The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1870-09-02
Teaming in California.

strange and wondrous things, and in the
inventive genius displayed to supply her
peculiar wants-wants that few or none
other countries have ever had-she has
produced phases of life and business fscii-
ties that are peculiarly her own. and arc
seldom or never me: with outside of her
borders and the immediate territory about
her. Ciliiornia's modes Of inland trans
portation, though not original in form,
have certainly been original in theirma
nitude and In the circumstances connected
with them. No country has ever equaled
the Pacific coast in size and number OF
teams. Compelled for long time to
adopt this mode of transportation, the
great business emergency of the times
was fully met by the immense tournouts
that carried goods to the interior from
every commercial center. Teams and
huge wagons, alongside Of which the out
fits we were pleased to think great, back
in the border states in early time, sank
into insigniilcance. became SO numerous rs
To excite no comment, and IL Is not until
we look back from the present advancing
age of steam and notice the capital en-
ployed and their influence upon country
that we fully realize their extent.
In other days and states, q team of six
animals with large wagon capable of
holding from three to four tons of freight,
was considered big thing. But Califor-
MIA improved on this, and strings of from
eighteen to twenty mules or horses drew
across her plains. or through her mountain
canons, wagons holding from eight to ten
tons. with sides feet high, chained to-
gcthcr inside to keep them from falling
open. and wheels seven and eight feet in
diameter, and frequently, as though this
were not enough, one, and sometimes two,
more huge boxes on wheels wcro added
to the first one and strung out behind.
Such an outfit rs this is something of n
singular sight to novice. Clouds of dust
rise from their tracks, while to the wind
ward side is seen what is comparatively a
small caravan in itself. On the Nevada
plains where the rarity of the atmosphere
distorts and enlargcs distant objects 10 the
view, one of these vast wagons, looming
up on distant horizon looks like some
great inland ship. "Prairie schooners," u
term applied by the Nebraska teamster TO
his single out fit, Is too insignificant aname
for them; they are truly tho merchantmen
of the plains. All our mountain and lis
t,nt freighting was done by these big
teams, and II Is still, where steam with Its
bands has not usurped the sway.
Naturally such distinct line of busi-
ness rs freighting became brought into
life class of men whose habits and nc
tions were so closely allied rs to become
n part of it. This is so true that team
s,ers, rs n class, become on this coast
tradesmen, who have speciality, and
who can seldom be persuaded to rclinqulsh
their employment. or. under any induce
ments, take to other branches of industry.
Ii takes much experience and considerable
natural ability to manage judiciously q
large team. They are all driven by what
Is termed "jerk line," leather line,
reaching from the teamster, seated on the
nigh wheeler" to the nigh leaders" the
latter, generally, an animal OF great 81.
gacity. Between the teamster and HI,
charge perfect understanding exists, and
attributes akin to human are firmly be-
lieved to belong to them by their master s.
Each has name that he responds to with
quick perception, and each has peculiar
qualities, both good and bad. well known
to their driver, who will extol their merit,
for hours at time. and point out the pc,
culiar characteristics Of each one with q
minutie and detail that appears singular
10 one unacquainted with this class of men
He knows teaming. and nothing else, and
he viii talk team, and nothing more. He
speaks To the animal in sort of paterna
way, remonstrate and chides them when
wrong. applauds aud praises them to emu
lation when doing well; and 1t Is q facI
well worthy tho observation of those who
extend the power Of thought to tho brute
creation that the animals in the big team,
of California and Nevada seem endowed
with a thorough knowledge of the human
voice. for rs Il Is modulated so they net.
But the tcamster, though evincing a
patcrnal regard for his charge. does moi
at all times display a mild ono. Truly,
there Is no man beneath the sun who eau
equal your California teamster in the
originality. quality and quantity Of his
..strong expressions" whom he once got,
started-no, not even plains ''bull.
whacker." or mountain .punch." The
ull.whacker." keeps up q stendly stream
that from their very repetition become
stale and monotonous, while tho noun.
tain "punch" gcsticulates too much,
and does too much hard physical work to
permit him 70 twist his tongue into shape
for the more voluminous adjectiycs his
excited nature may demand. But not 50
with the ..mule skinner" Hc sits in the
saddle. and his physical energies being
Mt rest, his mental- -onos are active, and
during the comparative leisureofs smooth
driving he forms observations OF pro-
fame character. that rush from his mouth
In such torrents when "mud hole stick
or a rebellion in his charge occurs, that