The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1886-02-19

Some of the Curious Records Of Cell.
fornia store-Proats of Business.
1t is evident that there was not large or
varied stodk Of cloehing I'm the store to select
from. Coas wke rarely worn. and but
three q them arennentoned Ono frock coat
must have bean sold to q dude, for ct the same
time he bought another rare article: "One
pair socks, e." The frock coat could not
have been considered good stock. 1t was sold
for SIS, which was considered very low.
duck coat was sold for 20, and . linen coat
cold countries, and did not fesl the need Of q
coat in the warm climate OF California In
the accounts there are very frequent charges
for the blue wooden shirts that in our ideas
have since become so much associated with
the '49ers They were sold for 81 and S.
apiece Wool hats were worth tl2, and Pana.
ma hats $40 apiece. Combs brought 81. sc
and g apiece. So it il little wonder that the
miners became noted for their SLOUGH hats
pantsr wers sold for $32, a pair OF duck
pants for so, and common wooden pants"
were worth from $25 to $27. Long leather
boots that came above the knees sold readily
for &S5 pair. A pair of blankets was worth
s32
There was very little specie in circulation
in 40. Most the articles bought in the store
were paid for in gold dust. Sometimes the
receipts for ths day are given in the account
book. On July 7th u in specie was taken in
and S4a4 in "dust." On July 4th, IS in specie
was received On other days the receipt of
specie was larger and sometimes there was
none.
As to the profits in the business, the old
account-book tells US that these 40 merchants
expected to donble their money ON all transac-
tions. A few bills Of merchandise that they
bought in San Francisco or Sacramento are
recorded, and in almost every instance the
prices aftsrward charged for different articles
ars twice az much as the prices paid for them.
The store was very near to the old Suffer
saw-mill, and the mill company were very
good custoners. Considerable lumber must
have been sawed in 20 for from five to eight
men were at work there all the tins. No
doubt they got al enormous price Tor the
lumber, but it also cost them Q great deal to
get it out. The mill mon boarded at the
hotel department Of Che store, which cost IS
a day to the men Every week the company
is charged with from t175 to $3.50 for board
alone.
There are many odd names in the old
count book. Then very few men are known
by their right names. Often the Christian
name alone il given. Accounts are charged
to "Dick, "Tom," Jack" George" "Char-
Icy" Emanuel" dutch Jake" "Uncle
Jake" Uncle Jimmy" "Kanaka Charley"
yankee JIM" "Utica," aud Stranger"
They also followed the original custom Of
naming mon after THAR occupations We
find: "TeAmster JAKE" Butcher Boy
Sailor Boy" aSailor Bil." Farmer Jack"
Doctor" and Texas Ranger & Co. (by
partner" Somssimss the name is given,
and following it, in parenthesis, is the nick
name by which the man was moro generally
known, a. "swsetman Bricks" civilian
Wilson CMormon)," Fuller Uncle jimmy"
Acvowsls CYanRee JIM" But in the last in
stance the surname MCDOWELL was only added
once; altar that "Yankes jim" aaone is used
San Franciseo Argonaut