Cost of transporting Goods from the several embarkadaries to the
mines—Price of Merchandize in the mines—Cost of Provisions—Price
of Medical Services—Administration of Justice—Manner of spending
the Sabbath.
From the two principal embarkadaries upon the St. Waukeen and Sacramento
rivers of California, provisions and mining implements are transported
to the seat of mining operations at exorbitant costs.
On passing up to the mines from a place calld Stocton, upon the St.
Waukeen, our company hird a teamster to carry our goods and implements,
for which we paid him, for one wagon load, more than _fourteen hundred
dollars_, rated at 30 cents per pound. Afterwards during the summer,
goods were carrid on pack mules at a somewhat less cost. It may also be
added, that conveyances were got up for the accommodation of passengers
between Stocton and the mines, a distance of 70 or 80 miles, at a charge
of 2 ounces of gold dust for each passenger, which, according to its
value in California, is worth $32.
From Sacramento city, the present head of navigation upon the Sacramento
river, similar prices are chargd for the transportation of goods into
that quarter of the mining district.
The price of merchandize at the mines is quite dissimilar to prices in
the States. Tea, best, per pound, is worth from $2 to $4. Common sizd
frying pans at $8. Tin pans, a large size, at $8 apiece. India rubber
elastic cots at $50 to $75 each. Calf-skin shoes, per pair, at $8, and
boots at $16. An ordinary article of ax-helve at $3. Lumber, scarce, at
$2 per ft. Pint tin cups at $1.50 each. Coarse sheeting, 50 cents per
yard.
The cost of provisions ranges somewhat as follows. Flour is worth, per
pound, from 75 cts. to $1. Pork, per pound, $1. Beans are sold by the
pound, at $1 per pound. Rice, per lb., 62½ cents. Light bread, per loaf
of one pound, $1. Beef, 25 cents the pound. Potatoes are sold by the
pound, at 50 cents. Green peas preservd in air-tight jars, per pint, $4.
Onions, per pound, $2. Public meals, $2.
* * * * * * * *
_Medical services_ are likewise high, in the mining district. Each
visit, near to patient, is 1 oz. of gold, or $16. If a week’s attendance
is requird, no reduction upon each visit is made. For extracting a
tooth, $10 is chargd. Very extravagant prices are chargd for distant
visits.
* * * * * * * *
In relation to the _administration of justice_ in the mining district,
wherever a sufficient assemblage of miners exists to be thought worthy
of judicial attention, an alcalda or justice of the peace is appointed,
who presides over the judiciary department, with almost as unlimited
sway as an emperor. And although in addition to an alcalda, a sheriff is
appointed to a permanent office, and cases are almost universally tried
by a jury, which is summond by the sheriff, yet they are generally
selected of a stamp congruous to the feelings of the alcalda. From the
decisions, no appeal can ever be made, whether right or wrong. I would
likewise remark, that decisions are very apt to be made against the
party having the most gold, and especially if one of the parties is
rather low in circumstances. Such a state of judicial dispensation may
seem somewhat objectionable, at first thought, but when we reflect, that
where no legislation exists, lynch law is the only mode of dispensing
justice, to which men can well resort, and this is so terrific in its
consequences of criminal justice, that rogues tremble in view of its
administration. Much more civility and less theft exists in the mines
than might at first be supposd.
The costs of legal services may be arrangd somewhat as follows:
Alcaldas, for each suit, 1 oz. To the sheriff, 1 oz. To each juryman,
half an ounce of gold,—and legal pleadings are often enormous, even to
$100 for the service of an hour or two.
The several foregoing costs of transportation, price of merchandize,
costs of provisions and medical services, are very often increasd or
diminishd, according to location, distance, or difficulty of
transporting, and also the season of the year.
* * * * * * * *
There is a consideration, likewise, in relation to _spending the Sabbath
amongst the gold mines of California_.
The reader may greatly wonder what is the mode of spending the Sabbath
there, when I say to him, that the Sabbath appears as silent as the
house of mourning. Seldom is a man seen with his implements in his
hands, laboring for gold. All around is quiet, except now and then a few
horsemen are passing from one little town to another, for purposes best
known to themselves. What, then, is the wonderful employment or idle
condition of miners upon that day? Alas! every public tent through the
whole mining region is resorted to for gambling. In each of these tents,
stands from one to four or six monte tables, around which, miners of all
classes assemble to risk their fortunes. These tables are arrangd with
small or large sums of money, by one or more persons, according to the
ability of the person or persons that establish them. The sums of money
so arrangd are calld banks, or monte banks. On opposite sides of the
table, sit two men, who manage the affairs of the bank, and deal the
cards by which the fate of bettors is determind. This game at cards is
carrid on from morning till night, and often through the following night
till twilight breaks upon them, with the stillness and quiet of a
religious assemblage.
[Illustration: Cornucopia]
DESCRIPTION OF CALIFORNIA
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