Chinese Railroad Workers

Bonner County · dedicated 2025 · SH-200, milepost 44.3

“Take all the Chinese who will come.” - Adna Anderson, Chief Engineer In 1881-82, nearly 6,000 workers laid Northern Pacific Railroad track along northern Lake Pend Oreille, the most difficult and costly construction on the entire route. They worked here in winter, removing up to seven feet of snow just to reach ground level. Chinese immigrants accounted for two-thirds of the labor force. They lived and worked separately from others, often undertaking the most arduous and dangerous tasks. Following construction, some Chinese remained as section crews. The nearby town of Hope had a Chinese community well into the 20th century.

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Chinese Railroad Workers

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