29

tation of soil by the washing away of fertile surfaces, and the ravaging of others by noxious gravel deposits, and of streams by pollution and fillage. On the other hand must be considered the great and enduring good effected by gold-mining, and the movements to which it gave rise; the impulse received by trade and industries throughout the world through the new markets and traffic, besides affording additional outlets for surplus population; the incentive and means for exploring and unfolding resources in adjoining and in new regions, and enriching them with settlements. The gold discoveries in Australia, British Columbia, and half a dozen other countries, with their trains of migration and prosperity, followed closely on the California event.30 The United States was at one step placed a half-century forward in its commercial and political interests on the Pacific, as marked by the opening of the sealed ports of China and Japan, partly by steamers which completed the steamship girdle round the world, by the construction of the Panamá railway, and by the great transcontinental steam line. The democratic principles of the republic received, moreover, a brilliant and effective demonstration in the equality, organizing skill, self-government, and self-advancement displayed on the Pacific coast. That is to say, at one breath, gold cleared a wilderness and transplanted thither the politics and institutions of the most advanced civilizations of the world.

posure and privations in the mines was to some extent balanced by the value of the training in strengthening many constitutions.

29 Helper, in his Land of Gold, 23-31, makes a formal list of losses standing to the debit of California, the purchase-money by U. S., the wages of her population, the cost of transport to and fro, losses by conflagrations, by wrecks and debts, which alone would cover the value of the gold by 1855 threefold. He might have added the cost of the war of conquest, the value of steamers and other connecting service, the capital invested in and with California, and lost in trade, etc., the expenses of Indian wars, and so on. He looks only on the dark side, and fails to find compensating good.

30 A mania set in for discovering gold, and in 1852 alone it was found in ten countries, Siberia, New Zealand, South America, etc. Men swarmed from California to all parts of the Pacific, as diggers, adventurers, manufacturers, capitalists. Quart. Review, xci. 512, has pertinent remarks on the Australian gold discovery

General mining authorities are: Cong. Globe, 1848-9, pp. 257-8; 1849-50, app. 22-3, index, p. xviii.; 1850-1, 4; 1851-2, 18; Helper's Land of Gold, 103-5, 151-7, 160-5; Carson's Early Recoll., 5-9, 17, 19, 39; Crosby's Events, MS., 14, 16-17, 19-22, 25; Coleman's Vig. Com., MS., 146; Sutter, in Cal Assoc. Pion., N. Y., 1875, 53; Sherman's Mem., i. 52; Simonin, Vie Souter., 409-10, 419-20, 494, 498, 541-8; Rivera, Hist. Jalapa, iv. 371; vi. 371; Pico, Doc., i. 191; Id., Acont., 77; London Quart. Rev., 1xxxvii. 416-23; xc. 492502; xci. 505-6, 512, 529-40; Low's Stat., MS., 3-4; Larkin's Doc., vi. 107; Id., Off. Corr., ii. 55; King's Rept Cal., 68; Id., Geol. Explor., iii. 1-9; Del Mar's Hist. Prec. Metals, 165, 260-5; Fowler's Dict., MS., 14 et seq.; Lamb's Mining Camps, MS., passim; Lane's Narr., MS., 108-112; Shaw's Goblen Dreams, 33-4, 59, 87-8, 116; Silliman's Deep Placers, 15-23, 39-42; Hittell's Hist. S. F., 127-8, 289, 462; Id., Mining, 2-8, 20-22, 36; Id., Land Cases, MS.; Dietz' Our Boys, 166-71; Ashland (Or.) Tidings, Aug. 9, 1878; Crane's Past, Pres., 23, 29-30, 112, 184-9; Cal. Statutes, 1850, 221-2; 1851, 424; 1852, 295; 1853, 63; 1854, 166; 1856, 141; Annals S. F., 417-18; Esmeralda Herald, Oct. 4, 1879; El Dorado Co. Hist., 117; Cal. Comp. Laws, 1850-3, 218-22; Delano's Life, etc., 281-2, 290; Anthony's Siskiyou Co., MS., 6-14; Moore's Pion. Exp., MS., 5-12; Nouv. Annales Voy., cxx. 365-74; cxxiii. 225; cxxviii. 325-41; cxxix. 109-24, 225-46, 353-64; Roswag, Métaux, 24-53; Cal., Jour. House, 1850, 802, and index 'min. lands;' 1852, 829-35; 1853, 704-5, 715; 1855, 893, app. no. 14, pp. 67-91; 1856, 24-7; 1857, no. 2, 31; no. 4, 28-38; Cal., Jour. Sen., 1850, 1302, 1342; 1851, 591-8, 660–3, 683-701; 1852, 651-2, 659-65, 755; 1853, 638, 649, 715, app. no. 3, 55-6; 1854, 586; 1855, 40-3, 905, 915, app. no. 3, 27, app. no. 5, 29, 86-8; 1856, 400-1, app. no. 5, 50-7, 220– 324, app. no. 22, 6; Burnett's Recoll., MS., i. 367, 396-7; ii., passim; El Sonorense, March 21, 25, 28, Apr. 8, 15, Aug. 16, Sept. 27, Nov. 29, Dec. 22, 1848; Avila, Doc., 225; Frisbie's Rem., MS., 35; Cronise's Nat. Wealth, 132; Nev., Jour. Sen., 1877, app. 10, pp. 179-81; Northern Enterprise, March 20, 1874; Rockwell's Span. and Mex. Law, 507-94; Hunt's Merch. Mag., xxvi. 513; xxvii. 382-3, 445-50; xxxii. 255; xxxv. 121-2; Overland Monthly, xiii. 273– 80; xiv. 321-8; Miner's Advocate, Nov. 25, 1854; Present and Future, July 1, 1353; Dean's Statement, MS., 2-5; Miner's Own Book, pp. 32; El Mineur, June 29, 1856; Russian River Flag, Jan. 22, 1851; Mining Review, 1876, 6, 8, 17-18; Steele, in Or. Jour. Council, 1857-8, app. 42-3; Ross' Narrative, MS., 13-17; Ryan's Judges and Crin., 79; Id., Pers. Adv., ii. 1-64, 296-8; Havilah Courier, Sept. 8, 1866; Harper's Mag., xx. 598-616; Oakland Gazette, Apr. 19, 1873; June 19, 1875; Roach's Stat., MS., 5-6; Revere's Keel and Saddle, 160-4, 251-4; Randolph's Stat., MS., 51; Simonin, Les Mines, in Revue des Deux Mondes, Nov. 1875, pp. 286-8; Crusoe Island, 336; A. M. Comstock, in Vig. Com. Misc., 36; Los Ang. Herald, Dec. 23, 1874; Los Ang. Ev'g Express, May 29, 1872; Sac. Bee, Jan. 16, 1874; Sac. Record, Sept. 10, 1874; Sac. Rec.Union, Nov. 3, 1877; Delessert, Les Mines, in Revue des Deux Mondes, Feb. 1, 1849, pp. 478-83; Taylor's El Dorado, i. 60-1, 87-9, 92, 101-3, 110-11, 191, 205-7, 246-8; Id., Spec. Press, 15, 150, 150, 265-6, 290, 296, 3911, 431, 437-9, 441, 451, 453, 500, 581; Revue des Deux Mondes, Feb. 1, 1849; Lloyd's Lights, 155, 508; Quincy Union, Dec. 9, 16, 23, 30, 1855; Frignet, La Cal., 83-4, 99-103, 105–8; Or., Jour. Council, 1857-8, app. 42-3; Navarro Leyes, Feb. 1856, 363-9, 551-6; Nev. Journal, Aug. 3, Nov. 23, 1855, Jan. 18, Feb. 29, 1856; Nevada D. Transcript, Feb. 28, 1866; Nevada D. Gazette, May 10, 1866; Nev. City Tri-weekly Herald, May 23, 1878; Hist. Nevada, 170-206; Nevada-Grass Val. Direct., 1856, 10-12, 28-32; Direct. Nev. Co., 1867, 32-3, 48-9, 61-2; Thomas' Mining Remin., MS.; Hancock's Thirteen Years, MS., 131-6; Pion. Mag., iv. 345; Colusa Co. Annual, 1878, 46; Buffum's Six Months, passim; Frémont's Amer. Travel, 99, 103-4; Direct. Placer Co., 1861, 13; Thompson's Golden Res., 1-91; Soule's Stat., 3-4; S. F. Picayune, Aug.-Dec. 1850, passim; Hinton's Ariz., app. 62-99; Eureka West. Coast Signal, March 19, 1873; Portland Bulletin, Aug. 3, 1872; Placerville Repub., June 27, 1876; Placerville Democrat, July 1, Aug. 19, 1876; Colton's Three Years, 274-5, 280-1, 306, 339; Armstrong's 49 Experiences, MS., 13-14; Merrill's Stat., MS., 5-10; Foster's Gold Region, 17-29; Connor's Stat., MS., 2; Grass

Val. Union, June 22, 1872; Panamá Star, Feb. 24, 1849; Hewlett's Stat., MS.; Hearn's Cal. Sketches, MS., 3; Little's Stat., MS., 6-8, 12; Sayward's Pion. Remin., MS., 12-13; Auger, Voy. en Cal., 105-16; Crescent City Herald, Nov. 29, 1854; Chas Holland, in Coast Review, May 1873, p. 75; Coke's Ride, 185, 359-60; Grass Val. Foothill Tidings, March 15, 22, 29, Apr. 5, 12, 19, 26, May 3, 10, 17, 1879; Cassin's Stat., MS., 18; Fresno Expositor, June 22, 1870; Fay's Stat., MS., 11-13; Lambertie, Voy. Cal., 239-40, 259-63; Hist. Stanislaus Co., 103-4; Perry's Travels, 90-1; S. F. Call, Jan. 19, 1873; Jan. 10, 1875; S. F. Mer. Gaz. and Shipp'g Reg., Jan. 3, 1857; 8. F. Whig and Advert., June 11, 1853, 2; S. F. Post, Aug. 8, 1877; S. F. Manual, 197-204; S. F. Herald, Jan. 29, June 1, 4, 6, 8, July 19, 23, Aug. 1, 1850; May 21, 1852; Cal. Spirit Times, Dec. 25, 1877; S. F. Morn. Globe, Aug. 19, 1856; S. F. Town Talk, May 6, 1856; Ferry, Cal., 106-7; Lecky's Rat., i. 275; Cerruti's Ramblings, 28-9; Fisher's Cal. 42-9; Thompson's Stat., MS., 21-6; Fitzgerald's Cal. Sketches, 179-81; Mrs Tibbey, in Miscel. Stat., 19-20; Peachy's Mining Laws, 1-86; Lett's Cal. Illust., 102-4; Findla's Statement, MS., 9; Cal. Rev. and Tax. Scraps, 4-10; S. F. Bulletin, 1855-7, passim; Brooks' Four Months, 15, 17, 51-3, 59-61, 65, 68-72, 77, 89, 91, 183, 206; Id., Hist. Mex. War, 536; Grass Val. Union, Nov. 15, 1867; Meadow Lake W. Sun, Nov. 24, 1864; C. Costa Gazette, Apr. 9, 1879; Cal. Digger's Hand-Book, 7-9, 12–14, 27–8, 30–8, 43, 66, 72-8; S. F. Pacific News, Dec. 22, 1849; Jan. 1, 10, Apr. 26-7, 1850; May-Dec. 1850, passim: Unbound Doc., 12, 50, 318, 327-8, 383, 408-11; El Universal, June 5, 1849; Nov. 30, 1850; Tyler's Bidwell's Bar, MS., 2-7; Trinity Times, Jan. 27, 1855; Trask's Geol. Cal., 23-4; Torres, Perip., 81, 148-9; Todd's Sunset Land, 45; South. Quart. Review, v. (N. S.) 301-21; Kirkpatrick's Jour., MS., 37; Kip's Cal. Sketches, MS., 5, 36-41, 48-52; Kelly's Excursion, ii. 23-4; Matthewson's Stat., MS., 8-9; Upham's Notes, 328-9; Seventh U. S. Census, 985; Siskiyou Co. Affairs, MS., 10; Sherwood's Cal., 3–27; S. F. Cal. Courier, July-Dec. 1850, passim; Sac. Union, 1854-6, passim; St Amant, Voy., 575-9; Miguel Urrea, in Soc. Mex. Geog., ii. 44; Grass Val. National, Dec. 31, 1874; S. José Mercury, Jan. 12, 1865; Direct. Grass Val., 1865, 69-88; Garniss' Early Days S. F., MS., 15; S. Diego Arch., 325, 349; Hayes' Scraps, San Diego, i. 94; Id., Angeles, ii. 102-8, 258, 272, 279; xviii. 101-3; Id., Mining Cal., i.-vii., passim; Cal. Gold Regions, 15; Cal. Pol. Scraps, 267-74; Swan's Trip to the Gold Mines; Cal. Pion., no. 49, pp. 48-9; Barstow's Stat., MS., 2, 4-7, 14; Capron's Hist. Cal., 229-34; Borthwick's Three Years in Cal., passim; Bonwick's Mormons, 350-1, 370-1, 379, 391; Knox' Underground, 797– 814; Savage Coll., MS., iii. 188; U. S. Land Off. Rept, 1855, 141-2; Simpson's Gold Mines, 5, 7-8, 11, 13, 27; Marysville W. Appeal, Aug. 24, 1867; Marysville D. Appeal, Oct. 23, 1864; Marysville Direct., 1858, 23-30, 94; Barry's Up and Down, 125-30; Hutchings' Illust. Cal. Mag., i. 218, 340; iii. 343, 469, 506, 519; iv. 452, 497; Valle, Doc., 72 et seq.; Hist. Doc. Cal., i. 507-9, 520; iii. 371, 373, 379-82; Vallejo, Col. Doc., xxxv. 63; xxxvi. 189, 213; Bigler's Diary, MS., 76; Browne's Min. Res., 15-72, 193-200; Martin's Nar., MS., 54-5; Marryat's Mountains; Kane, in Miscel. Stat., 10; Hawley's Observ., MS., 8-9; Mariposa Gazette, Feb. 26, 1869; Jan. 17, June 27, 1873; Id., Chron., Dec. 8, 1854; U. S. Govt Doc., Spec. Sess., March 1853, Sen. Doc. 4, pp. 405; Id., 31st Cong., 1st Sess., Sen. 1, p. 488; McDaniel's Early Days, MS., 7; McCollum's Cal., 45; Jacob's Prec. Metals, ii. 41 et seq.; Janssens, Viday Ad., MS., 221; Bakersfield South. Cal., June 8, Nov. 23, 1876; Barnes' Or. and Cal., 14-18, 118; Misc. Hist. Papers, Doc. 26, 34; Soc. Mex. Geog., Bolet., ii. 44; Vowell's Mining Districts, MS., 23-4; Ballou's Advent., MS., 25; Wheaton's Stat., MS., 6, 9; Columbia Gaz., Dec. 9, 1854; Id., Clipper, Dec. 2, 1854; Sonora Herald, Dec. 9, 1854; Schluintweit, Cal., 216-311; Safford's Narr., MS., 21-2; Son. Co. Hist., 29-38; Weston's Life in the Mines, MS., 7; La Voz de Sonora, Oct. 5, 1855; Velasco, Son., 307; Van Dyke's Stat., MS., 3-5, 8; Yuba Co. Hist., 44, 136; Vallejo D. Recorder, Nov. 5, 1870; S. F. Alta California, 1849-56, passim; Wright's Big Bonanza, 567-9; Son. Democrat, Jan. 31, 1880; Sutton's Stat., MS., 3-4, 11; Yreka Union, Feb. 20, 1864, June 5, 1839; Woodward's Stat., MS., 3, 5; Wood's Sixteen Months, 50-4, 57, 64, 84, 100, 125-30, 135, 144-8, 171-6; Id., Pioneer Work, 64–5, 98-9.

CHAPTER XVII.

BIRTH OF TOWNS.

1769-1869.

MEXICAN TOWN-MAKING-MISSION, PRESIDIO, AND PUEBLO THE ANGLOAMERICAN METHOD-CLEARING AWAY THE WILDERNESS--THE AMERICAN MUNICIPAL IDEA-NECESSITIES ATTENDING SELF-GOVERNMENT— HOME-MADE LAWS AND JUSTICE-ARBITRATION AND LITIGATION-CAMP AND TOWN SITES-CREATION OF COUNTIES-NOMENCLATURE-RIVERS AND HARBORS-INDUSTRIES AND PROGRESS.

FOR three quarters of a century California had been a colonial appendage of Mexico, occupied as a military frontier, with friars to superintend the subjugation of the natives, and convert them into citizens useful to themselves and to the state. They were, for lack of ready material, to swell the ranks of the colonists, who, under protection of the sword and cross, formed nuclei for towns, raising up in due time a self-sustaining province of tribute-paying subjects. The missions being gradually changed into locally self-governing pueblos, the teaching and protecting friars and soldiers were to pass onward with the extending border line. But the Mexicans did not possess the true spirit of hard-working, thrifty colonists and home-builders. They were easily deterred by such obstacles as distance from convenient centres and home associations, especially when their indolent disposition was disturbed by danger from beasts and savages. Even for contiguous states within the republic, colonization had to be fostered by military settlements, with semi-compulsory enlistment; hence progress fell into the ruts of

slow pastoral life, in which the well-known prolificness of the race ranked as chief factor. Under like conditions there would have been like drawbacks, only in less intensified degree, when California became a part of the United States. Development would have been very gradual but for the same incentive which had promoted the occupation of America, and the rapid extension of Spanish conquests to the borders of Arizona-gold. The broader effect of its discovery was here greatly owing to the facilities provided for immigration by a more advanced age, no less than to the energetic, enterprising character of the chief participants.

The Anglo-Americans were in good training for the conquest of nature. During the past two centuries much of their time had been spent in subduing the wilderness, in killing off the wild beasts and wild men, and planting settlements along the gradually retreating frontiers; so that when they came to California they were ready to make short work of whatever should stand between them and that grand development which was to see a valley of pathless plains and silent foothills blossom within one brief year into countless camps and busy highways. Before this their adventurous vanguard had displayed to easy-going pueblo dwellers their bent for city building by planning more than one pretentious site; but it was in the mining region that this talent was to appear in impromptu evolutions, out of which should spring regulations so admirable in principle and adaptability as to serve as a basis for later communities, and to eclipse the century codes of Europe.

The concurrence of the miners at some promising locality, and the demand of numerous and less fortunate late comers, called for a distribution or readjustment of ground claims on the principle of free land and equal rights, at least among citizens of the United States, as title-holders, and with special consideration for the discoverer. This was the foundation of the mining-camp system.