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 The Iron Moonhunter

This story takes place in the fall and winter of 1866 and the spring of 1867. The first cross-country railroad was under construction by the Central Pacific Railroad, building from Sacramento eastward, and the Union Pacific Railroad, building from Omaha westward. The federal government awarded substantial lands and monies to the builder of each mile of track, and so the two companies were engaged in a fierce race for profit.

Huge work forces were needed on both sides. Because of a shortage of willing laborers in California, the Central Pacific Railroad went to China to hire men. More than twelve thousand Chinese were put to work. In spite of vicious anti-Chinese racism, much loss of life, and the harsh climate of the Sierra Nevadas, these men accomplished some of the most remarkable feats of railroad construction of their time using only their own hands, blasting powder, and a few simple tools.


 * Series editor &mdash; Harriet Rohmer;
 * English lettering &mdash; Roger I Reyes;
 * Chinese calligraphy &mdash; Maurice Chuck;
 * book design &mdash; Harriet Rohmer, Robin Cherin, Roger I Reyes, Kathleen Chang;
 * production &mdash; Robin Cherin, Delphey & Chase;
 * editorial assistance &mdash; Bridget Chang, L.K. Syltebo, Roger I Reyes, Betty Berenson, B.J. Jenkins, Git Low, Yvonne Chong, Florence Lau, San Francisco Chinese Bilingual Project / ;
 * printing &mdash; Tea Lautrec Lithography, San Francisco.