hubert howe bancroft - Central Pacific Railroad Photographic History ...

106 FOREIGN COMMERCE.
the harbor were counted by the hundreds. There
were few wharves and warehouses, and these were
quickly occupied; lighterage and storage cost enormously;
6 money was rated at ten per cent per
month, and meanwhile ship-masters clamored for their
freight. The only recourse was to sell the cargoes at
auction. And here ensued another scramble to be
first in the market before the prices dropped to nothing
under the inflowing consignments. To this, indeed,
it did come. Goods became unsalable. 7 Some
wer