Howdy, As a follow up to yesterday's Carson Pass and Webber town post, let continue with another 49er Reuben Cole SHAW September, 1849 entry: "We left that pleasant camp [near Webber town/Weberville] early on the morning of September 6[1849] for SUTTER'S FORT, or, as it is now called Sacramento City ... "Two days' march from Webber Creek brought us to a point on the American River, three miles from Sacramento City. We met a great many Cape Horners on their way to the mines. The most of them were on foot and carrying their camping outfit on their backs. As they had been from four to six months on shipboard, with very limited space in which to exercise, they found walking and carrying a pack extremely fatiguing; but, as they were puffed up with prospective wealth, they were sure to overcome all difficulties. "Early next morning we moved down to the[Sacramento] city, where we purchased and packed our animals with 1400 pounds of supplies... We were directed to what was said to be the best "feeding place" in the city. Over the main entrance was painted on white canvas, in large letters, CITY HOTEL. On inquiring the price of meals, the landlord informed us that the regular rate was five dollars, but remarked that 'as there were four of us and it being past the dinner hour, he would feed our party for an ounce. An ounce of gold- dust in California at that time was rated equal to $16 in coin, though, if reasonably clean, its intrinsic value was more than $18..... "While dinner was being prepared we improved the opportunity in examining the construction of the hotel building, which we estimated to be 30 feet long and about 12 feet wide. Pine strips, one by three inches, nailed together, formed the frame, and it was covered with the cheapest calico. Eighteen or twenty feet of the front end was used as a dinning-room, while the balance was curtained off for a kitchen.... "Our dinner consisted of navy bread, molasses, boiled potatoes, river water, and tea. I may here remark that a year later, at the City Hotel (a large frame building), excellent meals were furnished for one dollar. ..... "We were deeply interested in the make-up of Sacramento City, which, in a year after our visit, became the capital of the State of California. There was not a complete frame building in the place at that time, though there were a number in course of construction, but there were tents and canvas houses of all sorts and sizes. They were occupied as stores, hotels, boarding houses, gambling and drinking saloons. Gamblers were plying their vocation with a persistency worthy of a better cause, and where shelter was not to be had games were being worked in the open air... "A number of ships which had fought their way around Cape Horn were lying at anchor in the Sacramento and discharging their cagoes on the bank of the river. Hundreds of men who had just arrived in the country and were preparing to go to the mines were loading wagons and packing broken-down horses and mules with their winter stores."(From "Across the Plains in '49 by Reuben Cole SHAW",ed. Milo Milton Quaife, NY: The Citadel Press 1966). NOTE: Thanks to CAROLYN<[email protected]> for snailing me a copy of the "Pioneer Trails West Bibliography" by Carol H. March, which, among many others, lists this 49er Reuben Cole SHAW diary/reminiscences. I understand Ms. March prepared her bibliography from books and materials in the Santa Clara City Library. Another beginning begun:-)) Bob Norris in Dallas <BNorris166aol.com>