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

EFFECT OF CIVIL WAR. 115
First the union war of 1861-5, which disturbed the
production of raw and refined staples, retained a larger
amount for home consumption, and checked the shipment
of the surplus, at least in American vessels,
which were the prey of confederate cruisers. The
state was accordingly thrown more upon its own resources,
to the development of much neglected wealth,
and had in other respects recourse to the comparatively
cheaper foreign products. These were favored,
moreover, by the fast-growing wheat export, especially
in English ships, which could, therefore, afford to
bring merchandise at a low freight. A few years
later the opening of the overland railway assisted to
revive the demand for American goods, notably of a
costlier grade, with a gradual increase in finer articles
under the improved quality of eastern and home inanufacturea
The opening of the Central and Union Pacific railroads
was not followed, as might have been expected,
by a considerable decrease in the volume of importations
by sea, though to the same result tended, in
later years, the completion of the Northern Pacific,
the Southern Pacific, the Canadian Pacific, and other
lines making connection with the Atlantic states. On
the contrary, under the increase of population and
wealth, and the rapid growth of industries, our foreign
imports by sea increased from less than $20,000,-
000 in 1869 to more than $50,000,000 in 1889. 20
Among notable imports are 290,000 bricks in 1866, of a special grade; for
by this time the reduced price of labor permitted the manufacture of such
articles. There are also 0,000 crates of crockery. Glass, paper, hardware,
etc, form part of staple imports. The imports for this year may be valued
at $36,000,000. In Com. and Navig. for 1854-6, the foreign imports for these
three years are placed at $8,408,000, $5,951,000, and $7,289,000, respectively,
$2,063,000 of the latter being dutv free.
"The foreign imports at S. F. after 1856 are placed by U. 8. Com. and
Ncrng., passim, at $8,985,000 in 1857-3, $11,156,000 in 1858-9, $8,366,000 in
1861-2, followed by a rise to $20,300,000 by 1864-5, during the war; then a
fall to $15,570,000 in 1865-6, after which a gradual rise to $20,390,000 by
1870-1, with a jump to $39,420,000 in 1872-3, due to mining excitement;
then a rise from $29,700,000 in 1874^5 to $44,670,000 in 1880-1, and
$51,640,000 in 1881-2. Of the last amount $41,000,000 was merchandise,
and $10,640,000 coin and bullion. S. Diego, the other port of entry, received
daring 1881-2 $679,000 in merchandise. The total introduction of merchan-