Chapter 50: Conscious Citizens

It was already 3:15 pm when the Sacramento arrived in San Francisco.

Liang Yao prepared white coats, gloves and masks that had just been sewn by the garment factory for the doctors.

Doctors in this era did not have a conventional uniform, especially since most of these doctors were from private clinics and usually wore casual clothes when they went out for consultations.

White coats only gradually became the standard for medical workers in the late 19th century, when medical and health technology was booming.

Liang Yao didn't know why later generations chose white coats instead of coats of other colors. However, this is something that has been tested by history, and there is nothing wrong with using it directly.

The reason why he asked these doctors to wear uniform white coats was to make it easier for patients to find doctors in the crowd.

San Francisco already accommodated 756 cholera patients, which was already a bit crowded.

Now more than 1,800 patients brought from Sacramento have poured in, making this simple hospital even more crowded.

Fortunately, there were people from the Loyalty Society and the Legion to maintain order in the hospital, and the scene was still orderly. If they encounter some disobedient people, they just need to hit them with two gun butts.

The doctors have already discussed on the ship. What they need to do today is to divide these patients into mild, moderate and severe patients, and place them in different areas. The formal treatment will start tomorrow.

Liang Yao has also sent the doctors' luggage to the hotel near the hospital. In order to accommodate these doctors and volunteers who come to help, he has specially vacated a hotel to provide free food and accommodation for these medical staff.

Sven heard about Liang Yao in the hospital and came to the hospital alone to find Liang Yao.

"The San Francisco Shipyard has repaired a small steamship. I hope to include this steamship in my fleet." Sven explained his purpose.

After the inland route between San Francisco and Sacramento was opened, Liang Yao transferred two steamships in the best condition from Sven's fleet to operate this inland route, including the Sacramento that Sven loved so much.

"Can our shipyard repair steamships? I remember the report said that this steamship was seriously damaged."

The shipyard successfully repaired the seriously damaged steamship, which made Liang Yao feel a little happy.

"The San Francisco Shipyard recruited several experienced ship repairers from the miners. They had experience in repairing steamships in the shipyard in New Orleans before." Sven said.

"That's good. From only being able to repair slightly damaged steamships to being able to repair seriously damaged steamships now, we have taken a big step forward. Next, we can try to build a small steamship."

Liang Yao rubbed his hands excitedly, and his joy was evident on the paper.

California's transportation was blocked. For a long time to come, shipping was the main mode of transportation for California to communicate and trade with the outside world.

He could choose to spend money to place orders directly from the eastern United States or even from European shipyards to buy steamships.

But buying directly is far less reliable than building it yourself. Besides, being able to build ships by yourself can also drive related industries around it and provide more jobs for California.

When the gold rush slowly subsides and gold becomes increasingly difficult to find, the crazy Californians will eventually return to rationality, and this place that rose up because of the gold rush will also be on the normal development track.

By then, how many jobs can be provided will determine whether California can develop stably.

"Ship repair and shipbuilding are two different things."

Sven coughed dryly. He accidentally found that Avrilda, the wife of Flagg, was walking towards him. He hurriedly said something to Liang Yao, pulled up his collar to cover half of his face, and disappeared in the crowded crowd.

"This repaired steamship will be my new flagship."

Liang Yao felt puzzled until he saw Avrilda walking towards him, and then he suddenly realized it.

"Mrs. Flagg, hello, long time no see."

Liang Yao extended his gloved hand to Mrs. Flagg.

"Mr. Liang, I heard that the hospital was short of staff, so I called on several of my neighbors to volunteer in the hospital, hoping to help."

Avrilda shook hands with Liang Yao and said.

Behind her were five or six women of the same age, who were curiously looking at Liang Yao. Some spoke English, while others spoke Spanish, discussing something.

It was just that the surrounding environment was noisy, so Liang Yao could not hear the content of their conversation. But it was probably just gossip between some housewives.

"We really need manpower. There are more than 2,500 patients here, and we only have more than 30 doctors. On behalf of these cholera patients, I thank you and all the enthusiastic volunteers."

Liang Yao sincerely thanked Mrs. Flagg and those enthusiastic housewives.

"Don't say that. It should be us who thank you. Since you came to San Francisco, there are more goods available in San Francisco, and the prices are cheaper than before. The security situation is also much better. You no longer have to worry about criminals breaking into the house, looting property, and threatening you with knives.

Now you have generously donated money to establish the first hospital in California"

"Ahem." Liang Yao coughed twice in embarrassment, "This is what a conscious citizen should do. I remember that your home is a bit far away from here. You and these volunteers can choose to talk to these doctors. Like us, you can rest in the hotel at night, or you can choose to go home. I will send someone to escort you to ensure your safety.”

The peninsula next to São Francisco Bay resembles an outstretched thumb sticking out of the map of America.

The northeast corner of the peninsula is the rapidly expanding urban area of ​​São Francisco.

San Francisco has changed so much that Coney almost doesn't recognize the place.

Two years ago, when he first came to this place, the urban area in front of him was still a village called Yerba Buena Village. The name of the village had a strong Spanish flavor because it had just become the United States of America at that time. territory.

He vaguely remembered that there were only more than 200 buildings here at that time, and only 12 of them were shops.

Of course, just as there were slums in the big cities in the east, there were more than thirty simple wooden houses around the village of Jerba Buena at that time.

He missed the short time in San Francisco very much. During that short but beautiful time, without the control of his father, he felt an unprecedented freedom. Even the air I breathe is more comfortable than before, full of the flavor of freedom.

He could do whatever he wanted in San Francisco with the money his father gave him.

Whoring, gambling, taking opium, drinking, bragging, and getting into fights with the rude miners when he was in a bad mood.

There is no red tape like New York, and there are no annoying patrolmen and sheriffs. After committing a crime, there is no need to go into a cell and wait for his father to pay him to fish him out and then give him a good beating.

If he had money, he would stay in this depraved place until he died of old age.

Since he is a fallen person in the eyes of the world, the most suitable place for him is naturally the place of degradation.

"Listen here, you loser, this is your last chance. If it's like last time, I won't hesitate to expel you from the Vanderbilt family!"

Vanderbilt gave Coney a stern warning by hitting him hard on the back of the head. He knew what was going on in this little kid's head.