What did Andrew Onderdonk?
Trained in engineering at the Troy (New York) Institute of Technology, Onderdonk was contractor in charge of government construction of 355 km of the Canadian Pacific Ry between Port Moody and Savona’s Ferry on Kamloops Lake, 1880-85. To overcome the shortage of white labour, he employed about 6000 Chinese workers.
How many Chinese workers died for every mile of the Canadian Pacific Railway?
It is estimated that more than 600 Chinese workers died during the building of the CPR—more than four for every mile of track.
Who were the workers that built the Canadian Pacific Railway?
Over the course of construction and by the end of 1882, of the 9,000 railway workers, 6,500 were Chinese Canadians. They were employed to build the B.C. segment of the railway through the most challenging and dangerous terrain.
Who was the original president of the Canadian Pacific Railway?
It became a favoured route for settlers and made its owners wealthy. In a reorganization of the revived railway in 1879, Stephen was named president. A much larger project, the Pacific railway, engaged his attention after 1880. One of its original promoters, Stephen was the first president of the CPR, 1880-88.
Who was William Van Horne?
Sir William Cornelius Van Horne, (born February 3, 1843, near Joliet, Illinois, U.S.—died September 11, 1915, Montreal, Canada), American-born Canadian railway official who directed the construction of Canada’s first transcontinental railroad. Van Horne worked as a telegraph operator on the Illinois Central Railroad.
What did Chinese railroad workers eat?
The Chinese railway workers lived in poor conditions, often in camps, sleeping in tents or boxcars. Often doing their own cooking over open outdoor fires, these Chinese men primarily ate a diet of rice, dried salmon and tea.
What happened to the Chinese workers after the railroad was completed?
Many of the Chinese continued working in railroad construction after the first Transcontinental Railroad was completed. Some returned to China with the money they had earned and were able to do very well back in their native country. Most stayed in the United States and formed a new life for themselves here.
How many white workers died building the Canadian Pacific Railway?
Working in harsh conditions for little pay, these workers suffered greatly and historians estimate that at least 600 died working on the railway.
How many Chinese workers died building the railroad?
Between 1865-1869, 10,000 -12,000 Chinese were involved in the building of the western leg of the Central Pacific Railroad. The work was backbreaking and highly dangerous. Approximately 1,200 died while building the Transcontinental Railroad. Over a thousand Chinese had their bones shipped back to China to be buried.
How many Chinese died building the Canadian railroad?
More than 4,000 Chinese workers lost their lives during construction. With no means of going back to China when their labour was no longer needed, thousands drifted in near destitution along the completed track. All of them remained nameless in the history of Canada.”
Who owns Canadian Pacific Railroad?
Canadian Pacific LimitedCanadian Pacific Railway / Parent organizationCanadian Pacific Limited was created in 1971 to own properties formerly owned by Canadian Pacific Railway, a transportation and mining giant in Canada. In October 2001, CPR completed the corporate spin-offs of each of the remaining businesses it had not sold, including Canadian Pacific Railway Limited. Wikipedia
What does Van Horne mean?
The Dutch surname Vanhorne is a habitational name, taken on from any of numerous places in the Netherlands, so named. The Dutch word “hoorn,” means a “point,” or “‘nook;’ the prefix “Van” denotes “one who came from.”
What happened to the Onderdonk railway?
In the summer of 1885, Onderdonk’s workers ran out of rail at a location that was later called Craigellachie. The railway construction from the east reached that point in November and the last spike was hammered home on November 7, 1885.
Who is Andrew Onderdonk?
Andrew Onderdonk (30 August 1848 – 21 June 1905) was an American construction contractor who worked on several major projects in the West, including the San Francisco seawall in California and the Canadian Pacific Railway in British Columbia.
How did Onderdonk mountain get its name?
Onderdonk Mountain in British Columbia was named for him; it is located in the northern Selkirk Mountains, near the head of the Goldstream River, roughly between lower Revelstoke Lake and the Wood Arm of Kinbasket Lake.
Where was the Canadian Pacific Railway built?
In 1879, Onderdonk won a series of contracts to build the western section of what is now the Canadian Pacific Railway. Working directly for the Canadian government, he built the 227 mile (365 km) section from Port Moody, 11 miles east of Vancouver and tidewater at the coast, northeastward to Savona (near Kamloops ).