This is my chance to make it big, whatever challenges may come." But on the flip side, he probably thought, "If I build this railroad, then I'll have access to all those riches."

I think what Minor Keith understood was that if you build infrastructure in these places where there is no infrastructure, and you make the right financial deals by hook or by crook, um, honestly or dishonestly, you are gonna get very rich, and you're gonna get very, very powerful.

But Keith remained determined, and desperate for workers, he decided to recruit prisoners.

Hopeless prisoners, people in, in, in jail in New Orleans, people who have no way out.

And he basically calls for volunteers, and he says, "Anybody who volunteers, helps me build my railroad to completion, is gonna get a pardon." 700 prisoners volunteer, but only 25 prisoners survive to get their pardons.

25 out of 700.