Felix Tracy, Jr. – 1855 Travel Diary – Los Angeles to Salt Lake

Felix Tracy, Jr.

Image from the Wells Fargo Guided By History blog. (Two Felix Tracy posts on the blog are linked below.)

From Los Angels to Salt Lake.

We have been permitted by Messrs. Adams & Co. to publish the following diary of Mr. Felix Tracy, Jr., during his late journey through from Los Angeles to Salt Lake.

This diary, though brief, will be of value to those who may wish to travel through to Salt Lake by the same route, and it will also give a very correct idea of the country to the general reader. –

The indefatigable and ubiquitous Adams & Co. will soon dispatch messengers through all the principle routes to Salt Lake, for the purpose of ascertaining by direct observation the best route for an Expresr. The enterprise of this firm bids fair to establish the best route for the Pacific Railroad, while Congress is quarrelling about appropriations for engineers to do the same work.

OFFICE OF ADAMS & Co.}
City of the Great Salt Lake.}
To I.O. Woods, Esq., Resident Partner of Adams & Co., of California.

DEAR SIR: – In compliance with your request, I hand you enclosed so much of the Journal of my late trip from Los Angeles to this place as is of public interest, and calculated I think to be of value to the Pacific Emigrant Society, in which, if I remember rightly, you hold a prominent position. I have omitted all of my own speculations on the route, which I will give in a subsequent letter, and confine myself to noting the essentials for emigrants, namely: grass water and wood.

Nov. 25th. — Leaving San Francisco. as you remember, this day per steamer Goliah, at half-past 5 P.M., we reached San Pedro Nov. 28th 8 A.M., which small place of a few houses, and proportionally smaller number of people, is the port of Los Angeles, twenty-five miles inland, to which place I proceeded in Alexander & Banning’s line of coaches, on which our Express matter is carried, and reached Los Angeles the same night, 28th.

Los Angeles - 1850 (Image from http://www.usc.edu)

This place is too well known to you to demand description from me, and I content myself with stating a few facts to which I would specially call your attention in the future. One is that corn is said to grow here splendidly and the ears to fill and ripen equal to anything in the older States, a fact, if a fact, which is not known on the bay of San Francisco, or in the mining regions where corn is grown with difficulty. — The raising here of a sufficient supply of maize for the California demand, would enrich the country by keeping thus much of our gold at home.

The culture of grapes and manufacture of wine is destined to become a feature of this part of California, and I confidently predict that, if fostered properly by those having as deep an interest as yourself in the welfare of California, the wine of this section will cause importations to nearly cease, and we shall become large exporters, besides doing a wonderful work in the way of temperance. Drinkers of Sherry and Madeira in San Francisco are probably aware that their best English imported wines are nearly all manufactured in London, from the cheap wines of the Cape of Good Hope. Los Angeles can supply the basis in place of Cape Town, and our ingenious merchants can do the manufacturing, including stamping the boxes and copying the labels.

Dec. 1st. — Left Los Angeles this morning, 10 A.M. Eight miles this side, passed San Gabriel, an old mission, in the vicinity of which is said to be some of the best land in California. The Padres here fenced many of their fields with the cactus.

At noon, we stopped at a placed called Monte, which has about five hundred inhabitants.

Water abundant; land very fertile, one squash vine producing three squashes which weighed four hundred and thirty-nine pounds; and I also saw a corn stalk seventeen and a half feet high.

Saturday, 2d — Staid last night at an old Spaniard’s by the name of Palemeros, who has a fine, large ranch well stocked. A few years since, the Utah tribe of Indians, led by their Chief. Walker, were in the habit of driving off several hundred head of cattle, the Spaniards in this vicinity not being about to resist them.

Distance to-day, thirty-two miles.

Sunday, 3d — For twenty miles it is nearly a desert, without water. Arrived at San Bernardino, this evening. Distance to-day, thirty-two miles.

Monday, 4th — San Bernardino is the Mormon settlement, containing about one thousand inhabitants.

The Mormons have possession of some eight square leagues of land, well watered, which produces well. Timber is scarce, consequently the houses are built of adobes. Within five miles of this place are hot springs, from lukewarm to hot enough to cook an egg.

Tuesday, 5th — Left San Bernardino to-day, at 2 p.m., in company with J.B. Leach, Jas. Williams, Jacob Mozier, and Mr. Pinney. We have four mules. Camped at 6 p.m. Good road and plenty of water. Distance to-day, 12 miles.

Wednesday, 6th — Left camp at half past seven this morning. Crossed the Sierra Nevada at Hunt’s Pass, which is ten miles nearer than by Cajon, and to the south of it, although the latter is much the best for wagons, and, in fact, one thousand dollars would make it a first-rate road. Camped at 6 p.m. — Distance to-day, 28 miles; the last 20 without water, and poor land.

Thursday, 7th — Left camp at half past 7. Distance to-day, 35 miles; water half way, good wagon road, land poor.

Camped at Sugar Loaf, on the Mohave River.

Friday, Dec 8 — Started at 8 o’clock traveled 25 miles northerly, along the Mohave. The soil could be made to produce well by irrigation. Road level and sandy.

Camped at 8 p.m., near a small lake; good grass. Distance to-day, 35 miles. We have seen some alkili.

Saturday, 9 — Left camp at half past 8 a.m. To-day we have traveled 25 miles without water; road good, through a desert. Camped at 4 p.m. Water bad, grass scarce. We passed through a canon [canyon?] three miles long, through a range of low mountains; the ascent was gradual.

Sunday, 10th — Left camp last night at 8 o’clock it being thought best to travel after night on the desert. From Bitter Springs, where we camped last night, to Kingston Springs, where we camped this morning at 11 o’clock, is 40 miles, over a desert; water to be had at a small lake, about half way; road fair. We fed our mules with barley last night and this morning. Started this afternoon, at half past 3 o’clock.

Monday, 11th — Camped this morning at half past 8. all tired and very sleepy. Distance last night, 40 miles; road good, — over a desert. This place is called Mountain Springs; grass is poor, and we here fed the last of our barley. About twenty miles from Bitter Springs, we left the regular emigrant road, and came on to it within four miles of Mountain Springs, saving about forty miles, and avoiding Salt Springs, the Highlander, Resting and Stump Springs. — Left Mountain Springs at half past 11 a.m., and traveled 12 miles to Cottonwood. Road good.

Tuesday, 12th — Left Cottonwood at half past 7 a.m., and camped at 3 p.m., on the Las Vegas. This is a small stream but very rapid, and waters several hundred acres of good land.

Here there is a spring in which a person cannot sink.

Image from http://www.tngenweb.org

It is twenty-five miles over to the Colorado River. Road somewhat uneven but not bad. Distance to-day, twenty miles without water.

Wednesday, 13th — Left Vegas River at half past 1 a.m., and camped at 7 a.m.; good bunch grass but no water, so far, to-day, and we have traveled twenty-three miles. Started again at half past 10 a.m., and camped on Muddy River, at half past 8 p.m. Distance to-day, 27 miles, without water; road uneven, grass good.

Thursday. 14 — This morning five Indians came into camp, and wished to trade for blankets &c; we gave them some tobacco. There is some good land here. The Indians raise corn, wheat, pumpkins &c.

Left camp at 8 a.m., and camped on the Rio Virgin, at 5 p.m. The road to-day has been bad, passing over some very steep hills. An empty wagon would be load enough for four mules. Distance to-day twenty-five miles, without water.

Friday, 15th — Started this morning at 4 o’clock. We have followed the Rio Virgin up to its source. Camped at 6 p.m.; road fair. Distance to-day, 33 miles. The Muddy River empties into the Rio Virgin, and the latter into the Colorado.

Saturday, 16th — The road for the first fifteen miles has been a gradual ascent, and the last ten uneven and bad. No water to-day.

Camped on the Santa Clara River. — Twelve miles below us the Mormons are building a house. The Indians have three corn-fields on this river; twelve acres in all, one of which we are encamped in. There are a few cottonwood trees along the river, which is the first timber we have seen.

Sunday, 17th — Camped at the Mountain Springs, which is also called the Rim of the Basin. The road, to-day, has been bad, being quite rough. Distance, to-day, 35 miles, without water. The land in this vicinity would produce will if there were water to irrigate with.

Monday, 18th — Camped at Iron Springs. Distance to-day, 43 miles. No water, but plenty of ice.

Tuesday, 19th — Arrived at Cedar City, on Coal Creek, this morning; this is the first of the Mormon settlements. Here iron ore is found, and the Mormons expect to manufacture iron in the course of a month. Coal is also found here. This place is surrounded by an adobe wall, ten feet high and from two to three feet thick. There are about one hundred families here, whose farms are three or four miles distant, and are said to produce corn, wheat, oats, barley, &c., the land being irrigated. All the timber found here is a few small cedar trees.

Cedar City, Utah (Image from http://www.julidanis.com)

From San Bernardino to Cedar City, there is probably not 1000 acres of good land, all in one body; all there is is situated on the Vegas, Muddy and Santa Clara rivers; and there is no timber except a few Cottonwood trees on the Santa Clara. There are no streams that require bridging. The road from the Rim of the Basin to this place is splendid — from the Vegas to the Rim of the Basin, it is quite rough, that is, it is up and down.

We came through with nine mules. Mr. Leach is of the opinion that a wagon and six mules would have come through easier.

You will see by what I have already written, that there are stretches of thirty to fifty miles without water. Four or five artesian wells would probably be all that would be required. We crossed small mountains almost every day, thro’ canons.

If this route should ever become much traveled, it would be difficult to find grass for animals, for the whole country is nearly all a desert, producing nothing but a little sage brush or grease wood.

By next express I will finish copying my diary, but in the meantime would remark, that the road from Cedar City to this place is a very good one about three streams requiring bridges.

Yours truly,

FELIX TRACY, JR.

Mountain Democrat, The (Placerville, California) Feb 17,  1855

Mountain Democrat Advertisement 1854

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Image from the Wells Fargo Guided By History blog, where they have two blog posts about Felix Tracy HERE and HERE.

Felix Tracy.
Sacramento & Shasta Cos.

The agent for Wells, Fargo & Co., at Sacramento, was born at Moscow, Livingston County, New York, March 19, 1829. Left New York for California March, 1849, arriving at San Francisco, September 18th of the same year, where he engaged in merchandising until 1850. He then went to the mines, working for a time on the North Fork of the American River; afterwards in the vicinity of Downieville.

In the Summer of 1850 when he entered the employee of Sam. W. Longton’s Express, as Messenger, between Marysville and Downieville, a position full of incident and adventure, a portion of the route being at times only passable by means of snow-shoes, employing and traveling in company with Indians. In June, 1852, he entered the service of Adams & Co. as Messenger between Shasta and Marysville; made one or more trips as Messenger to Portland, Oregon, and also a trip in the same capacity between San Francisco and New York City; upon his return from this trip he entered the San Francisco office as clerk, and shortly after was sent by the company to Salt Lake City to establish an express and stage line between Los Angeles and St. Louis. This was the first express ever carried into Utah Territory.

But in consequence of the failure of Adams & Co., in February, 1855, the enterprise was necessarily abandoned. Mr. Tracy, being left entirely without means by the failure of the company, was so fortunate as to secure the position of Clerk of Quartermaster’s Department under General Steptoe, then in command of the troops then stationed at Salt Lake, and so worked his passage back to California. Arriving in Shasta in July, 1855, he was appointed by the Pacific Express Company their agent at that place, then one of the most flourishing mining towns in this State. Upon the failure of this company, in the Summer of 1857, he entered the service of Wells, Fargo & Co., at Shasta, with which company he has remained until the present time, a period of nearly twenty-one years. Mr. Tracy took charge of the Sacramento office in March, 1868, and is probably the oldest expressman in California, having been engaged in this business, with less than three months’ interim, a period of nearly twenty-seven years.

While living in Shasta, Mr. Tracy served that county two terms as its Treasurer. In Sacramento he occupied the position of School Director for the city two terms, and for three years was President of the Board. Mr. Tracy is respected and trusted by all who have the pleasure of his acquaintance. He has long been a prominent leader in the Presbyterian Church, and last year went as delegated from this State to the General Assembly held at Chicago. Though modest and retiring, Mr. T. is a first-class businessman, and so recognize not only by the firm he has so long and faithfully served, but by all with whom he has done business during his long residence in California.

(LINK)

From the Sacramento Historical Society: (PDF LINK)

Evening Bee
Sacramento, June 12, 1902
TRACY – In this city, June 12, Felix Tracy, a native of New York, aged 72 years, 2 months ans 13 days.

Friends are respectfully invited to attend the funeral Saturday at 10 a.m. from the Fourteenth-Street Presbyterian Church, Fourteenth Street, between O and P. Interment private. Omit flowers.

Sacramento Evening Bee (Sacramento, CA)  Jun 12, 1902

FELIX TRACY, PIONEER EXPRESS AGENT, PASSES AWAY

Felix Tracy passed away at his home in this city to-day after a period of failing health of many months duration. Mr. Tracy was one of Sacramento’s most highly respected citizens.

Deceased was one of the oldest express agents in California, his service dating back to the 50s, when he was Wells, Fargo & Co.’s representative in Shasta. He was placed in several important positions by Wells, Fargo & Co, and finally sent to Sacramento, when this was the most important office in the State, it being the distributing point for all the best mining counties.

In those days, Wells, Fargo & Co. carried all the gold dust from the mines and returned the gold coin from the Mint to the miner. In this way they caught a percentage going and coming, and the Company grew to be a wealthy corporation.

It always, however, took good care of its faithful servants. Several years ago, Felix Tracy was tendered retirement on a handsome pension, and could have done so had he listened to the importunities of his employers. However he had quite a snug fortune of his own, and he remained “in the harness” until his physical condition compelled his retirement.

He was strictly temperate in his habits, and an active advocate of temperance in others. More than one young man was reclaimed through his influence. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church and a faithful attendant to its services. He was born in New York State seventy-three years ago. The funeral will take place from the Fourteenth-Street Presbyterian Church Saturday next at 10 a.m.

(LINK)

MRS. FELIX TRACY, NOBLE WOMAN, DEAD

Well Known in Sacramento, She Was Typical Californian, Known for Deeds Mrs. Martha GARTER TRACY, wife of the late Felix Tracy and mother of Henry W. and Mary F. Tracy, died at the family home at 1706 P Street on Saturday evening.

Mrs. Tracy was an old-time resident of Sacramento, respected and honored wherever known. She was one of the typical women of the early days of California – splendid wives and mothers, to whom California owes as much as she does to the men pioneers. She was a woman of deep religious convictions, full of genuine kindness and charity, sympathetic at heart and keen in intellect. She was author of several excellent short stories, but found her greatest pleasure and devoted almost all of her time to her home.

A leader in the Presbyterian Church on this Coast for many years, she was widely known among the followers of that faith and held in the highest esteem.

With her brother, the late Judge Charles A. GARTER of Red Bluff, Mrs. Tracy came as Miss Garter to California in 1856, joining her father and mother, the late Judge GARTER and wife in Shasta, where Miss Garter was married to Felix Tracy, then connected with Wells, Fargo & Company. Later they came to Sacramento, where Mr. Tracy was the local Manager of Wells, Fargo & Company until his death in 1902.

Sacramento Bee  (Sacramento, CA) Feb 16, 1914

PIONEER STAGE LINE.

In the summer of 1857, Col. J. B. Crandall established a tri-weekly line of stages between Placerville and Genoa, and carried the “Carson Valley express,” which was managed by Theodore F. Tracy. E. W. Tracy was agent at Placerville, and Smith and Major Ormsby were agents at Genoa. In June of that year, T. F. Tracy, accompanied by J. B. Crandall, Mark Hopkins, J. H. Nevitt, Wm. M. Cary, John M. Dorsey, Theron Foster, C. A. Sumner, and K D. Keiser, passed over the route, and established the following stations between Placerville and Genoa, viz.: Sportman’s Hall, Brockliss Bridge, Silver Creek, and Cary’s Mill. This was called the “Pioneer Stage Line,” and connected at Genoa with the Chorpening wagons to Salt Lake.

Nevada Observer (LINK)

Death of Theodore F. Tracy

Felix Tracy, agent for Wells, Fargo & Co., in this city, received news this morning of the sudden death of his brother, Theodore F. Tracy, of San Francisco, a prominent Republican candidate for State Treasurer. In speaking of his candidacy the Oakland Tribune of a late date gave this brief sketch of him:

He was for nine years a Postoffice Inspector on this coast, and in that capacity acquitted himself with distinguished ability. In the course of his inspection tours throughout the State he made friends wherever he went, and, as a natural consequence, he will add strength to any ticket on which he may be nominated. In addition to his experience in the Postoffice Department he has had a thorough business training, and he held an important position under Wells, Fargo & Co. for many years. Mr. Tracy has resided in San Francisco for the past ten years, and before that was a resident of El Dorado county.

Sacramento Daily Bee (Sacramento, CA) Aug 18, 1886

The Diary of a Forty-Niner

Originally, I just planned to stick this at the bottom of another post and provide a link, but then I started reading the book.  It is a quick read, authentic and very entertaining.  I have clipped a few excerpts of the text as examples.

This first clip is from the preface; it gives some background information on the material and the forty-niner who wrote it.

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This next excerpt gives a rather humorous description of his jackass:

Next, is the disappearance of two fellow miners, Ristine and Carter, although I am only excerpting two small snippets, so if you want to know more, you will have to read the book:

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Image from http://bancroft.library.ca.gov/diglib

And no gold mining story would be complete without the mention of gambling:

 

For those who enjoy romance, there is definitely a little of that with the French woman, Marie:

Evidently, there are several editions of this book, the latest one listed as being published in 2007.

Title:    The Diary of a Forty-Niner
Author:    Chauncey L. Canfield
Publisher:    M. Shepard Co., 1906
Length:    231 pages

Here is the link to the edition I used  in this post: (Google book LINK.)

Placerville: Miners, Bankers, and Runaway Hogs

Miners’ Meeting.

At a meeting of the miners of Smith’s Flat, on the evening of September 21st, 1854, E. Gage, Esq., was called to the chair, and T.M. White appointed secretary, and the following laws for the government of claims in Smith’s Flat District, were unanimously adopted.

Mining Laws of Smith’s Flat.

1. The boundaries of Smith’s Flat Mining District shall be as follows, viz:

Beginning at the south east corner of Negro Hill District, thence east until it strikes where the road running through Smith’s Ranch intersects the emigrant road East; thence south until it strikes the Coon Hollow ditch; thence west, along said ditch, until it strikes Spanish Hill District; thence north to the south line of Negro Hill District; thence east on said line to the place of beginning.

2. The size of mining claims shall be 50 by 100 yds.

3. Each miner may hold two claims — one by location and one by purchase, or both by purchase.

4. All claims must be recorded by a Recorder duly elected; and he shall receive one dollar for recording each claim. He shall set a permanent stake at each corner of each claim, and put a written notice on each, giving the name or names of the party or parties, having such claims recorded, with the number of the claim and time of recording, and shall file a duplicate of such notice in a book kept for the purpose. It shall be his duty, also, to record all claims that he may be requested to.

5. No claim shall be forfeited by not being worked between the first day of July and the first day of December; provided the owner of any claim shall notify the Recorder of his intention to work said claim before he leaves it.

6. Any person having a claim shall forfeit it, by neglecting to work it one whole day in every seven, between the 1st of December and the first of July following.

7. Any person having two claims may hold both, by working either, as above mentioned.

8. Any difficulty that may arise relative to mining interests, shall be referred to a jury of five miners; — four of them to be chosen by the parties, and the fifth by these four.

9. Any person having a claim that requires a tail race, shall have the privilege of cutting it through the claims adjoining it below, (provided, said cutting shall not interfere with the working of the same,) until he has obtained sufficient fall for all reasonable mining purposes. But he shall in no case permit his tailings to accumulate on the claims below, to the detriment of the working of said claims.

Hill Claims.

1. A tunnel claim shall be 150 feet front, and run to the centre of the hill.

2. A claim must be worked within ten days from the time at which it is taken up, and as often as one day in each week thereafter.

3. Two or more holding claims, may form a company to work any one of them, without being bound to work each of them.

4. Any miner or miners finding new diggings in this district, shall be entitled to one extra claim for each member of the company, on any vacant hill ground in the district.

5. Any tunnel company who shall have expended $200 upon notifying the recorder of their intention to leave their claim, shall not forfeit the same, provided, they resume operations within three months from the time of giving said notice.

Resolved, That the old code of laws be repealed, so far as they conflict with those now adopted.
Resolved, That the above be published in the Mountain Democrat.
Meeting adjourned.
E. GAGE, President.
T.M. WHITE, Sec.

Mountain Democrat, The (Placerville, California) Sep 30, 1854

THE DIGGINGS.

Owing to the scarcity of water in many localities, mining is not carried on so actively as in the early part of the summer. But, where water is to be had, at Negro Hill, the Reservoir, and the various tunnels in the vicinity supplied by the South Fork Canal, and on the creeks and bars, the miners are making their usual good wages. Next month the South Fork Canal will be completed, and will afford an abundance of water. We may then look for an activity in mining operations, that has not been equaled in any portion of the State heretofore, during the dry season.

Mountain Democrat, The (Placerville, California) Jul 22, 1854

A Placerville Church (Image from http://www.co.el-dorado.ca.us)

NEW CHURCH. – The enterprising citizens of Negro Hill have erected a fine church and school house at this point, which was dedicated to religious and educational purposes, on last Sunday evening, by Rev. G.B. Taylor.

Mountain Democrat, The (Placerville, California) Dec 23, 1854

Placerville - 1851 (Image from http://www.co.el-dorado.ca.us)

PLACERVILLE STREET IMPROVEMENT.

“Let other poets raise a fracas
‘Bout vines an’ wines, an’ drunken Bacchus,
An’ crabbit names an’ stories wrack us,
An’ grale our lug,
I sing the juice Scot’s bear can mak us
In glass or jug.”

The above verse, as every body knows, is the beginning one of Robert Burns’ eulogy on “Scotch Drink;” the peculiar national beverage of his fatherland. The pride which animated him in the witty composition may have been different in [spirit], yet the same in kind with ours, in referring to the excellence and completeness of our street improvements. San Francisco, Stockton, and Sacramento have, for months, literally “grated our lug” ’bout piles, and planks, an’ pitfull sidewalks, while it has been equally the custom of visitors from either of those illustrious localities, to harp and carp about the alternate dust and mire of our mountain City.

In the future, however, for these croakers, “Othello’s occupation’s gone.” The principal streets of Placerville now present an appearance of substantial firmness not equalled in the State. Not of combustible or decaying boards — eternally wearing and shivering into yawning man-traps and requiring a perpetual re-taxation for repairs, — but deeply Macadamized with imperishable stone alike impervious to heat or cold. — The substratum is of stone blocks of considerable size, covered with gravel or small cobbles, which effectually fill up all the interstices, and render the surface smooth as a carpet.

You will not, O denizens of plank-bottomed towns, hope, therefore, any reciprocation from hitherward, of your melting records of fractured limbs or skulls insensate — the fruits of planking discrepancies.

Mountain Democrat, The (Placerville, California) Feb 3, 1855

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Image from http://bodocktimes.blogspot.com

NOTICE.

OWNERS of hogs within the city limits, are hereby notified that the City Pound had been moved to the alley in the rear of the Station House; and that sales of hogs that may be impounded, will take place every Saturday, at 11 o’clock A.M. — commencing on Saturday, the 3d day of March.

RENICK CONE, Pound Master.
City of Placerville, Feb. 24, 1855

Mountain Democrat, The (Placerville, California) Feb 24, 1855

From the Town Talk.

A Node to a Bank.

Oh, Bank, grate malstrom for koin!
How yew swaller up things. What
A maw yew hev got for Bull-Lion.
And when yu hev filled yourself chock
Full how yew luv to bust up
And brake things.

Yew grate malstrom for koin!
Grate bank! What air you good for
Eny how, yew overgrown cirtter, but
To chaw up all a feller has got
and then larf into his face and sa,
“Oncet I had koin but now eye’m
Bust and can’t do nothink!”

Grate malstrom for koin!
Yew are a ga deceiver — yew fell
Into a feller’s pocket for speshe and
Tickle him up ’bout keepin it safe
Wen you knowd yew warnt
Safe enny how. You’ve played H-ll.

Grate malstrom fur koin!
How du yew feel now, yew old buster?
Yew hev dun it — yew hev
Put your foot into it and
Yew hev split menny hopes.
Where do you Xpect to go tu,
Yew old buster? Hev yew
Kicked up sich a dust that
Yew can’t tell what its all
About? Hev yew?
You nasty, vile malstrom fur koin?

B. PEPPER.

Mountain Democrat, The (Placerville, California) Mar 31, 1855

From the Mountain Democrat

Part 2

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Auburn Ravine (Image from http://bancroft.library.ca.gov)

THE RAVINES.

One day last week three miners in prospecting a ravine emptying into the South Fork, opposite the mouth of White Rock Canon, took out a lump weighing twelve ounces besides other gold, amounting in all to near sixteen ounces, and have been making good wages since.

Would it not be a good idea in some of those who are lying around the taverns doing nothing, to start out with a pick and shovel and try their luck a little further in the ravines hereabouts?

There are many hillsides that have not been prospected at all, which, perhaps, are richer than any that have yet been opened in our vicinity. No miner is “hard up” long at a time who is industrious and persevering. Dame Fortune, like the rest of her sex, is capricious; and if she frown, to-day may relent to-morrow; and is sure to reward, with her choicest favors, continued exertion.

“Better luck next time” must be the miners motto if he would succeed; he must [keep at work] if he would make money. We were once a miner ourselves and know from experience, that loafing is a poor way to strike good diggings, and that playing seven up for the whisky won’t pay board bills.

Mountain Democrat, The (Placerville, California) Apr 22, 1854

“It Pays to Economize”

NOTIFIES MEMBERS IN RHYME

County Clerk Charles Fischer has received the following verses from Monroe, Wis., where the poet, J.W. Stewart, is the clerk of Green county. The unique invitation is both good reading and timely. Few officials combine a love of statistics with the poetic gift.

NOTICE TO COUNTY BOARD MEMBERS.

You are hereby notified,
And this you must remember;
Go to your County Court House,
On the eleventh day of November.

‘Tis a meeting of the County Board
And that is the opening day;
So be there promptly on time,
And hear what there is to say.

No doubt you’ll enjoy your work,
while at your county seat;
May you have a harmonious session,
And have plenty of things to eat.

In this notice that I give you,
I’ll try to give you the facts;
It may aid you in your work,
As well as guide you in your acts.

Much State Aid Road has been built,
State expenses are also very high;
and when you pay your taxes,
It will almost make you cry.

You may call this state progressive,
Or the land of milk and honey;
But to pay the running expenses,
You bet, that takes some money.

We have a grand University,
Every state does look this way;
The property owners pay the taxes,
And the politicians make the hay.

Over a million, from the tax payers
For this institution, it does take;
In the ways of using money,
It does surely take the cake.

There are commissioners of all kinds,
And many systems, which are to come;
But the system for increasing taxes,
Has them all “going some.”

All these things are expensive,
Still, it was voted, don’t you know;
But the payment of high taxes,
May teach us to go slow.

This state is considered prosperous,
Will you tell me, what made it so?
Was it the State Highway Law?
Most emphatically, I say no!

It’s the industry of our people,
Who toil from morn till night;
With the aid of the dairy cow,
That’s made them win the fight.

‘Tis such men as, Moore and Babcock,
And the tillers of the land;
That’s made Wisconsin prosperous,
And not, our tax figuring band.

We may be prosperous now,
But we’er liable to lose our head;
As we may be taxed to death,
And be numbered with the dead.

Unless we make some changes,
I can see the handwriting on the wall;
That a new party, will take our place
About a year from this fall.

Then come prepared for business,
At this session of the County Board;
And help reduce the taxes,
From the point, to which they’ve soared.

Instruct the next Legislature,
Either by Resolution or otherwise;
To stop being so extravagant,
And to learn to economize.

Elect good men to represent you,
From the district, in which you live;
Then let “economy” be their motto
Or any other, that you choose to give.

I trust these lines will be read,
By people of every size;
Who should remember my motto,
“That it pays to economize.”

Here’s to the State of Wisconsin,
Here’s to the County of Green;
Which is the greatest dairy County,
That the world has ever seen.

Now remember my instructions,
And be there on the opening day;
I will now, bid you Good-bye,
As I have nothing else to say.

– J.W. STEWART,
County Clerk.

Sheboygan Press (Sheboygan, Wisconsin) Nov 8, 1913

MEASURES NOT MEN

By Douglas Malloch

Let’s vote for men not measures, truth not laws,
Concern ourselves not with effect but cause.
The leader is the army, judge the court,
And matter more than rules of every sort.
Platforms and precepts and ideals and creeds,
What are they all unless expressed in deeds?
The greatest nation or the smallest clan,
The thing that really matters is the man.

In men the land much always put its trust;
No law is just unless the judge is just.
I’d rather trust my fortunes to the wise
Than written wisdom that some knave applies.
A golden scepter is a tawdry thing,
However wise the law, if fool the king,
Men matter most, and so I say again,
Let’s vote for measures less, and more for the men.

Sheboygan Press (Sheboygan, Wisconsin) Dec 17, 1907

Sam: The Ruling Spirit of America

Image from http://www.sonofthesouth.net

“Who is Sam?” –

He is the worthy son of old granny FEDERALISM, whose history is recorded in the alien and sedition laws, and such other kindred measures of government, as her ardent worshippers labored to perpetuate as best adapted to keep in check the impertinent spirit of republicanism, which was manifest in this country at an early day, and to promote which the republican or democratic party labored hard, and triumphantly.

“Sam” is now nearly forty-one years of age, having been born at Hartford, Connecticut, in the first “Know Nothing lodge” ever created in this country, in the fall of 1814. The “lodge” was held in session for three weeks, and no outsider knew what was going on within. Finally the doors were thrown open, and it was proclaimed that a new ruler was born, and the principles of his code were proscription of the South; and vengeance on foreign-born citizens, viz: Representation according to free population, and entire prohibition of foreign-born citizens from voice or place, in any degree, in the administration of the affairs of government; which, interpreted, means abolitionism in its Yankee form, and repeal of all naturalization laws.

“Sam,” at his birth, was an ill-looking, unpromising little creature, almost an abortion — so much so, indeed, that his parents and godfathers were ashamed to have him christened in public, and it is believed that the ceremony was not performed until 1854, when the “lodge” again secretly met, and, after great deliberation, it was decided to have the ceremony performed at midnight, and announced “Sam” as the ruling spirit of America, and he issued his bull accordingly, proclaiming that “Americans should rule America.”

Mountain Democrat, The (Placerville, California) Jul 21, 1855

From Those Left Behind

Image from The Adventures of a Forty-Niner: An Historic Description of California
Author:   Daniel Knower
Publisher:   Weed-Parsons printing co., 1894 – (Google book LINK)

***

From the Florence (Ala.) Gazette.

To an Absent Brother.

BY E.S.M.

Brother, thou art far away, in California’s land,
Long years ago, with trembling heart, I clasped they parting hand,
A tear was in thy drooping eye, and sparkled as it fell
Upon the sod beneath us, as you breathed a long farewell.

Oh! sad indeed the parting hour, from childhood’s home that day,
When the language of each tear-gemmed eye, was God be on thy way –
I stood beneath the dim old trees, on that sad parting morn,
Until the cool winds kissed my brow and whispered — he is gone.

The birds sang sweetly as before, their songs were naught to me,
I heard their wild notes o’er and o’er, but only thought of thee –
The wildwood where we loved to roam, the pleasant forest shade,
Looked desolate without the light, affection’s smile had made.

Oh! do you still recall as I, each beauteous moon-light night,
We sat upon the old oak steps, and talked of visions bright?
Those treasured step are not there now, but oh! I love them still,
For there so oft your dulcet flute, you touched with magic skill.

The school house of your early years, stands in the same old grove,
But college boys now ramble through the paths you loved to rove –
The same old trees are standing there, beneath whose pleasant shade,
You rambled with some valued friend, or at some dear game played.

But the playmates of those hours, you ask me where are they?
Oh! some have at the altar stood, and some are far away –
And many dear young friends of thine, sweet dreams that now are not,
Have left us in their bright spring time, and sleep in some green spot.

Oh! leave that El Dorado, the land to all so bright,
And come once more to loved ones, who’ll greet thee with delight –
Our hearts would all be wild with joy, to see thee once more here,
Then come to Woodlawn’s lovely shade, my absent brother, dear.

Woodlawn, February 26, 1855.

Mountain Democrat, The (Placerville, California) May 19, 1855

Image from The Forty-Niners: A Chronicle of the California Trail and El Dorado
Volume 25 of Chronicles of America series
Author:   Stewart Edward White
Publisher:   Yale University Press, 1921 (Google book LINK)

***

WHERE FRIENDS ARE, IS HOME TO THEE.

BY J.C. OSBURN, TO HIS SON IN CALIFORNIA.

You’ve learn’d, ere this, that home is not
In distant lands, where gold is got;
That it is not, where day by day,
You wear your busy hours away;
Nor yet, indeed, where lonely night
Prepares you for the toils of might;
‘Tis hope, and joy, and mem’ry give
A home in which a heart can live.
‘Tis where friends are, is home to thee,
And home, without them, cannot be.

Look round the room where now you stay,
And think of friends who’re far away;
Those walls no ling’ring hopes endear –
No fond remembrance chains you there –
And though you try, while yet you roam,
To find, in wildest haunts, a home,
You’ll soon behold, though not too soon,
That ‘way from friends, you seem alone –
That where friends are, is home to thee,
And home, without them, cannot be.

And if you strive, in halls of state,
Home joys to find, with heart elate,
Defeated hopes will break the spell,
And cause your heart in gloom to swell,
And then will you the truth behold,
That home is neverr bought with gold –
That stately halls, or valued cot,
Is ne’er a home where friends are not.
But where friends are, is home to thee,
And home, without them, cannot be.

And here a truth we might unfold,
Which poets, yet, have never told;
The wand’rer’s home is ne’er complete –
The exile’s a lone retreat –
The sailor’s on the widened main –
The warrior’s on the tented plain –
The maiden’s in her bower of rest –
The infant’s on its mother’s breast –
Yet, where friends are, is home to thee,
And home, without them, cannot be.

There is no home in halls of pride;
They are too high, and cold, and wide;
No home is by the wand’rer found –
‘Tis not in place — it hath no bound.
True home’s a circling atmosphere,
Investing all the heart holds dear –
A law of strange attractive force,
That holds the feelings in their course;
Hence, where friends are, is home to thee,
And home, without them, cannot be.

Oh! who’ll deny that home’s a place,
Where hope and joy find kind embrace?
Where kindred all, with other friends,
With warmest hearts their love extends?
That ’tis a place quite undefined,
O’ershadowing each conscious mind –
Where love and beauty sweetly blend,
To consecrate the name of friend?
That where friends are, is home to thee,
And home, without the, cannot be.

Wabash, January 1862.

The Golden Era (San Francisco, California) Mar 16, 1862

A President Taylor – A Tailor President

Image from http://faculty.umf.maine.edu

Bottom of cartoon says, “The Tennessee Mule on a Rampage. I Veto Nine Tailors to Make a Man.”

Surface Diggings & Siftings.

WE HAVE HAD A PRESIDENT TAYLOR, and now we have a tailor president. Little did the present incumbent think when following the peaceful profession of his youth, that his goose would one day hang so high, and that he, who once aided in dressing up his Southern patrons, would one day be called to assist in dressing down the same individuals, and in giving particular fits to so many rebellious customers.

The war has come to its close (clothes.) The “repossession” of the Southern forts has left enough dead men in the breaches — let all breaches now be mended.

Our President’s previous life has been but sew, sew; but if he pants for fame, he is vested with sufficient authority to clothe the naked and bleeding South with the garment of mercy, so that our peace may not prove to be a patched-up one, but a blessing to all parties.

Although not of a character so benign as his predecessor, may he conduct his administration with such vigor as to make it appear that there be nine men in the Presidential chair, instead of only the ninth part of one!

The Golden Era (San Francisco, California) Jan 21, 1866

Wacky Tobacky – Ha! The Jokes on Him

The Fitchburg Sentinel (Fitchburg, Massachusetts) Jan 11, 1829

A little late for April Fool’s, but this appears to be a play on the old “kick me” sign. It’s hard to believe that prank was being pulled way back in 1829! Even funnier, is that he is placing the sign on the man’s rear-end, which reminds me of the old saying, “getting your _ _ _ chewed.” heh!

California Gold Fever: Both Epidemic and Contagious

Image from http://bancroft.library.ca.gov

Latest California Items.

AT THE WHARVES. – A stroll along the docks, especially on the East river side, says the True Sun, in the vicinity of the vessels bound for California, will give one an opportunity to witness new scenes of excitement. Groups of persons, going to and returning from the vessels in great excitement, and talking of thousands to be realized within a short time in the new El Dorado, may be seen; and when a vessel is about to depart, a novel scene is presented. The adventurers, with their broad brimmed hats, and with a large pair of boots and gold digging instruments strung on their shoulders, and a revolver in pockets, are hastening on board in high spirits, as though on a short pleasure trip.

EXCLUSIVES. – A meeting of gentlemen of color has been held in this city, and an association formed to go to the gold diggings. Nearly fifty are booked for the region. No whites admitted. [N.Y. Morning Star.

INSANITY AND GOLD. -- It is said that two persons at Philadelphia have been put into the Insane Asylum, having lost their wits by the California excitement. The probability is, that if they went mad about gold, they had not much wit to lose.

California Gold furnishes the common coin of conversation now a days. Among the current anecdotes of the day, we have heard one of a young gentleman, who, after a long residence among the gold diggers, (who, it seems, equal Falstaff's regiment for lack of linen,) had only one article left that had any pretensions to the name of shirt, and this he hired out at the rate of five dollars an evening, for wedding and other festivities.

We are told, also, that the fortunate discoverer of a very large lump of gold, finding it too heavy for immediate transportation, carefully painted it of a dull copper color, to deceive other adventurers, until he should have time to carry it off. -- [N.Y. Express.

CAUTION. -- They are beginning to talk about eating each other in California. We advise very fat people, therefore, to keep away from there.

NEW YORK, Jan. 31. -- Capt. Henriar de Langle, of the French brig of war Jeng, now here, says that he learned from Valparaiso, that there had been brought to these places from California, run into bars, gold to the amount of 9,000,000 francs or $1,800,000.

AN INCIDENT IN GOLD DIGGING. -- Dr. Jett, relates one circumstance that came under his observation that is rather ludicrous and show the avarice of those in pursuit of the lucre, even in a land where its abundance knows no limits. A party of some twenty or thirty were exploring a dry ravine that led to a mountain supposed to be rich with the precious ore, when near its base, they came suddenly upon a spot which glittered like the firmament in a clear night, with gold dust and ore, caused by the washings from the mountain. In an instant every man threw himself upon the ground where lay scattered the treasure, and sprawling out his arms and legs, claimed a pre-emption to the surface that he could cover this way. The title was regarded by each as good, and the average yield to the whole party in a very short time was upward of three hundred dollars.

Image from http://www.holabird.org

Accounts of newly-acquired fortunes, through the accident of being early on California ground, are everywhere in circulation. We have lately been informed of the following, in addition to those we have already chronicled:

A gentleman by the name of Riley, at present in this city, has in his possession a certificate for $64,000 in gold dust, deposited in the mint at New Orleans.

Mr. Lippet, formerly a teacher in the school of the Brothers Peugnet, in this City, and who went out as a captain in the California Regiment, has written a letter which, at his request, was read to the scholars of the Messrs. Peugnet’s school, among whom he was always a favorite. He states that he is in excellent health, and will return in three or six months, with half a million dollars, in gold.

A merchant in Baltimore, who sent to California a year ago, on a venture, $5000 worth of old store goods, has received the bill of lading from San Francisco for $35,000 in gold dust. [N.Y. Tribune.

We have been furnished with the following extracts from a letter written by Gen. P.F. Smith, at Panama, dated PANAMA, Jan. 7, 1849.

"The situation of affairs in California is really most extraordinary. No accounts we had are exaggerated. -- The British Consul tells me he has forwarded 15,000 ounces ($240,000) from this place across the Isthmus; and Lieutenant Wood, of the British navy, commanding the Pandora, now here, says that the truth is beyond the accounts we have heard. These gentlemen also say that hundreds of people from the western coast of South America are embarking for the gold region; and most of the clerks in the commercial places have quit their employments for the same object.

Huron Reflector (Norwalk, Ohio) Feb 13, 1849

Prison Brig Euphemia & Store Ship Apollo (Image from http://www.boatingsf.com)

Latest California News.
New York, Feb. 12.

A dispatch, dated Washington Feb. 13, says: The Union of this morning has a letter from Q.L. Folsom, dated San Francisco, Dec. 25th, and addressed to Com. Jones, which says that affairs in California are getting worse as regards order and government. Murders and robberies were of daily occurrence. Within a short time over 20 murders had been perpetrated.

People were making preparation to organize a provisional government. Three men were hung by lynch law.

The gold washings continue to be abundantly productive. All previous accounts are fully realized by this intelligence.

New York, Feb, 14.

The late cold weather in California has prevented the operations of the gold diggers. Quantities of gold are daily being discovered and collected.

Persons had discovered and obtained about $30,000 of pure gold in two days. The accounts formerly received respecting the terrible state of society which existed are confirmed.

The state of affairs is becoming worse and worse: — murders and robberies are of daily occurrence. There had been 15 murders committed within 3 weeks.

Persons and property are believed to be wholly insecure. The perpetrators of the murders and robberies are generally emigrants and soldiers who had deserted from the T.S. service.

Com. Jones says, that a force sufficient to afford effective guard for vessels sailing with gold from California, will require the whole American Navy.

Huron Reflector (Norwalk, Ohio) Mar 6, 1849

Image from https://eee.uci.edu

California Items.

The Indians in the vicinity of the Placer have commenced murdering the whites. Two white men were missing, the body of one of whom, named Hollingsworth, was found, and his arms in possession of a party of Indians. Several murders had been committed in grog-shops at San Francisco.

ROUTES TO CALIFORNIA. – The Quartermaster of the U.S. Army, in his report to Gen. Jessup, upon the routes and facilities for getting to California, lays down six avenues; — 1st, that taken by the author of the report through the South West pass; 2d, through Santa Fe by the Gila; 3d, through Santa Fe by Abiquin, or the Spanish trail; 4th, through Santa Fe and Lonora [ sic-Sonora?], the route of the Mormon battalion; 5th, by the Isthmus of Panama, or through Central America; 6th, by the was of Cape Horn. Preference is given to the Central American over the Isthmian route for small parties while the Horn passage is recommended for the transportation of troops.

Folding Boat (not the one that turns into a house)

A FOLDING HOUSE. – We have heard tell of folding doors and windows, but a folding house is something of a novelty.

“Day, the New York India rubber dealer, has got up a portable house and boat for gold finders. Among the peculiar advantages of this invention for travelers in California, is the facility with which a boat nine feet long by six feet wide, can be converted into a house of eight hundred and eleven feet, sufficiently high to allow persons to stand upright. The mere disconnecting of the sheet of rubber cloth from the cylinders, turns the boat into a comfortable house. The whole weight of one of them is only seventy pounds — and can be packed away in an ordinary trunk. Day says, that should the traveler be detained at Panama, with a large boat of this kind, which can be so arranged as to spread sail a party may embark upon the gentle Pacific, and by coasting along the shore can reach the valley of the Sacramento, and even penetrate to the gold region itself.”

Only think of it now — folding your house up and stowing it away in your trunk; and again converting it into a yacht, and coasting along the Pacific with it.

EMIGRATION TO CALIFORNIA — GOVERNMENT ESCORT. – A company of emigrants for California, who contemplate leaving Fort Smith, Arkansas, in April next, have obtained through Senator Borland, a military escort to Santa Fe. The company will proceed by the valley of the Canadian River to Santa Fe, and Albuquerque and thence by El Passo to San Francisco. Persons with or without families, wishing to emigrate to California, are invited to rendezvous at Fort Smith, where wagons, horses, oxen, and all the supplies necessary for an outfit, can be readily obtained at reasonable prices. Freight and passengers can reach Fort Smith by steamboat. All who desire to join the party should be at Fort Smith by the 1st of April.

CALIFORNIA GOLD MOVEMENTS. – A number of the fifty or sixty ships advertised to sail for California went to sea this forenoon, and next week a large fleet will take its departure,

______ “for the land
Where each atom of sand,
Is into a dollar reducible!
And as onward you travel,
The “coarse kind of gravel”
All turns to doubloons in your crucible.”

N.Y. Tribune.

A NEW CALIFORNIA EXPEDITION. – A lady of this State, well known for her labors in many a philanthropic cause, is about forming a benevolent expedition to California, which cannot but prove of great public benefit in the present unsettled condition of the region. Aided by several gentlemen of wealth and liberality; she proposes to purchase a vessel, to be freighted with every article necessary for the aid and assistance of the sick and disabled, including the frame of a building intended for a hospital. She is now engaged in raising a company of intelligent and respectable females, to accompany her in this mission of charity, each of whom shall contribute something toward the purchase of the vessel and cargo and assist in the humane object of the enterprise. None will be taken who have not attained the age of twenty-five years, and also produce sufficient testimonials of character. A part of the freight is to consist of articles to furnish a store, in which a part of the women may be employed, and in material for clothing, to be made up according to orders on the spot. — Tribune.

SCENES IN NEW YORK. – The Express says the gold fever is both epidemic and contagious in New York city. It says:

The fact is, and it may as well be told right out, without any circumlocution, so that every body may know the worst, this last gold news has unsettled the minds of even the most cautious and careful among us. Nothing else is talked of, thought of, or dreamed of. Gold is in everybody’s mouth, on everybody’s tongue, in everybody’s face.

Everything looks yellow. Walk from the Battery up to Grace Church, and one hears nothing but, ‘when are you off?’ — ‘lend a hundred dollars,’ — ‘work passage’ — ‘Jones went off yesterday,’ — ‘Smith starts tonight — wife provided for,’ — ‘twenty pound lumps — pick axes,’ — ‘shovels,’ — ‘sifters,’ — ‘Jack knives,’ — ‘Sacramento,’ — ‘twenty carets fine,’ — ‘got a letter from Jenkins, yesterday — Jenkins has dug up two millions,’ — ‘the real dust,’ — ‘Cape Horn too tedious,’ — ‘overland,’ — ‘or through that monumental canal just discovered, you know, at the Isthmus,’ — ‘Chihuahua,’ — ‘Santa Fe,’ — ‘Big Fork,’ — ‘Feather River,’ — ‘Sutter’s Fork,’ — ‘brandy,’ — ‘whisky,’ — ‘seidletz powers,’ — ‘bowie knives,’ — ‘revolvers.’

CALIFORNIA OUTDONE. – The Brooklyn Advertiser has the following, which is very neatly told: “A gentleman of this city had a piece of virgin gold presented to him yesterday morning which he would not sell for $5,000. This is what we call a very handsome present. So does Mrs. Gold and the nurse.”

ETYMOLOGY OF CALIFORNIA. – We are informed by Professor Noodlekranz, that California came from two old Indian words — Kali, gold, and forn-a-who, don’t you wish you may get it?

INCIDENTS IN CALIFORNIA. – Extract of a letter from an officer in the Navy to his friend in Washington, dated,
San Francisco, Dec. 28.

“You would be surprised that in this region an enthusiasm could be excited by anything. The gold mines in this neighborhood have stirred up the natives to a galvanic activity. This little village is deluged with gold, and common laborers are refusing to work in the mines for a hundred dollars a day. The stories told, will take it for granted must be all fabulous; but were you to see the vast quantities hawked about the streets for sale, you would look upon the tale of the Arabian Nights as quite a probable narrative. There seems to be no exhausting the vein, which is said to extend over a district as large as Virginia.

To give you some idea of the state of things here, I will mention the price of a few of the necessaries of life. Flour has been selling at $300 per barrel, pork 70 cents per lb., brandy $60 per gallon, and washing $6 to $8 per dozen and most other things in proportion.

The officers are becoming nervous and excited, while the men desert by the dozen.

Young B., of Baltimore, is hard at work making his fortune, and will return in a year or two a rich man. I saw Dr. M., also of Baltimore, and he is also coining money; he is highly popular and esteemed, and I think is the first man in the place.

I trust J. will not take it into his head to emigrate. — Gold hunting is a most dangerous amusement. The morality is really frightful among the diggers, and the poor beggarly-looking creatures returning from the mines have no doubt paid dearly for their peck or two of gold.”

Huron Reflector (Norwalk, Ohio) Mar 6, 1849

Image from http://bancroft.library.ca.gov

The Poor Student’s Soliloquy.

(On the subject of a departure for California.)

To go, or not to go — That is the question,
Whether ’tis better in the mind to gather
The ingots of a shirtless, mental fortune,
Or forthwith pack our raiment and depart
For those tremendous Gold Mines’ to talk, to doubt
No more; and by one act ot say we end
Gold fever, and the thousand natural shocks
Of speculation — ’tis a consumation
Devoutly to be wished. To go — to come
With pockets lined and elbows all ‘ow’d up,
To sink, per chance, more poor — Ay, there’s the rub,
For whether ’tis more likely we be doomed
To swap our ‘fever’ for a yellower kind.
Must give us pause — There’s the respect that makes
The otherwise most resolute to remain
Like paltry donkeys ‘twain two loads of hay!
The Student looked for the morning papers.

Huron Reflector (Norwalk, Ohio) Mar 13, 1849

The Mill Girls – Going, Going, Gone

Pepperell Mill Workers

Image description from Maine Memory:

Pepperell Manufacturing Company was a cotton textile mill which operated at the Saco River falls in Biddeford for 100 years from 1849-1949. The company was named after Sir William Pepperell, a Maine soldier and merchant. Pepperell made sheeting and blankets many of which were shipped to Asian countries. Pepperell still exists today in some form due to mergers.

At mid century, ongoing labor strife and rising tension between mill owners and their increasingly savvy female work force led to a shift in the composition of mill workers.

Cropped Image from Shorpy

TURN OUT OF THE FACTORY GIRLS.

The Yankee factory girls are ‘some.’ In Maine recently, the Proprietors reduced the wages, whereupon there was a general determination to strike; and as they were obliged to give a month’s notice before quitting work, they have meanwhile issued a circular to the world at large, in which is the following paragraph:

We are now working out our notice, and shall soon be out of employment — can turn our hand to most anything — don’t like to be idle — but determined not to work for nothing where folks can afford to pay. Who wants help? –

We can make bonnets, dresses, puddings, pies, or cake; patch, darn, knit, roast, stew and fry; make butter and cheese, milk cows, feed chickens, and hoe corn; sweep out the kitchen, put the parlor to rights; make beds, split wood, kindle fires, wash and iron, besides being remarkably fond of babies — in fact, can do anything the most accomplished housewife is capable of, not forgetting the scolding on Mondays and Saturdays; for specimens of spunk, will refer you to our overseer.

Speak quick! — Black eyes, fair foreheads, clustering locks, beautiful as a Hebe, can sing like a seraph and smile most bewitchingly; any elderly gentleman in want of a wife, willing to sustain either character; in fact we are in the market.

Who bids?

Going, going, gone.

Who’s the lucky man?

Huron Reflector (Norwalk, Ohio) Jan 20, 1849

Mill Girl

Image from cover of:

Title    The Lowell offering: writings by New England mill women (1840-1845)
Author    Benita Eisler
Editor    Benita Eisler
Edition    illustrated
Publisher W. W. Norton & Company, 1998

GRINDING MILL OWNERS

SEVERELY SCORED BY A LOWELL MILL GIRL.

She Says that Agent Lyon Draws a Salary of $12,000 a Year, Which if True Would Make Him the Best Paid Agent in Lowell.

Under the caption of “Grinding Down Mill Girls” the following letter has been received by THE SUN:

Mr. Editor — I thought I would write a few lines to you to give an idea of what the life of a Lowell mill girl is at the present time. I have worked for 20 years in a Lowell mill, and having shared all the ups and downs of mill life for that length of time, I doubt if many mill girls are better acquainted with mill life than myself. In looking back to my first years as an operative, comparing them in regard to the amount necessary nowadays, I find we do twice the amount of work for less money nowadays. Of course, people will say that we do not work as long hours as we did 20 years ago, which is all very true; but take the cotton weave room girls, twenty years ago she ran five looms, and was considered a fine weaver; today she must run eight looms to hold her own. So it is in every department of the mill. The machinery is speeded so that the machines turn out more work, so I feel confident in my statement that mill girls do twice the amount of work for less money.

I think it is a burning shame the way mill owners treat the operatives. It is easy if you stop to think how owners become rich while operatives become poorer. The former would like to bring the operatives down to a level with the ignorant classes in some pars of Europe. We see a sample of them on our streets with a handkerchief tied over their heads, instead of a hat, and wearing a dress all colors of the rainbow. I thank God for free America and the stars and stripes that protect us, and the old Bay state with Governor Greenhalge to look after the children, and see that they are sent to school and receive a proper education before they are allowed to go into these factories, so that when they reach manhood and womanhood they will be able to speak for themselves and not allow mill owners to squeeze the very life out of them in order to get rich.

The merchant receives as good a price for his goods today as he did ten years ago. If you wish to buy a piece of cotton cloth you will pay as high for it as you did ten years ago. You can get a remnant a little cheaper perhaps, but for perfect goods the prices are the same.

I think it is a shame to keep down the mill girl the way mill owners are doing by reducing wages so often and then closing the mills. No trade or business suffers as much as that of mill operatives. If a dressmaker is able to make one dress a week she gets her price; if she makes two dresses she gets double wages. If the mill girl makes good pay the mill agent at once makes a cut down.

Can it be wondered at that there are are so many strikes? or so much going on in mill circles? The owners make money and the more they make the more they want; they engage heartless men to manage the affairs. I pity the people who work under them, and there are a few on the Carpet. Just at present there are many people suffering from the Carpet strike. It is a just strike. If the stockholders cannot afford to raise wages, why do they not cut down the salaried men? Why do they rob the help and pour the money into the pockets of the stockholders?

When Agent Lyon first came to work for the Lowell company he was content to work for $4000 a year, and now he is receiving $12,000. There are $8000 which should go into the pockets of the operatives.

As long as he has been in Lowell he does not know how to manage the brussels department, and so he has an overseer to help him out; one is as good as the other. The weavers say that the overseer does nothing but make trouble; in the morning he does a little writing and the rest of the day walks around with his hands in his pockets, and for this gets $6 a day.

He watches the weavers like a cat does a mouse, to see if they do anything which needs reporting to the agent. Brussels weavers working on the piece need no watching. These are things which the public should know, and as THE SUN is not brought up by the corporations I believe you will willingly give a few things about mill life in Lowell and the strike going on in the Carpet mill.

A LOWELL MILL GIRL.

Lowell Daily Sun, The (Lowell, Massachusetts) Jun 2, 1894

Image from Shorpy

LINK to Shorpy Historic Picture Archive

THE BALLSTON GIRLS.

“Sweet Ballston girls,” — said Ben one day,
While they were gaily spinning –
“Upon my honor I will say,
“You all are deuced winning.”
“If I but had a fortune now
As ample as my will,
Not one of you, henceforth, I vow,
Should work within that mill.”

“Ah!” — said a pretty blue-eyed miss,
A fair and rosy creature;
With lips that seemed but made to kiss,
And love in every feature –
“With such a will there are but few,
But easier said than done;
Yet this I’d do, if I were you,
Begin to-day with one.“

Title    Centennial history of the village of Ballston Spa: including the towns of Ballston and Milton
Authors    Edward Fabrique Grose, John Chester Booth
Publisher    Ballston journal, 1907

CAN WORK NO LONGER

Two Aged Sisters Taken to County Home To-day.

STROVE TO BE INDEPENDENT

Their Industry Recalls Hood’s “Song of the Shirt” — At Last One Sister Became Ill and the Other Was Obliged to Give Up Work and Nurse Her — They Were in Pitiable Condition.
After years of toil and striving to earn an honest living and to keep together, Catherine Coffey, 65 years old, and her sister, Mrs. Elizabeth Smith, two years younger, were taken to the Onondaga county home at 3 o’clock this afternoon from the rooms at No. 119 Seymour street, where, thanks to the generosity of a Syracuse business man by whom they were formerly employed, they have lived rent free for several years.

Hood’s “Song of the Shirt” with a twentieth century setting tells the story of the two aged women. Born to hard work, they have never known anything else and ever since their girlhood they have kept up their poor home by their own exertions. They belonged to the class of sewing women now almost extinct — the kind who would go out to do tailoring by the day in families where the clothing of the boys and sometimes of the man was home made and where two or three times during the year the tailoress came to make over old garments and to make up new ones. This was forty years and more ago, however, and as “store clothes” became cheaper and more commonly used, the demand for the kind of work that the sisters could do became less and less.

They Were Industrious.

The younger sister married, but her husband was soon taken from her by death, and compelling her to take any means that offered to earn a livelihood. And opportunity finally offered to take work home for several custom and ready made clothing houses and of this the women eagerly availed themselves. For years they went every week for the bulky package of unmade garments and returned them neatly put together and finished. “Stitch, stitch, stitch” — it was the same story repeated over and over for close upon twenty years.

But as the sisters grew older and feebler and less able to work, less money flowed into the little treasury and the outgoings began to exceed the incomings. They were frugal and economical to the point of parsimony, but try as they might, they could not always obtain even the few and scanty articles which they were obliged to class among the necessities of life. They counted themselves more than fortunate when one of the members of a firm which had given them employment told them that, if they wished to do so, they might move into a part of a house belonging to him where they could live rent free. With the burden of fearing the monthly visit of the landlord off their shoulders, they felt that their way would be easy, but as their ability to work grew less, they found that even fuel, food, and clothing meant heavier expenses than they were able to meet.

Mrs. Smith Stricken by Illness.

They strove bravely, for independence, however. The packages of clothing were still called for, but they became smaller and took a long time in the making than had been the case before. At last, Mrs. Smith fell sick with inflammatory rheumatism, brought on, perhaps, by lack of sufficient warmth and nourishment, and her sister was obliged to give up her work in order to have the time to care for her. Then it was that Miss Coffey had to ask for aid from the Department of Charities. An inspector was sent to the room of the two aged women and found a pitiable condition of need. The sick woman was lying on the slates of a bed covered with two thin, old blankets and the covering over her was sadly insufficient. There was little furniture in the house and almost no food, but the women said that they thought that they would be able to work again in a short time and only wanted temporary relief.

The physician who was called to attend Mrs. Smith, however, said that her illness would probably be of long duration and that, unless her sister were relieved of care and responsibility, it would only be a matter of a short time before she, too, would be completely broken down. The devotion of the two was so great that it would have been impossible to part them, and, after much persuasion, they were induced to go to the County home, where it is hoped that they may regain their strength and where they will be better provided for than they have been in years.

Syracuse Herald (Syracuse, New York) Apr 30, 1906

The Song of the Shirt

by Thomas Hood

WITH fingers weary and worn,
With eyelids heavy and red,
A woman sat, in unwomanly rags,
Plying her needle and thread–
Stitch! stitch! stitch!
In poverty, hunger, and dirt,
And still with a voice of dolorous pitch
She sang the “Song of the Shirt.”

“Work! work! work!
While the cock is crowing aloof!
And work–work–work,
Till the stars shine through the roof!
It’s Oh! to be a slave
Along with the barbarous Turk,
Where woman has never a soul to save,
If this is Christian work!

“Work–work–work
Till the brain begins to swim;
Work–work–work
Till the eyes are heavy and dim!
Seam, and gusset, and band,
Band, and gusset, and seam,
Till over the buttons I fall asleep,
And sew them on in a dream!

“Oh, Men, with Sisters dear!
Oh, men, with Mothers and Wives!
It is not linen you’re wearing out,
But human creatures’ lives!
Stitch–stitch–stitch,
In poverty, hunger and dirt,
Sewing at once, with a double thread,
A Shroud as well as a Shirt.

“But why do I talk of Death?
That Phantom of grisly bone,
I hardly fear its terrible shape,
It seems so like my own–
It seems so like my own,
Because of the fasts I keep;
Oh, God! that bread should be so dear,
And flesh and blood so cheap!

“Work–work–work!
My labour never flags;
And what are its wages? A bed of straw,
A crust of bread–and rags.
That shatter’d roof–and this naked floor–
A table–a broken chair–
And a wall so blank, my shadow I thank
For sometimes falling there!

“Work–work–work!
From weary chime to chime,
Work–work–work–
As prisoners work for crime!
Band, and gusset, and seam,
Seam, and gusset, and band,
Till the heart is sick, and the brain benumb’d.
As well as the weary hand.

“Work–work–work,
In the dull December light,
And work–work–work,
When the weather is warm and bright–
While underneath the eaves
The brooding swallows cling
As if to show me their sunny backs
And twit me with the spring.

“Oh! but to breathe the breath
Of the cowslip and primrose sweet–
With the sky above my head,
And the grass beneath my feet,
For only one short hour
To feel as I used to feel,
Before I knew the woes of want
And the walk that costs a meal!

“Oh! but for one short hour!
A respite however brief!
No blessed leisure for Love or Hope,
But only time for Grief!
A little weeping would ease my heart,
But in their briny bed
My tears must stop, for every drop
Hinders needle and thread!”

With fingers weary and worn,
With eyelids heavy and red,
A woman sat in unwomanly rags,
Plying her needle and thread–

Stitch! stitch! stitch!
In poverty, hunger, and dirt,
And still with a voice of dolorous pitch,–
Would that its tone could reach the Rich!–
She sang this “Song of the Shirt!”