When we think of streetcars most of us picture San Francisco cable cars or a streetcar in New Orleans and though these are among some of the oldest systems in operation they were not the first systems developed in America. In fact, the first mass transit vehicle in America was called an omnibus which resembled a stagecoach and was drawn by horses. Horse drawn carriages were not a new thing but what was different is these vehicles operated on a predetermined route and charged a small fare. The first omnibus ran along Broadway in New York City during 1827. Initially, the operator of the omnibus rode on top just like a stagecoach and riders would tug on a leather strap connected to the driver to signal they wanted to get off and those who wanted to get on would simply wave their hands to notify the driver. These systems ran in cities across America until around 1905 when the design was improved upon by the development of the streetcar.
Initially streetcars were also drawn by horses but these vehicles ran on rails that were put in the street which meant it was more comfortable and a single horse could pull a larger car that would hold more people. The wheels were made of steel so they would not jump off the rails and the first one began operation in 1832 along Bowery Street in New York. New Orleans was the next city to have the new streetcars in 1835. Usually they were operated by two men, one was a driver who controlled the horses and had a brake handle for stopping. The other person was a conductor who collected the fares, assisted people entering or leaving the car, and signaled the driver by ringing a bell attached to a rope.
With the economy in the current chaotic condition, many investors turn to gold as a stable investment. Gold has been the basis for American currency for a long time and one of the most well known events involving the precious metal is the California Gold Rush that began in 1848 and lasted until 1855. Gold was discovered in California by James Marshall at Sutter’s Mill in the town of Coloma on January 24, 1848. The news of his find spread like wildfire and more than 300,000 men, women, and children made their way to California from all corners of the world.
The early gold seekers were referred to as “forty-niners” and they journeyed to California by boat and covered wagon and the trip provided many hardships. Most of the early settlers were Americans but they were joined by many thousands of people from Latin America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. In the beginning, the gold was removed from streams and rivers by panning. This is the method most associated with prospecting involving scooping soil into a pan and sifting through the sand looking for gold flakes and nuggets.
Better methods for finding the gold were developed and those ways of mining and prospecting were adopted around the world. Billions of today’s dollars was found and led to immense wealth for some but the majority returned home with very little more than they began with. The gold rush
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did have some far reaching effects. San Francisco grew from a small settlement to booming town. Roads, schools, churches, and towns spread throughout California and system of government led to statehood in 1850.
The Gold Rush had a major impact on the economy and development of California and surrounding areas. The professional football team, the San Francisco 49ers, is homage to the seminal event in California’s history. |
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