The Transient Mining Camps

Mining frontiers had the following in common:

* they were settled rapidly, sometimes overnight
* majority were male
* came from every state and even foreign countries
* moved on often, temporary residents

Temporary housing created fire and safety hazards and developed an urban character of merchants, saloon keepers, cooks, druggists, gamblers, and prostitutes.  Only 1/3 of California residents were actual miners - the rest were people who serviced the miners in some way.

Disorder was prevalent.  In 24 days, one pioneer reported "we have had murders, fearful accidents, bloody deaths, a mob, a whipping, a hanging and a fatal duel."

The miner's appearance suggested that he had left civilization behind - shaggy hair, untrimmed beard, course face rough from exposure, old hats, baggy pants, flannel shirt, high boots.  With vigilante justice more brutal and violent than the crime itself, social standards and conventions broke down.  What most people thought of as vice came from monotony and difficulty of living the miner's way of life...easy cash and the belief that morality was a woman's concern.

How did women even begin to make a difference in this out of control society?  Next time...