California in 1854: a clear view of state finances and frontier engineering.
This edition presents a detailed snapshot of the Fifth Fiscal Year, ending June 30, 1854, with full expenditures by department, officers, and printing costs. It also includes a comprehensive accounting of hospital expenditures and other miscellaneous expenses, giving readers a practical sense of how a young state managed money and services.
Two main threads run through these pages: a hard look at government spending and a technical exploration of water and transportation possibilities. First, you’ll see line items for the executive, judicial, legislative, and printing needs, plus contingencies and hospital outlays. Second, you’ll encounter a technical discussion about artesian wells near Los Angeles, including rock strata, depths, and the prospects for a perennial water supply, followed by a broad survey of railroad routes through the Sierra Nevada’s Great Pass and a case for a central, nationwide rail corridor.
- A complete snapshot of state finances for a pivotal year, with department-by-department breakdowns.
- Detailed line items for salaries, contingents, and hospital expenditures.
- An in-depth, historical look at early water-resource exploration and geology.
- Strategic analysis of railroad routes and national transportation planning in a developing West.
Ideal for readers of 19th‑century government reports, California history, and early American engineering and infrastructure discussion.