1870 Census records
Look for Centerville page 67-68, which is where Vallejo's Mills was included.
P. 67 has William Snyder who owned a store and was later post office?
P. 68 has names of many Chinese railroad workers
From NPS document
Transcontinental Railroad in Alameda Cañon
Much has been written and recorded about this section of railroad. Read about it here:
Niles Canyon Transcontinental Railroad Historic District Fremont and Sunol, California
Photos of Niles Canyon after railroad came through. Is this what it looked like in 1866-1869? The photos only go as far as the 20-mile mark. Vallejo's aqueduct can be seen and possibly no RR on that side. Some of the photos were taken when the California buckeye was blooming, which is spring to early summer.
75-page registration form for the National Register of Historic Places with lots of references.
Luna, Henry and the Pacific Locomotive Association, Niles Canyon Railways, Arcadia Publishing
From San Jose to Alameda Canyon, the first work
27 January 1866, American Railroad Journal United States Pacific Telegraph Co. The "Opposition" installed telegraph lines from San Jose to Sacramento via Stockton. Through the canyon?
24 February 1866, American Railroad Journal, "The Western Pacific Railroad extending from Sacramento to San Francisco, by way of San Jose a distance of 170 miles…The line from San Jose to San Francisco, a distance of 50 miles, is completed. From San Jose eastward, 20 miles is about completed, and the iron for the balance of the distance to Sacramento is already purchased and going forward. The grading is entirely out of the way".
29 December 1866 Extracts from the Report of the Secretary of the Interior, American Railroad Journal. The Western Pacific Railroad Company's construction of the line from "San Jose, in the direction of Sacramento, to a point in Alameda County, a distance of twenty miles."
6 October 1866, “Twenty miles of the Western Pacific Railroad, extending from San Jose to Vallejos Canon were finished on the 2nd inst.”
Railroad workers:
GIF made with the NYPL Labs Stereogranimator. Might be UP workers?
Lauren of the Society of California Pioneers suggested "Wood Train and Chinamen in Bloomer Cut"
Santa Cruz narrow gauge work with many photos of workers and this one. Possibly the photo comes from the Smithsonian or locally?
this photo was on this website. Listed as from the Pajaro Valley Historical Association. Date? Location?
Timeline from the news and elsewhere:
From CPRR.org a overall timeline
Somewhere in here talks about the significance of the 20 miles.
Movements Toward a Pacific Railroad, 22 December 1862
The Pacific Railroad, 28 May 1863
16 August 1864 deed for Warm Springs. Columbet, Higuera
1 Jan. 1866 - excellent summary of the railroads
5 Jan. 1866 CA legislature.
7 Jan. 1866 Statement ("humorous" by the writer) by Stanford about the Chinese laborers.
8 Jan. 1866 same statement, different paper
12 Jan. 1866 Board members and progress. Rolling stock.
13 Jan. 1866 The Western Pacific Railroad Company will be prepared to sell lands along the line of road, by the 14th of February next. Parties in possession will have the preference to others. The price has not yet been determined, but will not probably greatly exceed the Government, prices, if at all. Last notice 20 Mar. 1866? April 10
17 Jan. 1864 Daily Alta California "Grand Celebration of the Opening of the San Jose Railroad."
19 Jan. 1866 New ferryboat "Alameda"
13 Mar. 1866 NOTICE. WESTERN PACIFIC RAILROAD LANDS. OFFICE OF THE WESTERN PACIFIC RAIROAD COMPANY, San Francisco (Cal.). March 6, 1866. -Thee Company are now prepared to receive applications for, and to negotiate the sale, Lands granted to them by Acts of the Congress of the United States.
14 March 1866 Stockton Independent SUPERVISORS' REPORT UPON THE CONDITION OF THE WESTERN PACIFIC RAILROAD.
24 March 1866 The Railroad Swindle
18 Apr. 1866 gravel from Coyote Creek
6 May 1866 Alameda Railway, Encinal, Hayward, Warm Springs, etc.
7 May 1866 lots for sale Alameda
10 May 1866
13 May 1866 New ferry pier
20 May 1866 Schedule. Take horses, buggies, etc. from Hayward's to Warm Springs
12 June 1866 WP legit?
30 Aug. 1866 Railroad Extension.— The line of the San Francisco and Alameda Railroad has been surveyed and located by the company's engineer, Short, from Hayward's to its intersection with the Western Pacific Railroad. The route runs through the Bell ranch — leaves Centreville a few hundred feet to the west, and strikes the Western Pacific Railroad at Washington Corners.
31 Aug. 1866 Again on the Track.-The laying of the track on the Western Pacific Railroad, between Valejo's Mills and Peacock's, was recommenced on Thursday, the l6th inst. It will be remembered that work at this point had been suspended for nearly six weeks, for want of material. The rails will be laid as far as the grade is completed, which extends some distance up Alameda Canon. It is reported that work in the canon will be resumed again in the course of ten or fifteen days, under new and promising auspices. The fact that Mr. McLaughlin's name appears in the passenger list on the steamer of the 11th inst., which sailed from New York, gives credence to the foregoing re port. The above is from the correspondence of the Alameda Gazette.
5 Sept. 1866 Western Pacific Railroad.—Work is now being pushed steadily on the Western Pacific Railroad, from San Jose, eastward. The track is graded to a point some hundred yards beyond Washington Corner's farm, four or five miles from Vallejo's mills just above which it enters the canyon which leads up into the pass through the San José range towards the valley of the San Joaquin.
20 Sept. 1866 progress
26 Sept. 1866 Alameda -- The. Alta says the WesternPacific Railroad will complete its first twenty miles within a week. The workmen are now engaged in laying the iron in the Alameda Canyon, and before ten days roll round the cars can run seventy miles from San Francisco by way of San Jose. The terminus of the twenty miles is about a mile and a half this side of Sunol Valley, which lies beyond the Contra Costa range of mountains, Bast of the bay.
2 October 1866 The WPRR completed construction of its first twenty miles in 1866. Amusing tale "Curse of Dead Cow Curve".
3 October 1866 Heavy Suit.—Jerome B. Cox and others vave commenced suit against Charles E. McLaughlin at San Francisco, to recover heavy damages for an alleged breach of contractPlaintiffs aver that they entered into a contract with defendant in January, 1865, for the construction of 71 1/4 miles of the Western Pacific Railroad, and that having pushed the work vigorously forward up to June last they were obliged to suspend operations on account of the failure of defendant to make payments as agreed upon. They alledge that there was then due a payment, of $173,893 15. for which amount they ask judgment, and also for $350, 000 damages for the alleged breach of contract.
3 October 1866 The first section of the Western PacificRailroad, extending from San Jose to Vallejo canyon, twenty miles distant. Is opened to-day. The cars left San Jose at 10 a.m.
3 October 1866 The first section of the Western Pacific Railroad, extending from San Jose to Vallejose Cañon, above Vallejose Mills, a distance of about twenty miles, was inaugurated to day.
5 October 1866 A party of excursionists, on Wednesday of this week, took a trip over the twenty miles completed Western Pacific Railway. The road is se far well built.
6 October 1866 Western Pacific Railroad. -- The San Jose Patriot of October 2d says : By invitation of the managers our citizens enjoyed free rides to-day upon the first section, twenty miles, completed. We were among the party and started for the depot at 7 o'clock a. m., and between 10 and 11 o'clock were again at our post at the office. The notice was so short that many who would otherwise have availed themselves of the polite invitation bad no knowledge of the excursion, and hence not more than enough to fill up one car left the depot. But as the train proceeded groups of women and children were seen standing on the roadside at every convenient point, and by the time the train reached Alameda Canyon several cars were filled. At the terminus of the section most of the passengers left the cars for the purpose of enjoying the day in the shades and glens of the wild canyon or angling in the river for the fine fish abounding in its waters. The road seems to be remarkably well built, and we observed that the space between the ties was well filled with gravel from the beds of neighboring creeks, and the embankments also covered with gravel, so as to protect them from washing away during the rainy season. The bridges and culverts of stone and wood appear to be strongly and admirably built.
9 October 1866 Question about city's ownership of WP bonds.
10 October 1866 The Commissioners report that the first section of the Western PacificRailroad — twenty miles in extent— has been satisfactorily completed and is in running order.
10 October 1866 SDU more questions
13 October 1866 SCWS more on the lawsuit
3 February 1867 The Commissioner of the General Land Office has received a list of the selections of land of the Western Pacific Railroad from San Jose eastward to Alameda Canon, amounting to 13,257 acres.
25 March 1867 Our railroad Enterprises
8 April 1867 Extension to Washington Corners?
2 November 1867 A gentleman of this city, who visited Sacramento a few days ago, had a short conversation with ex-Governor Stanford, on Western Pacific Railroad matters, when the latter stated that the road would be constructed through San Joaquin Valley, by way of Stockton, and that the work would he commenced as soon as bad weather on the mountains made it necessary to withdraw the laboring force from the Central Pacific road.
30 May 1868 An Oakland paper says that last week the party of surveyors, headed by F. Lantern, engaged in making the preliminary survey for the Western Pacific Railroad from Vallejo’s canon to Oakland, completed that part of their work, and are now engaged in the vicinity of this place making a topographical map of the country. [and] The liquors, stills, apparatus, etc., owned by C. Columbet, at the Warm Springs, in Alameda county, have been seized for a violation of the Revenue law.
3 June 1868 Telegraph Office at Warm Springs.— The Western Union Telegraph Company have opened an office at the Warm Springs, Alameda County. This will accommodate visitors at the Springs this summer.
9 Feb. 1869 "Livermore Tunnel, February 8th. Work on the Western Pacific Railroad in this vicinity is progressing rapidly. There is a working force of about 400 persons, including Chinamen. The tunnel will be 1,182 feet long. Work on it has been temporarily suspended on account of scarcity of timber. The grading here is very heavy, being mostly cuts through slate rock. A drizzling rain has been falling all day."
2 April 1869 Mossdale article on bridge work and area
7 April 1869 San Joaquin bridges, Stockton
14 April 1869 Mrs. Lathrop's broken arm
17 April 1869 "Some railroad history"
29 April 1869 San Jose Junction...use Niles' instead
30 April 1869 Daily Morning Chronicle (SFPL) A Grand Army in Motion (and a prediction that SF will be destroyed by an earthquake).
1 May 1869 THE PACIFIC RAILROAD; FROM THE END OF THE TRACK; THE GREAT TEN-MILE FEAT. The actual date of the feat was April 28.
3 May 1869 "Our Freighting Interest"
5 May 1869 "From the Railroad Front" and "Sacramento Aroused" (description of the last laurel-wood tie!)
6 May 1869 The Railway Front, "Melting away of the Railroad Camps", "Sacramento Jubilee" (tie & hammer left with party)
8 May 1869 Excursion Train to the front (plan to connect rail to telegraph for ceremony),
8 May 1869 Fourteen out of 26 miles completed - Encinal to Vallejo Mills.
8 May 1869 Battle of Chinese workers (See Yup and Yung Wo companies) at Victory, Utah. Strobridge and others intercede.
8 May 1869 Second Despatch
9 May 1869 a minute and a half before 10, the completion was announced. Celebrations elsewhere.
10 May 1869 Golden Spike Ceremony (wiki) (Thomas Hill painting & inaccuracies noted in 1881)
10 May 1869 SF celebrations
10 May 1869 New York TImes
13 May 1869 "The majority of the Senate Committee on the Pacific Railroad, in their report of February 19, 1869, strongly urge the necessity of having two additional trunk railroads from the Pacific to connect with the railroads on the Atlantic slope—one by the northern and the other by the southern route." It's barely even finished and it's not enough!
13 May 1869 Gov. Haight
14 May 1869 The Elevator about the celebrations in San Francisco "We missed one of the principal adjuncts of the building of the Central Pacific Railroad, without whose aid the road would not have been completed in two years. We allude to the Chinamen. They should, of course, have been represented in the celebration of the completion of a work on which they have been a prominent feature."
15 May 1869 despatch from the Bee dated May 10th stated that Mrs. Strobridge helped Gov. Stanford drive one of the last spikes?!
15 May 1869 200 men at Bantas hotel grading
15 May 1869 (from Stanford talk) "San Francisco Newsletter, May 15, 1869" "J.H. Strobridge, when the work was over, invited the Chinese who had been brought over from Victory for that purpose, to dine at his boarding car. When they entered, all the guest and officers present cheered them as the chosen representatives of the race which have greatly helped to build the road...a tribute they well deserved and which evidently gave them much pleasure."
16 May 1869 survey party Shepherd's ferry
28 May 1869 Report of survey's
29 May 1869 200 men at San Joaquin bridge at Mossdale
3 June 1869 progress of the work.
4 June 1869 The Daily Morning Chronicle (SFPL) - Rattlesnakes, second longest tunnel, bridges over Mokelumne and San Joaquin rivers, lack of wood. 100 men and 30 horses. Over 1600 men Turton, Knox & Ryan - 1000 Chinese, the rest primarily Irish. Pay and gangs.
5 June 1869 J. H. Strobridge, who became widely known in consequence of his successful management of the Central Pacific tracklayers and graders during the time that road was in course of construction, left the city [Sacramento?] for San Francisco yesterday afternoon by the steamer Yosemite with a number of men, horses, grading and camp tools, etc., he being about to commence work upon the branch of the Western Pacific Railroad leading from Vallejo Mills to Oakland. Speaking of the Western Pacific Railroad, we learn that Turton, Knox &. Ryan have detached a large number of their men from the Livermore Pass vicinity and set them grading and tracklaying on the lower end of the road, commencing twenty miles from San Jose, at the end of the section completed by the former owners of the franchise, and working up Alameda Canyon into Livermore Valley. Large quantities of iron are being shipped from San Francisco to Warm Springs Landing, Alameda county, to be laid upon that end of the road. It is probable that the tracklayers working from the eastern and western ends will meet at or near the San Joaquin river. The grading at Livermore Pass including operations upon the tunnel — will be done, it is estimated, about the 1st of August. Turton, Knox & Ryan have about 2,000 men at work.
6 June 1869 The Daily Morning Chronicle (SFPL) Strobridge will commence with a large force upon a branch of the Western Pacific from Vallejo Mills to Oakland.
9 June 1869 ex Gov. Stanford travelled to Mokelumne by rail and then to San Joaquin. Large force at Consumnes.
10 June 1989 Sacramento Union "Chinese Workman — There arrived from the eastern end of the Central Pacific Railroad yesterday morning, and left upon the San Francisco boat to work upon the Western Pacific Railroad, between two hundred and three hundred Chinamen. They will be under Strobridge's command. Fifty-two Chinamen were sent over the mountains from the city yesterday morning to work upon the Virginia City and Truckee Railroad."
12 June 1869 American Railroad Journal, Livermore Tunnel. "One tunnel of 1,162 feet, has been driven at each end...There is but one longer tunnel than this on the whole line of the Central Pacific." Really?
19 June 1869 - "The Alameda Gazette says : The idea now prevails that the Western Pacific Railroad will, in addition to the track down the valley, take an air line from Vallejo's Mills across the bay, thence down the bay shore to San Francisco. This view is strengthened by the fact that Captain Swett, the pile drivist, is about to commence the erection of a wharf on the Forbes’ place, lately purchased by Loyd Tevis, on the bay shore below Centreville. The knowing ones are freely betting suits of clothes and “sich” that the track will cross the bay at that point."
26 June 1869 - "WORK ON THE WESTERN PACIFIC.—There are 600 men at work near Vallejo Mills, where there is a mile and a half requiring considerable cutting and filling. About 100 men are preparing the road between the Mills and San Jose. "
26 June 1869 THE abutment of the first pier of the Western Pacific Railroad bridge across the San Joaquin river, at Mossdale, was laid last Monday.
25 July 1869 "WESTERN PACIFIC RAILROAD. The Last Link in the line from New York to San Francisco Approaching Completion— What has been Done and what Remains to do— The Cars from the Other Side of the Continent to be in Oakland by September First— Three Routes to Sacramento— The Question of the Final Terminus yet Unsettled -Etc. The public mind having become accustomed to look upon the completion of the Pacific Railroad from the Missouri River to the Sacramento are virtually the completion of the line from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Little notice has been taken of late of the progress of the work on the Western Pacific branch or section of the great road which forms a prominent link in the chain, and is of more importance to San Francisco and her suburban towns across the Bay than many have appeared to believe. It is true that the completion of the Union Pacific and Central Pacific line across the continent was an event of overwhelming importance to California, but there are local Interests of vast magnitude to be effected by the location of the terminus, and completion of the track, of the Western Pacific; and it will only be when the whistle of the locomotive drawing the through train from New York is heard in San Francisco that the great transcontinental road can be said to be actually completed."... "Immense piles of railroad lies from the northern counties of California along the Pacific coast, and other lumber, rails, etc. have already been landed at Warm Springs' Embarcadero, near the Old Mission of San José. Messrs. Turton, Knox & Ryan have upwards of 2,000 men at work on their portion of the line; most of these men are Chinamen, but there are several hundred white men. Mr. Strobridge has about 500 Chinamen and a few white men at work between the Junction and Oakland. On this road, as on the Central Pacific, the Chinamen are found to work admirably; no rows, no strikes, no dictation of terms to employers under threats of violence, and in fact nothing but square out work with no nonsense. Everything is moving along like clock-work, and there is no delay or confusion anywhere…”"
26 July 1869 A Yankee in California -- the Chinese...
28 July 1869 Jollification of the Completion of a Railroad Bridge - " A grand time is expected tomorrow evening at Woodbridge over the completion of the railroad bridge across the Mokelumne. The event will be celebrated by a grand ball and gathering of the people from Stockton, Sacramento and intermediate places. "
29 July 1869 - monopoly, Sacramento....
31 July 1869 - crews working
1 August 1869 - " A hole was out through the Livermore Tunnel last night, enough to admit the passage of a man from either side. It is expected that the tunnel will be finished in ten days."
1 August 1869 Alexander Von Humboldt's 100 birthday!
2 August 1869 progress and crews
7 August 1869 - "The Railroad tunnel at Livermore Pass is near completion. "
7 August 1869 - "Western Pacific — Yesterday morning the "Western Pacific Railroad track was laid to within four miles of Stockton, and efforts are being made to have it completed to that city by this evening. Work was delayed a day or two during the fore part of the week by a strike of the Chinese workmen, their " bosses" not having paid them promptly."
11 August 1869 Ties arrive for the SJ River bridge, 20 car loads.
13 August 1869 "The Western Pacific Railway"
14 August 1869 "It is reported that the Western Pacific Railroad Company has paid as high as $3OOO per acre for land adjoining San Lorenzo. The general average price paid between Vallejo’s Mills and San Leandro is $l5O per acre. "
14 August 1869 - Vallejo, the town, not the mills, but mentions "There is at present a considerable force of Chinamen in raising this grade four feet higher"
15 Aug. 1869 "The railroad track working eastward was completed to Pleaston to day. Livermore Tunnel will be finished by Monday next."
18 Aug. 1869 "STOCKTON, August 18th. The track of the Western Pacific Railroad works, eastward from the Vallejo mills was finished to Laddsville to-day. It will reach the mouth of Livermore Pass by Saturday next. Large quantities of grain await transportation at Moore's Landing and along the river banks. This grain has been raised on the west side of the San Joaquin river and in Livermore Valley. Ten hundred and twenty-nine tons of wheat were shipped from this port to-day."
18 Aug. 1869 Livermore tunnel finished today
23 Aug. 1869 4 miles from tunnel
24 Aug. 1869 SJ bridge
26 Aug. 1869 Grapes, Livermore tunnel
28 Aug. 1869 The tunnel at Livermore Pass is completed. The railroad is running now from Vallejo's Mills to Pleasanton; a large force is now at work at the San Joaquin river bridge.
31 Aug. 1869 The track laying, working eastward, and the Western Pacific road, entered San Joaquin county this afternoon and are now within thirteen miles of the river.
6 Sept. 1869 Western Pacific. The San Joaquin bridge having been completed, cars will pass over the Western Pacific Railroad to-day from this end of the track to the wharf at Alameda, and tomorrow trains will run regularly each way.
7 September 1869 first train "And now the hoarse whistle is heard, and the jolly fireman wakes up the steamer's bell, in response to waves of joyous emotions which were rapidly passing westward over the iron rails. And cannons boomed, and loud huzzas, and bells, and whistles. and boys and men all tried on a conglomerate language which would set at bay the untiring genius of modern philology."
7 September 1869 (Daily Alta California, Volume 21, Number 7110, 7 September 1869) first train yesterday, September 6 Stockton to Alameda.
7 September 1869 (SFPL) Chronicle p.1 - Regular trains of the Western Pacific Railroad will commence running between Sacramento and Vallejo's Mills. (then what? continue on to Alameda???) p. 3 Leland Stanford telegram from yesterday... "The first train over the Western Pacific Railroad is about to start. The track was completed last night."
7 September 1869 The Western Pacific Railroad bridge across the San Joaquin river was finished to-day, and three trains of cars crossed it, one for San Jose and two for Alameda.
8 September 1869 (SFPL) Chronicle p. 2. Excursion from Alameda to Fair.
8 September 1869 Train to Sacramento
9 September 1869 (SFPL) p.1 news is the Lord and Lady Byron scandel. p.2 Chinese immigration. State Fair news.
10 September 1869 SF Chronicle (SFPL) Insinuations against the woman of 1849, Fair, fruit shipment to East, Mechanics Fair,
16 September 1869 Russian River Flag, reprinted from SF Call Sept. 8th "THE LAYING OF THE LAST RAIL.— On Monday afternoon. at 3 o'clock the iron wedding of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans took place. In May last, when Chicago and Sacramento were wedded by the laying of the last rail at Promontory Point, members of the press were present from all parts of the country. Trains of spectators came from both ends of the road. The last tie was a highly polished California laurel one, and the last spike was of gold. But when the Atlantic and Pacific were wedded on Monday, there was no excitement, no crowd, no breaking of champagne bottles, no offering of prayers—no nothing. The first was a first class shoddy affair ; the latter a marriage of consequence without parade. At the hour above named, the workmen had finished laying both ends of the track, and had reached the draw upon the bridge across the San Joaquin river. The train from Sacramento was coming across the plain, when the foremen of the workmen hurried them up with the last rails. They were placed in position. and in a moment more the sledge fell upon the spikes, and they were driven home. The last rail was laid, the last spike was driven, and the workmen, instead of throwing up their hats and giving way to excitement, stepped back and contemplated their work, while the train came up and passed over the bridge. A few hours later, the train reached the Bay of San Francisco, and the connection between the Pacific and the Atlantic Oceans may be said to have been completed. Now travelers can make the trip front San Francisco to New York by rail. Now, cars can start from the Golden Gate and complete their journey at Sandy Hook. The great work of the age may be said to be completed. although it will be some two or three weeks before the track will be finished to Oakland, which is to be one of the termini of the road. As soon as the road is completed to that point the navvies will be put to work to construct the road to San Jose, and from thence to Mission Bay. The Pioneer excursionists, when they start upon their Eastern trip, will start from Alameda, and be the first excursionists who have made the trip from ocean to ocean. —San Francisco Call, September 8th.
11 September 1869 Opening of the Western Pacific Railroad. early because of the state fair
12 September 1869 The True History of the Pacific Railroad
14 September 1869 The Pioneers Excursion to the East
16 September 1869 Departure of the Pioneer Excursion Party
18 September 1869 A number of Chinese laborers arrived yesterday for the California and Oregon Railroad. We are informed that 200 will arrive during this week, 300 more next week, and 1,000 during the month. The Western Pacific Railroad having been completed the Chinese laborers employed thereon are being transferred to the California and Oregon, and the Stockton and Tulare Railroads. The arrival of these Chinese laborers gives assurance that the railroad to Oregon is to be built speedily. We shall also soon be able to determine whether the Company have purchased the Oroville Railroad or intend to construct the road direct to Chico. The locality of grading will determine this mooted point.
23 Sept. 1869 California Farmer..another trip from sac to sf, still vallejo mills. Reporter doesn't say that the bridge isn't built. did they leave that out? or was it built?
23 Sept. 1869 Stockton's opportunity
23 Sept. 1869 Sacramento to San Leandro
24 Sept. 1869 ex-Governor Pio Pico, returning from the East is swindled out of his watch and money
1 Oct 1869 Sacramento Daily Union. A firm in this city received by railroad to-day, from the west side of the San Joaquin river, fifty tons of wheat, being the first shipment of grain received in this city by railroad.
2 Oct 1869, Weekly Colusa Sun, The train took a really long time to get to SF to Sacramento, miffed traveler
24 Oct. 1869 SFPL - Society of Pioneers in NYC
28 Oct 1869 San Francisco Chronicle (SFPL) invitation to celebration of the completion of the Western Pacific Railroad
28 Oct. 1869 The Marysville Appeal says that great activity prevails in that quarter among the employees on the Oregon railroad. Large and numerous gangs of men are employed, and under the superior management of J. H. Strobridge, the work is being rapidly pushed forward.
29 Oct. 1869 First train to Oakland Point
10 Nov 1869 The bridge at Mossdale was finished finally??? What were his sources? This was written at the time of the 100th anniversary and without benefit of the newspaper archives.
10 Nov. 1869 San Jose Junction
14 Nov. 1869 Train Wreck (Picture!)
14 Nov. 1869 Train wreck
16 Nov. 1869 Terrible Train wreck.
18 Nov. 1869 great bull fight at Livermore station
18 Nov. 1869 railroad catastrophe A.A. Cohen's testimony
28 Nov. 1869 two trains collide Vallejo Mills.
29 Nov. 1869 San Jose Junction, collision
29 Nov. 1869 Stockton Canal
29 Nov. 1869 compare train routes
3 Dec. 1869 Alameda to Livermore - first hand account of the towns by Squills "Niles' Junction. As before stated, the San José Railroad makes a Junction with the W. P. R. R. at this place, which is located in a cañon or gorge between the mount- ains. Between this point and San José. continu- ing down the Alameda Valley, are the towns of Mount Eden, Alvarado, Centreville, Washington Corners, Mission San José, Warm Springs, Harrisburg, Milpitas and San José, all of which are growing rapidly, the latter being a city of considerable importance. Warm Springs is a watering place of note. It it now owned by an association of capttalists, and is being refitted and furnished in gorgeous style."
6 Dec. 1869 Livermore to valley, Midway, Ellis (Corral Hollow), across bridge at San Joaquin, Stockton, to Sacramento. Work from Simpson's Station (Melrose) to San Leandro continues. Squills
11 Dec. 1869 Effect of Railroads on Weather - electric!
12 Dec. 1869 A trip by Pullman Palace Car. Short excursion from SF to Niles.
24 Dec. 1869 Stanford, Crocker & Co. are treating us to a little game of "make believe." They have purchased, or pretend to have purchased, 160 acres of land at Wilson's station, two miles this side of Mossdale, and on Tuesday several members of the company went down to their farm with a view, they said, of finding a place to fasten one end of a railroad, which, they say, they are going to build up the valley. A good many people say they have been confidently assured that this same road would start from Ellis station, and some of our Mossdale friends indulged in the hope it would start from their town. A sort of vague opinion seems to prevail that it will not start from any place or go anywhere.
31 Dec. 1869 "Among the first results of the opening of the railroad with the East was an influx of runners to sell Chicago goods by sample at prices wonderfully cheap. Tailors' emisaries, in particular, ran about, tape in hand, ready to take measures, and supply " firstclass suits," made to order, at a price in greenbacks less than gold rates here. Many listened to the voice of the charmer, and indulged great expectations, until the railroad brought them a mass of slop work, cut in the wonderful fashions of some bygone ago, and of dimensions suited to the Cardiff Giant. "
1 Jan. 1870 DOUBLE TRACK RAILROAD Is to be the next achievement in railway comfort and safety through that section. The Western Pacific Railroad hare already completed the grading for a direct line of double track road from Oakland to San Leandro, and will soon commence laying the lies and railing. This will give them entire independence from the Alameda track, and be a saving of at least half a mile in distance, thus insuring, that portion against liability to accident. In the spring the company contemplate extending this double track to Vallejo Mills, the junction of the San Jose Branch.
6 Jan. 1870 "The new cut-off to San Jose, across the angle formed by Alameda canyon, at Vallejo Mills, is said to be nearly ready for operation."
20 Jan. 1870 From a straying Healdsburger
22 Jan. 1870 delivery of Alta California to Niles station
15 March 1870 San Jose Junction ... description of countryside
28 Apr. 1870 station known as San Jose junction will no longer be stopping place. Niles instead. "The amount of dead freight over the Western Pacific Railroad for San Francisco, received at Alameda yesterday, was two hundred tons, and seven car loads of live stock. Dead freight eastward bound over that road, same day, about two hundred and fifty tons. The station known heretofore as San José Junction," will no longer be a stopping place for the trains either way. Passengers for San José will change cars at Niles. The Pullman train for Omaha, yesterday, had a a full complement of passengers, and as usual, made a splendid appearance. All the trains are now running full, and precisely on schedule time. Raising the fare on the local trains has raised a big rumpus in the Oakland camp. There's no limit to the amount of funds awaiting investment in opposition lines to carry passengers for ten years gratis! What is to become of the regular line, it is of immediate expedience to ascertain. The old Company, in consideration of being permitted to pass through Oakland, ought to carry local passengers free. Monthly commutation tickets, costing at the rate of five cents between Oakland and San Francisco, are exorbitantly high! And, to crown the imposition, the Company has determined not to permit a ticket to be used for many months longer than the time for which it was issued. Of oourse, this will prove a great hardship on some of the commuters. Some people feel insulted when asked to show their tickets, especially when they haven't any to show. To have to pay for a ride mars all its pleasures for them. Asking them for tickets is an impertinence to be complained of and must be stopped, forsooth! One of the local papers has put on its armor and poised its lance for the contest. The fight, on one side at least, must needs be desperate; it is always so when a Liliputian assails a Titan. The Titan must "stand from under" or be squashed. The Liliput banner is inscribed, all round the borders, with representations of ten cent pieces worked in tin foil, while in the centre are the ominous words, "No Quarters.""
29 Apr. 1870 The San Jose junction moved from Vallejo Mills to Niles, 3 miles nearer to Oakland.
9 May 1870 Picnics are all the rage now. The one at Niles, Saturday, was enjoyed by about fifteen hundred persons, mostly boys and girls from San Francisco. They made a splendid appearance when passing through Oakland. Alameda had as many more. Yesterday the latter place was overrun with excursionists, and Humboldt Park and Nolan's beautiful gardens had their crowds of visitors.
22 May 1870 "The Picnic" Niles and Pleasanton becoming excursion places.
14 June 1870 Decoto gets its name, cherries as big as 3" in circumference. S. Nolan to provide trees.
18 July 1870 (and many papers) It is stated by the San Francisco Call that Leland Stanford has purchased the celebrated Warm Springs of Alameda county, near the Mission San Jose. There are about 600 acres of land embraced in the purchase, and it is stated that the great railroad man of the Pacific will build himself a palatial residence near the Springs; and will hereafter reserve them for his own and guests' use.
5 Sep. 1870 John S. Garland, general passenger agent of the Indianapolis and St. Louis Railroad, passed east this morning. He loft San Francisco by the Western Pacific Railroad, on Sunday morning, and is the Brat through passenger from San Francisco by rail.
29 Sep. 1870 Pomological society detained at Niles, saw huge horsechestnut and a group of Chinese workers. Llewelling, Patterson, did they see the big bay in san lorenzo. Woodward's gardens.
23 Nov. 1870 Bridge between San Jose and Niles destroyed by fire
24 Nov. 1870 Bridge over Alameda Creek burned. Temporary bridge put up.
21 Oct. 1870 A different Niles I think, older husband, young wife, young friend, horses, and train chase.
21 Nov. 1870 Judge Niles
29 Dec. 1870 Niles station on train schedule.
23 Dec. 1871 Damage on the WP
24 Dec. 1871 now called the Central Pacific
25 May 1872 Pacific Rural Press new Niles Station bridge to be built
1876 The A.A. Cohen case
1877 Report of the Joint Special Committee to investigate Chinese Immigration (1877). The quote that is attributed to Strobridge was actually someone else's version of what he said! Strobridge is examined on p. 723. Frederick Low (p. 78) says that Strobridge said 'Mr Crocker told me not once but half a dozen times that he suggested to this foreman that they must come to Chinese. He said "I will not boss Chinese I will not be responsible for the work done on the road by Chinese labor."' Later it is noted that this foreman is Strobridge.
22 August 1885 Sunol Glen
CPRR Schedule, December 5, 1870
References
Traveler's Own Book From CPRR.org, Alfred A. Hart's Traveler's Own Book, check out one of the maps describing the route from Oakland to Nevada. Presumably there are some maps out there that can be shared or embedded, but this is not the map you are looking for.
The Pacific Tourist, Williams' Illustrated Guide describes the Pacific route. Page 258-259 describes Niles to Oakland.
To the bondholders of the Central Pacific railroad ... 1869-1870. A series of bulletins
History of Alameda County, Joseph Eugene Baker (search for 1869). Lake Chabot was created around that time, too.
Maps
Tip for finding maps in David Rumsey - Start with MapRank Search. Search for FremontCaliforniaCity. Instructions.
Georeferencing maps in David Rumsey: Click on button "View in Georeferencer."
Library of Congress Railroad Maps 1828-1900
1833 Frederick William Beechey "The Harbour of San Francisco, Nueva California. Views: The Entrance to San Francisco Harbour." shows "Potrero de San José" and a second Potrero that feeds into Mission San José, and R. Calaveros (David Rumsey)
Look for the Private Land Grant cases here
1857 Horace A. Higley The County of Alameda County. "The first and earliest map of Alameda County listed by Vogdes and the second published county map of a California county, preceded only by San Francisco. The Bancroft Library catalog entry says "This is the oldest known map of Alameda County." Higley made several maps of local ranches and towns prior to making this county map." (David Rumsey)
1858 Alvarado UCB
National Archives at College Park MD look for Record Group, 49, Stack area 331, Tube 67
1864 map from UCB Ex-Mission Lands, E.H. Dyer. Main list is here, select "Historic Maps"
1865 County Map of California (David Rumsey)
1865 Railroad map of the central part of California, and part of Nevada (LOC) (Other good maps to look at)
1868 A.C. Frey, Topographical Railroad & County Map Of The States Of California And Nevada. ",,,an excellent depiction of California and Nevada just before the completion of the railroad." (David Rumsey)
1868 W. Alpheus Smith, "California Map Showing San Francisco, Newport. And Rail Road Connections With The Adjacent Country." (David Rumsey)
1868 George H. Goddard, Birds-eye view, San Francisco, surrounding country. (David Rumsey)
1869 California Pacific Railroad, "Map Showing California Pacific Rail Road Extension" "Map Showing California Pacific Rail Road Extension And California Pacific Rail Road With Their Connections." (David Rumsey)
1871 J.D. Whitney, Map of the Routes from San Francisco to the Yosemite Valley. Prepared to accompany the pocket edition of the Yosemite Guide Book. (David Rumsey)
1871 The railroad system of California : Oakland and vicinity (Hathitrust)
1871 A.L. Bancroft Bancroft's New Map Of Central California. (David Rumsey)
1873 Topographical Map of Central California Together With a Part of Nevada, Sheet III (David Rumsey)
1873 Charles F. Hoffmann, Map Of The Region Adjacent To The Bay Of San Francisco (South Sheet and North Sheet and composite) (David Rumsey)
1873 Asher and Adams New commercial and topographical rail road map & guide of California and Nevada (Library of Congress)
1874 California & Nevada. North portion "This was one of the first United States atlases to exclusively feature railroad lines" (David Rumsey)
1874 Allardt - enquire at Museum of Local History. See snippet here. Also from Yale!
1877 and later on Oakland website handy interactive map
1878 Thompson & West Alameda Co. Map, 4, 5, 6, the whole book. Trains pictured in Sunol, Whipple, Patterson, Harrisburg, Harrisburg, Newark, Newark, Niles, Niles Canyon
1884 Northern California
1887 Oakland, Wolfskill
1888 Niles
1891 California
1896 Map for Cyclers'
1912 "Aerial" of Niles Canyon
1914 Webers, UC Berkeley.
Games
board game 1870 Voyage from New York to San Francisco upon the Union Pacific Railroad
The Golden Spike ceremony and the "last" spike
Where was the "last" spike actually driven?
The Promontory Utah Golden Spike ceremony was celebrated on May 10, 1869. However, the portion to the San Francisco bay from Stockton had not been completed at that time. The first through train from Alameda was September 6.
The last section to be completed was Stockton to Alameda. The work proceeded from Vallejo's Mills, through the Livermore Valley, through the Livermore tunnel, and to the San Joaquin River. (The Stockton to San Joaquin section needs to be followed in the newspapers as does the completion to Alameda. The completion to Alameda and then subsequent completion two months later at the Oakland Mole need to be followed, too.).
The final connection was at the San Joaquin River at the location of present day Mossdale Park near Lathrop, says the PressReader. And the San Joaquin Historical Society said at the Centennial report that it wasn't until...
Photo of the 1890 bridge found by VW!
from the Centennial Yearbook.
Some references:
Crofutt's Guide from CPRR.org? Talks about Niles and nearby stations, San Joaquin bridge.
"A Highway to the Pacific": Building the Transcontinental Railroad
The Chinese and the Iron Road, Chang and Fisher Fishkin, eds.
Bibliographic Essay for “The Chinese as Railroad Workers after Promontory”, Shelley Fisher Fishkin, Stanford University