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Chinese-American men
Georgetown, 1890-1910 |
Courtesy, Denver Public Library, Western History Department
10021660, X-21660
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Peak to Peak
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Wayside Excursion: The Chinese in the West
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| Contrary to the standard image of immigrants moving westward through the Cumberland Gap and across the Mississippi River, the Chinese moved eastward from San Francisco. Lured by the opportunity to “strike it rich” in the mining camps and the chance for employment on railroad construction crews, tens of thousands of Chinese made the difficult journey to America. Liping Zhu writes in A Chinaman’s Chance (1997), “No matter how they chose to get there, most Chinese emigrants came to the United States voluntarily. All of them had but one thing in mind: opportunity.” While many came as contract laborers, obligated to two to 10 years of labor to pay for their passage, most became free men by serving out their contract or by breaking their contract by running away. |
| In 1870, the Colorado legislature passed a resolution to encourage Chinese laborers to relocate in the state, knowing that these laborers had the reputation of being very hard workers and were willing to work for lower than average wages. With completion of the transcontinental railroad in 1869, 25,000 railroad workers were unemployed. In 1873 and 1874, small groups of Chinese railroad workers began to arrive in the gold camps along the Peak to Peak byway. In 1885 there were 124 Chinese in Gilpin County and 124 in Park County. At the same time there were 856 Chinese living in Denver. |
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Chinese-American with wagon
Georgetown, 1875-1892
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Courtesy, Denver Public Library,
Western History Department
10006549, X-6549
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| Even though they were encouraged to come to Colorado, it was not easy for Chinese to integrate into the greater society. They were different in appearance, dress, language, religion and customs. Theirs was primarily a “bachelor society,” since hardly any women were included among the immigrants. Many people resented the fact that the Chinese were willing to work long hours for little pay, and that they preferred to import their supplies from China rather than buying them locally. The Chinese often were the victims of petty harassment, such as having their windows broken or chickens stolen, and also of riots and mob violence that resulted in loss of property and life. Riots occurred in many places, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Denver. On the national level, the Chinese Exclusion Act was passed in 1883 over President Cleveland’s veto, denying entrance of Chinese laborers into the United States for 10 years. This was followed by legislation that extended the exclusion for an indefinite period, prohibited Chinese males from bringing their wives to the United States, and denied citizenship to the Chinese already here. The Exclusion Act was not repealed until 1943. |
| The achievements of Chin Lin Sou seem even more impressive when placed in this context. Not only did he amass a fortune, but he and his descendants also became important members of the Denver community. Articles, editorials, and obituaries in the Denver newspapers document their contributions. Chin Lin Sou’s daughter Lily was referred to as "the richest Chinese woman in the U.S." Her three-day wedding celebration was highlighted by an imported dress that cost $1,000, and was adorned with $5 gold-piece buttons. Lily was known as the “Queen of Chinatown,” while her brother William was referred to as the “Mayor of Chinatown.” When William died, his younger brother, Jimmy, inherited the title. Two granddaughters had popular restaurants in Denver: the Lotus Room and the New China Restaurant. A great-granddaughter was the first woman of Chinese descent on the Denver police force. |
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Chin Lin Sou
Courtesy, Tim Jung
Chin Lin Sou stands out not only because he is six-foot two but because he dresses like a westerner and speaks perfect English. On the rail-lines, he is hired as a foreman. In Black Hawk, he the unofficial leader of a group of 300 Chinese immigrants who settle in a community called Cottonwood.
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Chinese-American miners
Courtesy, Denver Public Library, Western History Department, 10021519, X-21519, Photo by W. H. Jackson
Many Chinese come to Colorado in search of gold and the American dream.
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“No matter how they chose to get there, most Chinese emigrants came to the United States voluntarily. All of them had but one thing in mind: opportunity.”
Liping Zhu
A Chinaman's Chance
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Sam Wah Chinese laundry, 1890-1900
Courtesy, Denver Public Library, Western History Department, 10007502, X-7502
The Chinese often were the victims of petty harassment. |
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