Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1886-05-05
LEAVES FROM A 80 LEpoeA
some Of the Curious Records Of Cali
fornia S.ore-Pronts Of Business.

Some Of the Curious Records Of Cali.
fornia S.ore-Pronts Of Business.
Il is evident that there was not a large or
varied stock of clothing in the store to select
from. Coats were rarely worn, and but
three of them are mentioned One frock coat
anst have been sold to a dude, for at the same
time he bought another rare article: -One
pair socks, g. The frock coat could not
have been considered good stock. II was sold
for el3, which was considered very low. A
duck coat was sold for so, and q linen coat
for GIG. Most of the miners had come from
cold countries, and did not feel the need of q
Goa. 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 s. and s.
apiece. Wool hats were worth el2, and Pana-
ma hats SO apiece. Combs brought g. sc
and 8 apiece. So it is little wonder that the
miners became noted for their SLOUGH hats
and shaggy heads. A pair Of corduroy
pants were sold for $50, pair of Nduck
pants for $50, and common wooden pants"
were worth from SIS to s27. Long leather
boots that came above the knees sold readily
for $36 a pair. A pair Of blankets was worth
fS2
There was very little specie in circulation
In ~. Most the articles bought in the store
were paid for in gold dust. Somstimes the
receipts for the day are given in the account
book On July 7th 81 in specie was taken in
and 1924 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 - merchants
expected TO donbis their money on all transac-
lions. 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
are twice as 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 customers. Considerable lumber must
have been sawed in 49, for from five to eight
men were at work there all the time. No
doubt they got an enormous price for the
lumber, but it also cost them great deal to
get it out. The mill men boarded at the
hotel department Of the store, which cost IS
a day to the men. Every week the company
Is charged with from BIS TO ESQ for board
alone
There are many odd names in the old &C
count book. Then very few men. are known
by their right names. Often the Christian
name alone is given. Accounts are charged
to @Dick," "Tom," "Jack," George" @Char-
ley" Emanuel" Dutch jake" "Uncle
Jake "Uncle Jimmy" "Kanaka Charley"
@Yankee jim" Utica aud Stranger"
They also followed the original custom Of
naming men after their occupations. We
find: "Teanster Jake" Butcher Boy
Sailor Boy" Sailor Bill" Farmer Jack"
Doctor" and Texas Ranger & Co. lby
partner" Sometimes the name is given,
and following it, in parenthesis, is the nick
name by which the man was more generally
known, as -Sweetman Bricks" "William
Wilson Mormon" Fuller Uncle Jimmy"
MeVowels Yankee Jim)." But in the last in
stance the surname McV owels was only added
oi,cc; after that yankee Jim" alone is used
San Francisco Argonaut