Post-office, banks, steamer and freight lines
spring up within the year of the reign of gold. Disease raises
its fevered head, and the physician appears by magic. The human
maelstrom settles into an ebb and flood tide to and from the mines.
All over California keen-eyed men from the West and South begin to
appropriate land. The Eastern and Middle States pilgrims take up
trades and mechanical occupations. All classes contribute recruits
to the scattered thousands of miners. Greedy officials and sly
schemers begin to prey on the vanishing property rights of the
Dons. A strange, unsubstantial social fabric is hastily reared.
It clusters around the western peaks by the Golden Gate.
Missouri, Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana are sending great
contingents. Mere nearness, with a taste for personal adventure,
causes the southern border element to brave the overland journey.
The northwestern overland travellers are more cautious. They have
longer roads to drag over. They come prepared for farming or
trade, as well as rude mining. As soon as the two lines of Eastern
steamers are established, the Eastern and Middle States send heavy
reinforcements. They are largely traders or permanent settlers. From
the first day, the ambitious, overbearing men of the slave States
take the lead in politics.
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