By Larry Clinton, Sausalito Historical Society
By 1865, California had been a state for 15 years, and was flourishing by all accounts. Here’s how the Marin Journal summed up the state of the state at that time:
The progress of the State in the development of all its resources, never was more steadily advancing than now.
Whatever may have been the effect of the war upon other parts of the country, California has not felt it to her hurt; and whether the conclusion of the struggle is to be sudden, or long deferred, we cannot see that our State is to be injured. Most fortunately we have preserved gold as the currency, and every value is marked in coin, so that we have avoided all the feverish changes growing out of a fluctuating and uncertain currency. The past season has been one of unusual dryness, and the agricultural interests have suffered severely; but this unparalleled season demonstrates the fact that we are not living from hand to mouth, but that the resources of our State are sufficient to carry us through one barren and unproductive year. The present rains are sufficient to give us the assurance of a prosperous harvest; and the mines will yield, this year, nearly double the amount in gold of previous seasons.
The discovery of silver in the Territory, now the State of Nevada, is just beginning to tell in favor of our State. Heretofore the draft has been against us for machinery and labor in the development of mines; the balance will be largely in our favor for the next ten months. Railroad interests have advanced with great rapidity. From San Francisco to San Jose, fifty-five miles of road is now in operation. The Sacramento Valley Road has made a branch connection with Freeport [just south of Sacramento] , some twelve or fifteen miles of new road. From Folsom, the terminus of the Sacramento Valley Road, a new Company, under the Presidency of Charles McLane, have built some twenty-three miles in the direction of El Dorado County. The California Central Road from Folsom to Lincoln is being extended under an organization known as the Yuba Railroad Company, Frank M. Pixley, President; the road partially graded; an agent now East buying iron; the road will be in running order to Marysville, a distance of twenty-three miles, by July next. The Northern California Railroad Company here takes up the work, and cars are now running to Oroville, a distance of twenty-nine miles. The Pacific Central Railroad is being pushed rapidly forward; thirty-one miles are now in operation, with a very large amount of ties and iron ready to be laid as soon as the grading can be done.
A recent decision of the Supreme Court secures the State guarantee of interest on $1,500.00 of their bonds. The same Court will give them $400,000 of bonds from San Francisco. The aid from the General Government, from the State and the various counties gives the Company about $11,000,000 Of available cash assets, and secures the prompt and energetic prosecution of the work. The President, Mr. Stanford, has drawn during the past week, $52,000 from the State Treasury, and, we are informed, will immediately place one thousand men upon the line of the work.
Our commercial affairs are not less prosperous and encouraging; the Pacific has not been disturbed by Confederate cruisers, and but few casualties have occurred to interrupt the trade with our port. Our coast trade has increased immensely during the past year.
The gold discoveries in Idaho; the new oil wells; coal and copper mines; the quicksilver mines, all show that our mineral resources are not only not exhausted, but are not yet fairly developed. The product of our own mines are increasing rather than diminishing. Foreign banking-houses are bringing from Europe the capital and facilities for business, and recognizing San Francisco as a moneyed centre. The establishment of a line of steamers to China will soon be brought about. With a Pacific Railroad and an Oriental Line, San Francisco becomes the centre of a vast business circumference. The Northern whaling fleet has made most of its outfit in our harbor this year, for the first time. Our State Treasury is plethoric with gold; our receipts exceed our expenditures; our coupons are paid in gold; State credit and most of our municipal credits stand well. Indeed, the whole aspect of our business affairs looks most rosy. The city of San Francisco is especially prosperous. Real estate, under the decision of the validity of the Specific Contract Law, has received a new impulse. The next season gives promise of very extensive dealings in real property, and very important improvements. Our merchants are in a healthy condition, and we venture the opinion that there is not a city in the United States where there there is more substantial property among its business men.
PHOTO FROM SAUSALITO HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Following the gold rush, San Francisco Bay was teeming with tall ships