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

608 POPULATION AND SOCIETY.
The establishment of steamer competition had had
a similar effect in diminishing the overland current. Yet
poorer people, hardy western men and intending settlers,
hampered with families, live stock, and bulky
commodities, continued to maintain a respectable
migration, braving hardships and dangers, treacherous
savages and arid wildernesses, from which they escaped
at times only with the aid of relief expeditions.*
Such was the influx which increased the population
of the state from barely 100,000 at the close of 1849
to 255,000 in the middle of 1852,* to 380,000 by 1860,
to 560,200 by 1870, and to 864,700 by 1880. 1 The
two remarkable features of early days, youthfulness
6 To assist them in crossing the Sierra and desert at its eastern base. CaL
Jour. Sen., 1852, 761, 1853, app. 8; Ass., 1853, 703, 1861, app. 8, 19; CaL
Rilkf Exp.% 1852, 1-5; 8. F. Herald, July 27-9, 1850, Aug. 21, 1851; CaL
Cour, Aug. 26, 2850; AUaCaL, Oct. 4, 1852, June 30, 1853; HoOUter's Stat.,
MS., 1; CarvcUho'8 Insid., 21-250; Hkkmans Destr. Angels, 70-30; Barstow's
8tcU.t MS., 12-13; Delano's Life, 234-42. The state aided. Waldo was a
prominent relief leader. Concerning quick trips and return journey, on
Boc. Transcr., June 1, 1851; AUaCaL, Aug. 23, 1854. Heap's Central Route,
1-136. Carson valley remained the chief thoroughfare. Reports on the
best routes in CaL Jour. Sen., 1855, app. 22; Ross* Wise to CaL, MS., 86,132;
and my chapter on railways. After 1855 the current declined to less than
half of that coming by sea. In the sixties it spread into intermediate territories,
especially Colorado and Nevada, so that less penetrated to CaL
Mormons were accused of waylaying emigrants. See Hist. Utah* this series.
6 The federal census of 1850 has 92,597 for all but three leading counties.
The fair estimate for these raises the figure to 112,000, vet a semi-official
figure assumes 117,300, excluding Indians. A legislative committee
claimed 300,000, and congress allowed 165,000. U. S. Oov. Doc., cong.
32, seas. 1, Sen. Rept 113. Census obstacles are noted in Soc Transcr.,
Sept. 30, Nov. 14, 1850. The state census of 1852 raised the total to 264,400,
which properly added makes only 255,122; including an estimate for El
Dorado of 40,000, based on the votes, which by due comparison with adjoining
counties falls to not over 28,000. The difference may, however, be added
to the low figure for wild Indians. The total arrivals between the middle of
1850 and 1852 may be put at not over 230,000, and the departures at fully
one-half. Indeed, during the decade nearly two-thirds of the number recorded
by sea departed, and no doubt one-third of the number by land,
many going to adjoining territories. The inducements to stay increased only
with the unfolding of industries. Browne, Min. Res., 15-16, justly assumes
the increase for the first six years at 50,000 per annum. King's Rep't, 15;
Crosty's Events, MS., 52-3. See also the chapter on Indians. The great decrease
among these may balance the increase in births.
7 Of this number S. F. stands credited with 234,000, Alameda follows
with 62,000, Sta Clara 35,000, Sacramento 34,400, Los Angeles 33,400,
Sonoma, San Joaquin and Nevada range from 25,000 to 20,000, 16 other
counties exceed 10,000, and the rest of the 52 counties range from 3,340,
for Lassen, upward, Alpine alone standing at the low figure of 539. During
1861-70 the excess of arrivals by sea over departures was 157,000. The
departures assisted largely to form the 36,000 population of Nevada,
and partly of Arizona, British Columbia, Oregon, etc.