San Francisco

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/__| HOMETOWN_SAN-FRANCISCO "HOMETOWN SAN FRANCISCO" "HOMETOWN SAN FRAN"  |__\
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San Francisco is home to the gunfighters of the 'Old West', brawlers, as
well as doctors and surgeons and expert marksmen. Although, the brawlers
here are noteable, none are quite the fighters of those from Germany. You
will not see mages, druids or herbalists from San Fran.

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/__|              'SAN FRANCISCO' SAN FRANCISCO 1849 FRISCO               |__\
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Originally known as Yerba Buena, the city was renamed San Francisco on
January 3rd, 1847. A little over a year later it was transformed nearly
overnight when James Marshall's discovery of gold in the South Fork of the
American River at Sutter's mill on January 24, 1848, started the great rush
of fortune seekers to California. Gold became the irresistible magnet and
nothing could check the insistent rush. Laborers, clerks, waiters, servants,
all disappeared as if by magic, and melted into the stream of feverish folk
headed for the slopes of the Sierra. In 1849, 40,000 immigrants arrived at
the rate of one thousand per week by sea alone in San Francisco and
three-quarters of them headed for the mines. Many came from South America,
the islands of the Pacific and Australia and in droves from the Eastern
States by way of Cape Horn.

There was no such place as a home and very few habitable houses. Frame
buildings for business and dwelling were the best. Shacks and tents were
common. Only the great gambling houses, hotels, restaurants and a few public
buildings were built with any size and comfort. The streets were uneven and
the mud was knee-deep in the streets, except the few planked ones, when it
rained. People used lanterns at night because there were no street lights. In
the gambling dens bets were made as high as $20,000 on the turn of a card,
though the ordinary stakes were 50 cents to $5. A half dollar was the
smallest coin in circulation, and a penny, dime or fivecent piece was a
curiosity. For any small service nothing lower than 50 cents was given.
Entrance to the circus was $3. A hearty meal at a restaurant cost from $2 to
$5. Coarse boots cost $30 to $40 per pair; superior boots $100. Laborers
received $1 per hour, and skilled mechanics from $12 to $20 per day. The
carpenters struck because they got only $12 per day, and demanded $16.
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