Mexico weekly ledger., 1876-11-09
Virginia City, Nevada.
CORRESPONDENCE New York SUM-

,., Virginia City, Nevada. III a'''.
Correspondence New York SUM-
Twenty years ago there was no city
here, O any inducement to build one.
Even an Indian would have starved to
death in this bleak and unproductive
region. Nothing grows here except
with more careful nursing than an
Eastern lady bestows upon her favorite
house plants. Not a green thing greets
the eye after leaving the bed of the
Carson River except occasional patches
of sage brush, and even that is istinted'
in it's growth, and shows only an
apology for green. There are no
natural water courses up here; no rain
through the summer months, and no
lack of it, or snow, during the winter;
no birds, no reptiles, no game, NO life
other than what has immigrated here
with the city. But the overflow of gold
hunters from the other side of the
mountains finally, in 1867, invaded this
desolate region, and, discovering de-
posts of the precious metals here, the
town quickly followed. And now Vir-
ginia City itself boasts a population of
not less than 10000, while the suburban
mining towns of Gold Hill, Silver City,
Dayton, DEVILS Gate, and other settle
ments near at hand, will add 10000 to
the number. One year ago this present
month, three-quarters of Virginia City
was destroyed by fire; but already that
fearful drawback has been overcome,
the traces of the conflagration have
been obliterated, and the number of
buildings nov probably exceeds what
it was before that disaster.
But, as I remarked before, this is a
queer place, and but for the silver and
gold upon which it is built it certainly
would never have been attempted. Its
site is a precipitous slope facing the
east. There is not natural level enough
in and about the place to turn a wagon
on. The principal streets run north
and south, parallel with the face of the
mountain, and by means of terraces it
is practicable t make a fair grade on
these, though that is not done; but on
the lateral or cross streets there is no
attempt at grades, and the hills, in con-
sequence, are fearful to contemplate.
The slope is at an angle of about IS de-
grees with the horizon, and as a conse-
quence teaming is a difficult undertak-
ing. One-horse establishments are a
rarity, only employed for the highest
purposes, four and six horses being
much more common, while for heavy
work 10, IL, IA and 16 horses are en-
ployed. These unwieldy teams are very
numerous, being met at every turn.
They are regularly employed in haul
ing ore, wood, hay and similar weighty
stuff, and manage to move from one to
two tons at a load, varying according
to the distance and character of the
road to- be trayersed. There are no
pavements in the city, and beyond the
immediate centers of business, no side
walks. Man and beast are on a COM
mon footing in most of the thorough
fares, and the beast has rather the best
Of it,since he cares nothing for the faith
omless mud that fills the streets in win
ter, or the equally deep and wonderful
ly fine dust that covers them in sum-
mer.
The population of the place is as
queer as its location, surroundings and
general appearance. The miner is, of
course, a large element, but by no
means the only one. There are about
1000 of this hardy, Industrious, good
natured class employed in the mines
within and Immediately about the city
but as one-third of these are constantly
under ground, another third asleep,
leaving only a third of 1000 visible ut
any time to the naked eye, it is manifest
that there are other large classes here
to make up the throngs that fill the
streets at all times. Iuse the term ssall
times" Understandings, for in one re-
spect, and only one, this place resem-
bles the HEAVIER which the. Evangelist
saw IN his vision-there is no night
here. Not that it does not get dark, but
the darkness and the light are both
alike. Neither is there any Sunday
here. But day in and day out at morn
ing, noon and night, the occupations
of the town go on in uninterrupted CON
tinuation. The workmen in the mines
are employed in three shifts Of eight
/ hours each, and as that is the principal
legitimate or useful employment of the
place, all other vocations are governed
by its rules. The nan who works eight
hours underground requires eight hours
sleep, and then is prepared TO enjoy
eight hours of other diversion. And al
/ there is always one shift at work and
another shift taking it's rest, so there
is the third shift attending to persona.
matters, seeking amusement, or loafng,
And the three change about with the
regularity of clockwork, keeping all the
activities and callings of the place ii
constant employ. g. 81, s.
The miners are 1000. Then Their,
are a few superintendents, agents, ant
bosses, with their families; a small col
ony of necessary shop-keepers, grocery
men, butchers, and similar honest mem
bers of society; a few railroad EN-
ployees, teamsters, and day laborers
some Chinese Landowner, wood saw