The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1872-09-19
LETTER FROM VIRGINIA CITY.

We have been kindly permitted by friend to take
the following extracts from letter received by him
from an old Idahoan, who Is now resident OF Wiz.
ena city, Nevada the letter bearing date Septembel
o, 1872:
In speaking OF the sanitary condition OF the conn-
try he says: Zone great source Of uneasness 70 me
lis the amount of sickness thatts here at tubs TIME
think it will average two funerals per day; some
DAYS have seen many as four passing the street
The graveyard is almost as thckiy pepnlated as TIE
lcity. But this city IL . lively place You cannon
have the least idea OF the immense amount OF bust
ness done here. The railroad is now completed con-
meeting Virginia City with the Central Pacinctime
to San Francisco n hours. The cars are running
day and night between here and Carson Ciiy. bring
ing up tmbers aud wood and returning with ore 70
the mills os Carson river. am Informed that they
are behind three weeks with their contracts In dev-
ering timbers and wood. All OF the mines and mills
are in full operation There about 5000 miners
working under Virginia City and Mount Davidson.
and the deepest mine here Is about J. BOO feet The
Crown Point mine is working on the l.3O0-foot level
and raising 47D tons OF per day To the surface.
They have about 600 men at work on top and below.
The savage mine Is on tue 50Ofoot level raising ore
from three shafts. side by side. They have three
81 horse. power engines at work day and night The
Gould aud Curry company IRE tile lowest down OF
any Of the mines. and The hosting works OF that
mine are about the same as on the Crown Point and
Savage while the Opkir works but little behind
them. The Crown Point In looked upon here as the
king mine producing more ore aud OF richer grade
than any other mine. This mine keeps six quartz
mills runaing all rle time. Accidents in the mines
are OF seldom occurrence, and the improved machin
cry makes il almost safe III the lower levels as on
too OF the ground The wire rope used ~ about ave
inches wide and seldom ever breaks and VIII hold
ten times the weight that is ever put upon 1t; but
should it break the cage ID made 10 run IN groove
aud viii stop Immediately. IL is a great Invention.
aud the who inverted Lac safety cage. deserves
10 ba mmortalized. tor he has saved the lives OF
many men. In May Of the mines 1T the lower levels
il il hot that the miners cannot work more than
ten minutes AT time before going 10 the air shaft
Ice is used III abundance in the mines and the nn
Who work ia the lower levels slckly locking
set They are bleached they have, apparently,
rot "A drop of blood ia them.
The great Sniro tunnel Ii progressing finely. being
now in about 8 100 feet. and they sinking four
shafts ranging depth from Gao 10 800 feet. When
completed salro Will receive royalty OF 81 per ton
for all taken from the comss0ck lode. whether IL
is taken through his tunnel or not. The estimated
number of ious of takea from the Comsoeg lode
is g. o00 per day. so You hls income from that
quarter win be Si0 600 per daysaad besides that. he
has all tie lodges he may strike aud the right OF way
6o1 feet in width from tie mouth 10 the end OF his
tunnel which Wall be three miles aud quarter long
also 200 acres ~ the mouth of his tunnel granted
by Congress sniro has laid out town sight al the
mouth of the ipnel called suiro. aud lac asks $500
per lot There IL telling what the wealth OF this
man viii be j: lac lives to complete hs tunnel. which
he anticipates doing within two years from this time
John Jones has bat lite opposition for the Sen
ate and he wlIl without doubt. be elected.
caa bur little difference ia ihe climate between
this and Idaho but tAa worst ws have To cunt-nc
with Is the water waleh Is very bad and think that
In one Of The main causes u 80 much sickness.