Q.David Bowers
There were 626 brick and stone buildings plus many thousands of frame structures, some of which were partly canvas. Included in the city were 160 hotels, 66 restaurants, 63 bakeries, 5 public markets, 43 butcher shops, 20 bathing establishments, 5 flour mills and sawmills,13 foundries and iron works, 18 livery stables, 19 banking houses, and 9 insurance companies. Ten public schools had 21 teachers and 1,250 pupils. There were 18 churches, 14 fire companies, 6 military companies, 2 public hospitals, 8 lodges of secret associations, 4 public benevolent societies, a chamber of commerce, a mercantile library association, and various professional, literary, social, and religious groups. A gas company and water company provided utility services.
In addition there were resident consulates for 27 different governments, 12 daily newspapers (including one in German), 2 tri-weeklies (both in French), 6 weeklies, and 2 monthlies. Entertainment was provided by five American theatres, one French theatre, one Chinese theatre, a music hall for concerts and exhibitions, a gymnasium, and two race courses, not to overlook the numerous gambling establishments previously mentioned. In 1853 about 745,000 tons of goods valued at over $35 million were imported into San Francisco. Exports were about $55 million worth of gold dust and $700,000 worth of quicksilver. One thousand and twenty-eight vessels arrived in port, of which 634 were American and 394 foreign; 1,653 vessels departed in the same year. Imports consisted, among other things, of 100 million pounds of flour and meal worth $5 million, 20 million pounds of butter worth $4 million, 25 million pounds of barley worth $500,000, and 18 million board feet of lumber worth $4 million. In addition, large quantities of pork, beef, sugar, soap, candles, coffee, tea, boots, rice, shoes, dry goods, coal, and other merchandise came into the harbor.
Imports of liquor, including brandy, whisky, rum, gin, wine, ale, port, and beer were enormous. By the middle of 1853 there were 537 places in San Francisco where liquor was sold, including 42 wholesale stores.
Including those who worked part time, there were 743 bartenders, or one for about every 68 inhabitants.
In this commercial arena trade was facilitated by a wide variety of coins...