Information & Facts of Gold Fever
Gold fever is a loose term used to describe the frenzy brought on by the famous gold rushes of the 1800s. The most famous of these occurred in California between 1848 and 1850 and in Canada between 1897 and 1898. Other gold rush locations include Australia between 1851 and 1853 and Witwatersrand, South Africa in 1884.
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California Gold Fever
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The California gold rush inspired a gold fever that brought over 40,000 prospectors. Gold was discovered at Sutter's Mill in 1848, bringing hoards of those wanting to strike it rich from around the world. Conditions were difficult for prospectors; miles-long trains of wagons traveled a competitive Oregon-California trail every day, kicking up massive billows of dust. Illness and death was common from poor sanitation, which resulted from latrines located closely together, drinking rancid water and infrequent bathing with few changes of clothing. Native Americans in the region were known to comment about the smell, and considered these settlers uncivilized.
Klondike Gold Fever
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Gold fever hit again in 1897 when it was rumored the precious material was discovered in the Klondike in Canada. Reporters from around the globe gathered in Seattle to interview passengers disembarking from a journey to the region, reportedly returning home loaded with gold. The international headlines drew people from around the world. Prospectors endured temperatures below zero, high winds and 1,000-foot climbs into the mountains. Many did not make it home. An estimated 100,000 people reached Dawson, the main town for Klondike gold rushers, between 1897 and 1900.
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Exploitation On the Trail
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Gold fever inspired many to come looking for gold--even those who had never experienced life outside of cities. Some prospectors were so naive as to believe they could find goods at a reasonable price along the way and came ill prepared. Certain businesspeople were quick to exploit this and charged astronomical rates for basic needs. For example, prospectors were known to pay anywhere between $1 and $100 for a glass of water. Flour was $4 a barrel in cities, but rose to $1 a pint on the trail. Coffee, too, was $1 a pint out there; sugar was $1.50 a pint and liquor was $4 a pint.
The Real Boom
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Few prospectors struck it rich during the gold rushes of the 1800s, but local economies boomed as a result of the influx of people needing goods and services. Suddenly, agricultural, commercial and transportation industries exploded. Corporate miners emerged to replace the weary individual prospectors, and a complex state government replaced the ad hoc political structures and vigilante justice common in California until then. Dawson, outside of the Klondike, grew from 500 people to 30,000 during the two-year rush.
Inspired Inventions
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Gold fever inspired numerous inventions, including an attempt at flight. Rufus Porter, founder of Scientific American, planned to fly prospectors to their sites in propeller-driven, steam-powered balloons. He advertised and had 200 people ready to go before calling off the trip.
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References
- Photo Credit gold image by Raimundas from Fotolia.com
