In the 1860s, Leland Stanford (1824–1893), who oversaw the construction of the western section of the Transcontinental Railroad, became a hero of American railroads. He also served as Governor of California, and in his later years, he was elected and served as a U.S. Senator for eight years until his death. Although his wealth could not rival that of railroad magnate Vanderbilt, he generously donated funds to establish the world-famous Stanford University. His will stipulated the permanent employment of railroad workers in his enterprises, and into the 20th century, descendants of those original workers were still employed at the university. He praised the Chinese laborers, saying, “They are calm, very diligent, law-abiding, astonishingly quick learners, and have endurance far surpassing other nationalities.”

Praise for Chinese Laborers

On October 10, 1865, Governor Stanford reported to President Andrew Johnson: “To resolve the construction delays in the Nevada Mountains, we hired a group of Chinese laborers. They are calm, very hardworking, peaceful, and have endurance stronger than other nationalities. These laborers have astonishing learning ability and quickly mastered the specialized skills required for railroad construction. No matter the task, they could perform it proficiently in the shortest time. In terms of wages, they are also the most economical.”

Stanford further added: “What is most noteworthy is their strong mutual cooperation. We have already employed over a thousand Chinese workers, and we plan to increase their numbers under the best conditions with the help of recruiters. This is an employment system different from slavery.”

Stanford passed away in 1893 at the age of 69.