154 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



and large mediums of employment for the teams now employed on the 

 route across the mountains. But this is the smallest of the considera- 

 tions. If freight from the Sacramento River could be delivered in the 

 basin at ten dollars per ton, the imagination would become bewildered 

 in a contemplation of the enormous wealth which would spring out of 

 the earth in Nevada — that exhaustless storehouse of the precious metals. 

 Even at the present enormous cost of transporting machinery and sup- 

 plies to Nevada Territory, these new mining districts have become of 

 such importance as to involve in their development the brain, and muscle, 

 and material means of a vast number of the people of California, and 

 the spectacle is presented of the enterprise of the Golden State being 

 turned inland upon the continent, instead of looking outward for the 

 wealth of the Indies. With this new and sudden change of population 

 follows as rapid and extraordinary changes in the business relations of 

 society. Some of these changes are already of a marked character, and 

 so directly connected with the farming interest as to require being stated.. 



There are not less than four thousand teams, which will average six 

 animals each, employed in freighting between California and Nevada 

 Territory on the direct routes from the port of San Francisco. A large 

 number of these work animals have been suddenly withdrawn from 

 agricultural labors, which has caused an abandonment of great numbers 

 of farms in many sections of the State. Estimating the value of a six- 

 mule team, including wagon and gearing, at one thousand five hundred 

 dollars, it is seen that there has been invested in this mode of transpor- 

 tation not less than six millions of dollars. The freight carried by these 

 four thousand teams, being estimated at nine millions of dollars, will, when 

 divided, give two thousand two hundred and fifty dollars to each team, 

 which- certainly does not show a verv hio-b average of earnings on the 

 capital and labor invested. Indeed, it affords evidence that while this 

 kind of transportation is a severe tariff on the industry of Nevada Ter- 

 ritoiy, it offers little encouragement to those engaged in conducting it, 

 while, when viewed in its bearings upon the public economy, it is accom- 

 panied with great waste, nearly apjDroaching to disaster. Few teams 

 procure return freights, hence most of them are subject to loss of time 

 and expense, which adds materially to the bad economy of this mode of 

 transportation. Freights are so irregular, and so long subject to entire 

 suspension during the winter months, that there occur frequent inter- 

 ruptions in the business in the favorable season, while there is no possi- 

 bility of emplo3 T ment on the route during the inclement part of the 

 year. Thus, there occur long periods of idleness both for men and ani- 

 mals, all chargeable to the debit of a wasteful system of transportation. 



The paramount occupation on the Pacific slope has, since the gold dis- 

 covery, been mining; and this interest will claim precedence in the 

 future for generations. The next in importance will be agriculture, and 

 each of these pursuits must depend upon the other for its permanent 

 prosperity. A proper adjustment of labor and capital between these 

 two great industries should be the study of all. When so great a pre- 

 ponderance of our population is engaged in mining, it is reasonable to 

 expect that the cost of mining will be increased from the neglect of 

 agriculture by a scai'city, and consequent enhanced cost of living. This 

 illustrates all of the other relations of industrial life. 



That a railway is a necessity to the future successful working of many 

 of the mines already now opened in Nevada, is as certain as it is that 

 thousands of the very rich claims there can never be made to pay until 

 cheaper transportation is an accomplished fact. With the present expen- 



