The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-07-01
COSTLY FuOD FOR 4oERs.
High Prices That Prevailed in the
California Restaurants in Those

III tnC
California Restaurants in Those
Days.
From the San Francisco Chronicle.
If life was not all cakes and ale" among
the 49ers; If among the vast majority the
daily menu was limited to "slapjacks,"
hard tack" coffee and beans" occa-
sionally diversified by an unfortunate
jack rabbit or quail, whose misplaced con-
fidence in mankind brought them too ear
ly to the pot of the hardy miner. neither
was it entirely devoid of luxuries in liv
ing for those whose appetites were on
par with their financial ability to crafty
them.
In San Francisco the luxuriously in
clined were wont to seek habitation,
whether for legitimate or Legitimate rea-
sons we need not now stop to inquire. OPP
portunity for self-indulgence of appetite
was not wanting from the very beginning
of things provided, as already limited at,
that good digestion, while waiting on APP
petite, was supplemented by a sufficient
supply of 'sheckles" to give practical rein
to its indulgence. Where the gambler
flourished in all his glory. and the CLINT
and glitter of gold passing from hand to
hand on all sides was too common to ex-
be wondered at that no limit of price put
upon the good things of life" would pre-
vent men enjoying them.
Even among the adventurous and hardy
gold hunters the yearning for the flesh
pots. which they had left behind them,
did not pass unassuaged when opportunity
offered, no matter though the rate to be
paid therefor was one far beyond the
bounds of what they had been reared to
believe was more than the hight of ex-
travagance."
Recalling scene In illustration of this
fact, the writer may mention an incident
of the month of July, 1S49. Encamped
with his companions upon the banks of
the Sacramento, where Sacramento City
was just beginning to take on the semb-
lance of a town in the stages of embryonic
form, he witnessed the arrival of daring
Spectator who had come all the way from
the mission to San lose with a wagon load
of potatoes and onions for sale. In less
than thirty minutes, every onion and 20.
tato had found a purchaser at the upset
price OF 81 per pound. while the venture
some Spectator started back a richer but
probably no wiser man than when he con-
oeived the profitable venture.
But Il Is OF the hotels and hostelries OF
San Francisco I'm 1919 and the early sos
that this paper is intended TO recall. IN
the belief that the wide contrast between
the cheap luNuIlohh AANlNk OF tO=uuN ana
the prices OF that early period may not
be devoid OF general public inter
est. Perhaps IN no other aspect
and from no other point OF view
was the composite and cosmopolitan char
acter Of the population Of San Francisco
at that dime more strikingly exempllied
than through the national nomenclature
OF the restaurants OF that day, as well as
the national personality Of their enterpris-
ing proprletors.
II there was thls wide variety OF nation.
atty Of hotels and restaurants, with their
concomltants OF varied national character
lstlcs In cookery. there was a singular
sameness In prices, no matter whence he
came or what the nationality OF the host.
Theirs was a tariff for revenue only.
which home industries had TO pay for.
and against which there was no protee.
ton"
Notwithstanding the fact that there were
cattle IN countless herds upon "a thousand
hills" In those days. though game was In
yet all these comman needs were not vet
brought 10 market La sufficient quantity
to make them other than iuxurles. OF
vegetables there we're practically none. To
put Il as a writer In the Annals OF San
Francisco" sentonuously stated II. IN
iSi9 the announcement Of a real cabbage
Tor dinner would have set hair OF the pop
ulation frantic with strangely stirred an
potitos." The justification OF this SEEM
ingiy exaggerated remark will be found
On the pcrusal OF some Of the hotel bills Of
fare Of that day, where the potato figures