 In this they were much like the United States in 1850, where about 89% of the revenue of its federal government came from import tariffs (also called Customs or ad valorem taxes), although at an average rate of about 20%.Ships after 1848 provided easy, cheap, links among the coastal towns within California and on routes leading there.Nearly all cargo to California came by sailing ship until the completion of the first Transcontinental Railroad in 1869.