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218 Gold Rush Album
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In the view above of
Portsmouth Square, or Plaza as one prefers, the Bella Union's facade
stands out like a sore thumb. A little further to the right, the El
Dorado may be seen, snuggling up against a corner of the City Hall.
The
hour was about to strike for these establishments, and for carefree
occupants of the City Hall whose favor supported them and haunts of
worse repute. Through the lush years, except for the popular explosion
of 1851, the people of San Francisco had accepted a low state of public
morals as part of the price for greatness and speed of expansion. But
as the depression of business grew worse through 1855, people became
less tolerant of apathetic prosecutors, graft-swollen politicians,
corrupted courts and shyster attorneys.
February,
1855, was the great month of financial collapse. Individual fortunes
had already been swallowed up; now it was the turn of Page, Bacon and
Company, Adams and Company, and other financial giants to suspend
payment. Wild news of new gold strikes did not halt the progress of
failure. The public mind began to think of reform; the public eye
looked angrily about for scapegoats.
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