Hiring Workers

Many Chinese peasants started arriving on California's shores in 1850. They were pushed by poverty and overpopulation. In early 1865, the Central Pacific had enough work for 4,000 men.  Most of the early workers were Irish immigrants. Some Central Pacific officials believed that the Irish would spend their wages on liquor, and that the Chinese were unreliable. "Wherever we put them, we found them good." Crocker recalled. "And they worked themselves into our favor to such an extent that if we found we were in a hurry for a job of work, it was better to put the Chinese on at once." Toward the end of the line, Crocker was so convinced at the skill of the Irish and Chinese, that he pushed for a new railroad building record. Ten miles of railroad tracks in one day.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/general-article/tcrr-cprr/