CALIFORNIA 
319 
while the driver of an eight-horse stagecoach upon a popular 
route through several flourishing mining camps Avould not have 
surrendered his place, Avith its influence and dignity, for a seat 
in either house of Congress. The teamster also Avas a very im- 
jAortant personage, and the driver of an eight- or ten-bell mule 
team, Avith a single line, considered his position and importance 
quite equal to those of the superintendent of a railroad. I sjjeak 
advisedly, for I have been honored Avith the experience. 
Many of the richest mining camps could be reached only by 
long and circuitous routes, folloAving up the forks and branches 
of rivers and creeks or over pathless hills and mountains. There 
being no roads or trails, the only manner in which su]Aplies of 
provisions, clothing, and tools could be sent into the camp Avas 
upon pack-mules. These animals Avere loaded down Avith from 
250 to 400 pounds of freight, which they carried upon their backs 
Avith apparent ease,craAvling around steep points,OA^er sliding earth 
and rock, Avhere it seemed almost imjjossible for a man to walk. 
The pack-trains numbered from 50 to 100 mules in a train, each 
one in a single file, folloAvingthe “ bell leader,” Avhich Avas usually 
a broken-doAvn, Avhite horse that carried no load, and Avas di- 
rected by the OAvner of the pack-train, Avho also had a half-dozen 
or more Mexican vaqueros to assist in loading and unloading 
the mules ; these brought up the rear of the caravan and saAv 
that none of the train stopped by the Avay. Arrived at its desti- 
nation, the cargo of freight Avas delivered at the mining camp, 
and the return train took back to the valley letters for the dear 
ones far aAva}" and gold dust to the merchants to pa}^ for the 
merchandise and freight. 
But no prosperous state Avas ever built over gold and silver 
mines. These Avere only a single element of future prosperity. 
The Argonaut had not come td build, but to find treasure for 
another and, as he thought, a better land ; but these men Avere 
unconsciously making ready for the neAV commonAvealth. Civili- 
zation could not survive Avithout the state. There must be hiAV 
and order, security for life and }>roperty. There must be organ- 
ized society, or there Avould be chaos. Then the pioneers be- 
came builders. The bad element must be restrained and the 
good must have protection. There could be no ])ermanent 
society Avithout homes. California Avas no longer a barren land. 
Pioneers here and there had cultivated a fcAV acres as a sort of 
heartsease. They had begun to make ])laces beautiful as the 
garden of the gods. The land seemed to look uj) and smile AA’hen 
