The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1854-11-25
For The Cecil Whigl.
SAN FRANCISCO.

splendid wharves have been finished. The
war which broke out with Mexico gave great
impulse to the commerce of this port by re-
quiring shipment of supplies for military Pur-
poses. On the l 9Th of March, 1871, there
were the extraordinary number of six vessels
in the harbor. And the imports for the last
quarter of 1917 were $40 600, and the cX-
ports $50 600 In the first quarter of 1913
there were arrivals and Of these were
from Monterey and San Pedro.
In April lS47, the inhabitants, exclusive
of Ind ans, numbered 3715; eight months af
forwards the census was taken and the num-
Der had increased to over 500. OF these were
about males, 473: females, III. and child zen
of proper age to attend school, GO. As car
ly as January, ls47, a complaint appeared
in the California Star that there was no school
for children, the writer stating he had count
ed 40 playing in the streets. \ public meet
ing was called, but the project failed: some
months latter it was revived with better sue
cess. An election was held Oh the lst of
|
The town council passed resolution that
sum not exceeding S40O, should be appro-
priatcd to the payment of a teacher, THAT was
the day of small things), gold was scarce
article in California, except as hidden
treasure. But the enterprise ofthc American
people was directing nevertheless, itself in a
new channd, and the country would have
been great even if a grain Of precious metal
had not been found. The first American
school was opened in California Sd Of April
1918. In 1871, in May meeting was held
for the purpose of organizing re ligious con-
grogation and building house of worship.
In 1913, such was the rapid growth Of the
town that two hundred new houses were
erected 1t is evident that the carly settlers
were determined to have order and dccorum
For ordinances were passed to prevent ami
mails from running at large, and the discharg
ing of fire arms in the town, and complaints
were made against smoking about the Public
Offices. But since that period Of primitive
simplicity the inhabitants of San Francisco
have become perfectly Injured to hogs, fire
arms and tobacco smoke. The name of the
city was changed from Ycrba Bucna to San
Francisco. A semi monthly mail was estab-
lished to San Diego and other southern points
and in April following the California Star cx-
press left by over land route. This fornida-
bic enterprise the first regular conveyance to
Stofo Ii, T,,l,
dvnce, Mo-, in sixty days. Letter postage
WAS so cents. Early in 1913 great excite
ment prevailed with regard to supposed min
cral wealth of the country. The quick sill
vcr mines ST San Jose had long been worked,
and other deposits were reported in other
directions.
Copper was discovered somewhere; saltpc-
ire and sulphur; also quarry of limestone
was opened, and coal had been discovered
near San Francisco which, however, had the
quality of being incombustible. Silver ore
also had been found in other directions. To
this mineral more than any other was their
attention directed, as people seemed to have
the idea that the country was underlaid with
it.
The first discovery of Gold was made in
ls47 near Suffers Fort, thirty miles from
Sacramento. But the stories told were too
good to be believed. In March the newspa-
pers stated that the quantity taken out was
so great that it had become an article of traf-
fic. The yellow fever as it was called then,
broke out with extreme violence and carried
off the inhabitants as rapidly as means of
travel would admit. Stores were closed and
everything looked desolate. Lawyers, mcr-
chants, cooks, laborers and everybody rush
ed in one motley group to the mines. These
were the days of equalty.) The few mer-
chants who remained posted up, 1.-The high
est price paid for Dust" This temporary
suspension of trade was soon followed by the
greatest activity. Adventures from all ma
tions and merchandise Of all kinds began to
pour into the town. on their way to the min
ing region. Buildings that had been vacated
were filled with the newly arrived gold seek
ers. Store houses were in demand and Ia
Dor which was worth one or two dollars pre-
vious to the discovery, was not to be had at
any price. Carpenters often refused 20 dol
lars per day; schools and churches were for
gotten, and if public meetings were held, it |
was only to fix the value of Gold or make
plans for testing it. In August immigrants
began to pour in to the number of 500 per
month. In the middle of September the har-
Dor was filled with shipping and the wharves
covered with merchandise and the streets FL
led with busy throng. In the first two
months of the golden age, the amount fgold
dust brought to San Francisco was $250,000.
and the next two months 100000. InSep-
tcmber ls4S, the first square rugged vessel ar