The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1876-11-10
Virginia City, Nevada.
Lcorresnondenee New York 500.

hare. nor any inducement to build one.
Even an Indian would have starved 10
5eath i'm this bleak and unproductive
region. Nothing grows here except
with more careful nursing than an
Eastern lady bestows upon her fayorite
house plants Not green thing greets
the eve after leaving the bed of the
Carson River except occasional patches
Of sage brush, and even that is stinted
IN its 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 il, 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 1857, invaded this
desolate region, and, discovering de-
posits OF the precious metals here, the
town quickly followed. And now Nir-
rinia City itself boasts population OF
not less than $4,000, 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 conhigration have
been obiterated, and the number Of
buildings now probably exceeds what
Il was before that disaster.
But, as | remarked before, this is
g.. al Il
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 90 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 TO 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 Al an angle of about 30 de-
gTees with the horizon, and as a conse-
quence teaming il a difficult undertak
10. One-horse establishments are a
rarity, only employed for the ightest
purposes, four and six horses being
much more common, while for heavy
work 10, y, II and 10 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
10 the distance and character of the
road to be traversed. There are no
payements in the city, and beyond the
immediate centers OF business, no side
walks. Man and beast are on COM
mon footing in most of the thorough
fares, and the beast has rather the best
Of it,since be 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
ner.
The population Of the place is as
queer a It's location, surroundings and
general appearance. The miner is, of
course, 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 at
any time TO the naked eve, it is manifest
that there are other large classes here
TO make up the throngs that fill the
streets az all times. use the term "all
times" Understandings, for in one re-
spect, and only one, this place resem-
bles the heaven which the Evangelist
saw in his vision-there is no night
here. Not that il 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 eigh
hours each, and as that is the principa
legitimate or useful employment of tn,
place, all other vocations are governe,
by its rules. The man who works eigh
hours underground requires eight hour
sleep, and then is prepared TO EMO,
eight hours of other diversion. And a
there is always one shift at work an,
another shift taking its rest, so thel
is the third shift attending to persona
matters, seeking amusement, or loating
And the three change about with tn
regularity of clockwork, keeping all tn
activities and callings of the place i
constant employ.
The miners are 1000. Then Their
are 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 laundrymen, wood saw