Year: 1876

September, 1850, the State of California
was admitted into the Federal Union,
making the thirty-flrst State. Tne coun-
try had been under the American flag less
than two years when the preliminary
steps toward State government were
taken, but owing to a condition of affairs
growing out Of the slavery question, of
which we have heretofore made mention
in the Centennial Papers," the act of
admission was delayed for nearly year
after the State Constitution had been rat
ited by the people. 1t may not be unin-
teresting at this time to note briefly the
changes which quarter Of century
have brought about in the country and
its people, and trace the progress of the
State to its present high position.


They who We're citizens of California
prior to the passage Of the act of admis-
sion would scarcely have predicted the
future which lay before her. OF the ma
tive, or permanent population, there was
but little the men who made the history
Of those days and laid the foundations of
government upon the Pacific Slope were
generally those whom the love of adven-
ture had drawn hither. The discovery Of
the precious metal in 1913, followed by
the tales Of the marvellous richness of the
mines, fell at first upon incredulous ears,
but as these reports were confirmed by
subsequent reports, the adventurous of
every cline turned their steps toward the
new III Dorado. The immigration of
lS49 spread over the State and the devel-
opments made by these hardy adventur-
ers had such an effect Mt the East that
some portions of the older States were
almost depopulated OF the young men,
Flushed with youth and filed with hope
were the early emigrants to California
The perils of the journey hither and
the hardships which would follow a life
in the mines and mountains Of the new
country were not unknown to them, but
the very dangers and hardships were only
stlmulants to the enterprise. Enough
was known to a certainty to demonstrate
the extent and value of the mining region
and the best blood Of Europe and Amer
lea crowded hithcr.


One fact strikes the mind of the old
settlers as a proof Of the indomitable en-
ergy which characterized the pioneers Of
California. 1t is that notwithstanding
the richness Of the country where the
gold discovery was first made, the pick Of
the prospector soon made known the rich
ness Of nearly every other poin. which
has since attained prominence for placer
mining. 1t has been a common remark
among old miners that the best diggings
in the country were all struck in 40, and
to certain extent such was the case
The genius of mining enterprise could
not brook being excelled by others, and it
was common thing during the first years
of the mines for men to quit places where
they were making wages which would
now be looked upon as enormous, TO
plunge into the depths Of some unknown
mountain canyon in search of something
better. In this manner the noted placer
mines Of the State, from Siskiyou to Mar
iposa, were opened to the world while yet
the country was unrecognized as one of
the sisterhood of States. The towns
which afterwards became noted as centers
Of placer mining, which have sent forth
their millions to enrich the world, with
very few exceptions, were prospected and
settled within couple Of years after the
discovery at Coloma was made known
Even at that early day the tread of the
pioneer had passed into Nevada and Ore
gon and the hidden treasures of the most
noted gold mining localities of those
States revealed. To youth and health,
combined with ambition and hope, moth.
ing seemed impossible, and the history of
Pacific mining shows that the pioneers of
the country left but little for those who
followed in her footsteps to discover.


They had no dream of the future of the
State, no thought of it rs the place wher-
in their lot would be cast. To them the
country was only a temporary home, from
which they hoped to draw the wealth and
speedily return to those they had left
Such were the thoughts of a majority of
the pioneers Of California. A residence
Of few years broke the chain of these
aspirations and new ones arose in their
place. With some they were destined to
be rudely broken; they found that al
though they were ia the land of gold, its
treasures were not for all who sought
them. Others prospeTed we'll and their
temporary homes were changed TO per-
manent ones. But with all, the ideas of
governmental policy brought with them


led to the desire TO have those ideas tri-
umph in the nation, and though while the
State government was forming politics
were ignored, when she assumed her posi-
tion as one Of the sisterhood, it was not
long ere the old Wing and Democratic
parties contended for the mastery.


To-day the pioneers are to be found as
in 1850, scattered throughout the State,
in every county from Siskiyou to San
Diego. They have seen the gradual decay
Of those sections where they once -four


shed anG the building up of other sec
tions to wealth and prominence where,
five and twenty years ago, the barren,
Gninvting plains stretched away, with
none to give thought as to their future
usefulness. The scepter of power is trans
ferred from the mountains to the valleys
the populous places OF early days are al
most deserted, :while the waste places OF