Demand. When a supplier normally had plenty for a clientele of 200 people, and he was suddenly inundated with 5,000 people, shortages were guaranteed.
There was a high demand for supplies.
Sam Brannon
They used carragies to carry gold supplies from place to place
1855, gold prices began to lower as there was a lot of the ore
Yes, people in the gold rush found gold but they mostly spent it on supplies, land , and beer. The people who made the real money were merchants because they would sell eggs for like 10 pieces of gold because it was hard to get eggs or other supplies. So basically it was supply and demand.
Basic rule of economics: supply and demand. The rush caused a spike in demand for supplies, so as such sellers and shopkeepers could justify raising prices.
The Mormons played quite a lage role in the gold rush. Their settlements in Utah served as a rest stop and trading post for those heading to California. Some historians have said that without the Mormons, the gold rush could not have been successful, and without the gold rush, the Mormons could not have been successful. The Mormons needed money and supplies from the east, and those heading to California needed food, supplies, and advice about living and traveling in the west. It was a welcome trade for both parties.
The people of the mining towns needed large amounts of supplies. The Western mining boom had begun with the California Gold Rush of 1849. When the Gold Rush ended, miners looked for new opportunities.
The Mormons had already paved a way to the west right before the gold rush. They had already planted crops, leaving colonies along the trail and soon profited by providing the gold seekers with needed supplies.
Some challenges faced during the Klondike Gold Rush included the harsh Arctic climate, treacherous terrain and rivers, scarce food supplies, high prices for basic necessities, and disease outbreaks due to unsanitary living conditions. Many prospectors also struggled with the long and arduous journey to reach the gold fields in the Yukon.
The Californian gold rush!
They were mostly just plain old miners, but if they weren't lucky, they would get rich by selling supplies.