Railroads Link Montana to the Nation 1881-1915 Chapter 9 Railroads Link Montana to the Nation 1881-1915

Life before the trains… People could only travel about 15 miles a day (From here to Livingston) By stagecoach, it took over 18 hours to travel 120 miles Travel was expensive and took a very long time

1881 – The Utah and Northern In 1869, the Union Pacific Railroad completed the first transcontinental railroad By 1881, the Union Pacific RR ran from Utah to Butte, MT Important to the mining industry because exports could now be transferred to a transcontinental line

Less Land for Natives Before building railroads through tribal lands, the U.S. needed to negotiate right-of-ways (the legal right to cross someone’s property In 1882, the Crow tribe ceded 1.5 million acres to the U.S. Government in return for money, peace, and cooperation.

Great Northern Railway Pressured Congress to gain permission to cross Assiniboine, Gros Ventre, and Blackfeet reservation lands These tribes were affected most by the construction of this railway Railway goes right through the northern reservations

1883 – The Northern Pacific Railroad Over 2,000 miles of track needed to be installed Financiers helped back railroads because they were expensive to build Financiers – investors who finance huge projects Instead of money, the Government gave the Northern Pacific land grants (free land that the federal government gives to a company to help them out) Land Grant – 39 million acres of land By 1900, the railway was the biggest land-owner in Montana On September 8, 1883, Northern Pacific held a celebration at Gold Creek

1887 – The Great Northern Railway James J. Hill Built the Great Northern Railway Nicknamed the “Empire Builder” Was a tycoon (wealthy businessman) Did not need land grants, instead, he attracted big private investors to get money to build his railway

Great Northern Railway Continued Stretched from Minnesota to Washington, crossing North Dakota and Montana This route was special because it built (and became known as) the Hi-line. This is because it was the northernmost transcontinental route in the US

1907 – The Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad Usually just called the “Milwaukee Road” Montana’s only 20th century transcontinental railroad (sleek style, steel bridges, bright orange rail cars) Route allowed the company to share in the business of the Anaconda Copper Mining Company (owned by John D. Ryan) Came to Montana to construct a transcontinental line

Milwaukee Road Operated using electrified lines Used so electric motors could pull trains over steep grades John D. Ryan was also on the board of directors for Milwaukee Road He owned Montana Power companies, many of which supplied electricity to the train company

Builders and Workers Many were young, single, immigrant men who were able to move along with the building of the tracks Northern Pacific and Great Northern hired Asian immigrants Asian populations faced difficult situations: They were discriminated against by whites because they would work for lower wages They were not allowed to join the labor unions They were not allowed to become U.S. citizens

Labor Unions Organizations of employees that bargain with employers Created because workers complained of unsafe working conditions and low pay

Why were railroads important? Railroads were vital to the growth of Montana’s industries because they could carry freight long distances quickly and inexpensively Connected small towns to larger towns – in the early 1900’s, small towns and large cities were linked by short lines and branch lines between the main lines Business leaders wanted railroads to connect to Montana because it would increase their ability to profit from Montana’s resources. Railways transformed the daily lives of people in Montana by providing access to many goods and services

Transforming Montana Northern Pacific railroad helped create Yellowstone National Park Railroad officials asked that the land be set aside for “pleasuring ground” or a place for us to relax and have fun Many towns were created because of the railroad, including Livingston! Growth in industrialization affected Montana most after railways came to the state

Getting people to visit Montana Transcontinental railways increased business and profit by advertising to bring people to Montana

The Downside Railroad owners invested in mining and lumber industries People were unhappy with this because it caused some resentment over their political and economic power