The prices of the items in Golden Gulch were very high so there were a lot of things we couldn’t afford. Many things were overpriced by a ton. Prices came in a variety of ranges. Some camps had lower prices than others, but all prices were higher than they are today.
List of items in an 1848 mining camp:
One-pound of coffee $40.00
One pair of boots $100.00
A piece of candy $0.50
Can of sardines $16.00
One-pound of beans $10.00
2 shirts $5.00
pants $8.25
1 canvas tent $30.00
1 mule $65.00
List of items from Sam Brannan’s store in Sacramento: Chicken $16.00
2 bottles of juice $16.00
shirt $20.00
pan, for gold $15.00
pickaxe $50.00
overalls $45.00
one-dozen eggs $3.00
List of items from Angels Camp in 1850:
1 cradle $18.00
Shovels $25.00
Pans $10.00 each
Picks $25.00 each
Shirts $40.00 each
Boots $40.00 each
Socks ` $10.00 a pair
Hats $10.00 each
Horses $150.00 each
Mules $100.00 each
Saddles $50.00 each
Rifle $75.00 each
Pistol $50.00 each
Ammunition $10.00 a box
Dynamite $100.00 a box
So there were a lot of things that are really different compared to the prices of items right now.