Congress distrusted the UP , and forced it to hire as the new president a distinguished member of the Adams family , Charles Francis Adams , Jr. in 1884 . Adams had long promoted various reform ideas , but had little practical experience in management . As railroad president , he was successful in getting a good press for the UP , and set up libraries along the route to allow his employees to better themselves . He had poor results dealing with the Knights of Labor labor union . When the Knights of Labor refuse extra work in Wyoming in 1885 , Adams hired Chinese workers . The result was the Rock Springs massacre , that killed scores of Chinese , and drove all the rest out of Wyoming . He tried to build a complex network of alliances with other businesses , but they provided little help to the UP . He had great difficulty in making decisions , and in coordinating his subordinates . Adams was unable to stanch the worsening financial condition of the UP , and in 1890 Gould forced his resignation
Rock Springs massacre
Rock Springs massacre
History of the Union Pacific Railroad