Transcript Utah Studies

BR: 3/9/17
Share 2 cool things you learned from your Utah Mining Town
Research
Utah Studies
Ch. 10 The Territory Prospers
The Railroad in Utah & John Wesley Powell
The Railroad & Change
As the Civil War ended, the U.S. was looking
for ways to further unite the country, and
heal the wounds the war brought. Railroads
were seen as one of the answers.
Utah was chosen, as Crossroads of the West,
to be included in the new Transcontinental
Railroad. Two companies came to meet in
Utah. From the East came the Union Pacific
Railroad, and from the West came Central
Pacific. VID
Map of RRs in 1860 ^, 1870 v
The railroad companies hired 1000s of
immigrants to help lay the rails. Union Pacific
hired many Irish, and other European
immigrants, while ~17,000 Chinese helped
Central Pacific build their line. It was very
dangerous work. VID,
May 10th, 1869: Look at the Photo: What do you notice?
Is anyone missing? Why do you think that is? VID
Utah & the Railroad
Meanwhile, Utah wasn’t just watching all of this
happen. Brigham Young got a $2 million dollar
contract for Utahns to build a railroad roadbed
from Echo to Weber Canyon, leading the Union
Pacific to Ogden, UT. He was also given the
promise that the railroad would continue south to
SLC, and then go West.
Instead, U.S. Pres. Ulysses Grant decided the
railroad should continue north of Ogden, and not
pass SLC. This obviously upset Utahns, but what
do you do?
Meanwhile, Brigham Young got another contract,
this time from Central Pacific, to help to the West.
Utahns cut down trees for ties, etc. They also sold
food and other supplies to both companies for
their workers. They met at Promontory Summit,
north of the Salt Lake. Golden Spike VID
Railroad Brings Changes
Railroads improved the lives of Utahns in many ways. Mining was now much
easier, since ore could be moved with a train, rather than by mule or wagon,
to other areas of Utah with smelters, or to other places outside the territory
for processing.
Trains also allowed Utahns to sell their agricultural goods to other parts of
the country. Things like wheat, fruit, beef, etc. For example, 60k lbs of dried
peaches were sent Eastward by Dec. 1870.
The rails brought settlers (Mormon and otherwise; many RR workers settled
here in Mining Camps, etc.) & tourists as well. It took 100 days for the
Brigham Young and the first wagon train to leave Nebraska and reach Utah. A
stagecoach cut it to 14 days. The railroad only took 2 days!
Connecting Utah
Meanwhile, Utah became
more interconnected itself.
Railroads sprang up to
connect the state.
And with the railroads came
more people too. Utah would
never be the same again.
Left: Corinne, UT: By May
1869, Corinne was home to
1000, no Mormons, and it
became Utah's second largest
city, with over 500 buildings
including 28 saloons, 24
gambling houses, 16 liquor
stores, houses of prostitution,
etc.
Railroad Towns HO / John
Powell
Corinne
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