The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1877-06-02
rirstn,a Cftu. Nerada.

one-half the whole number of voters in
the State of Nevada. Few pictures of it
give correct idea of its position. In
photographs it appears to be at the foot
of the mountain, while it is in fact built
across the mountains face, and the peak
that rises two thousand feet above it also
extends two thousand feet below it. 1t
is so environed and confined by noun
tsins that the railway which connects it
with the Central Pacific at Reno has
curves enough to describe circle of
three hundred and sixty degrees seven
teen times; the distance 10 Reno in bee.
line is sixteen miles, aud the distance by
the railway, which cost two million dol
lars, is fifty two miles.
The pitch of the ground is such that
what is the first story of house in front
becomes the second or third story in the
rear, and looking eastward, northward,
or southwark, the eye meets an UNMARRIED
prospect of chain after chain of inter-
locked peaks.
The people are ultra Californian in
their nature and habits, excessively fond
of display, lavishly hospitable, i'm
petuous in business and irrepressible in
speculatveness. On October rs, 1875, a
fire swept the city from end to end, and
ten million dollars worth of property,
including all the mining works on the
surface, went up in the flames. Within
sixty days the most important mines
had renewed their buildings and ma
chinery, and within six months the whole
city had been rebuilt.
To guard against recurrence of the
disaster, a system of reservoirs and
hydrants was established, and it would
be easier now to flood the city than to
burn it. The Virginians are proud of
the quality and abundance of their.water
supply. The works cost over two million
dollars, and the water is brought dis
lance of thirty-one and hal miles from
Marlette's Lake, in the Sierras.
What is most surprising to the stranger
is the proportions of the constant rush.
ing crowd on @ Street, the principal
thoroughfare, and the cosmopolitan
character of its elements. Piute and
Washoe Indians in picturesque rags,
Cinnamon in blue and black blouses,
brawny Cornishmen, vehement Mexicans,
and many other people from far apart
countries mingle and surge along in the
stream. There is nothing provincial or
shabby. The stores are well stocked, and
the show-windows glitter with the attrac-
tiveness of their wares. The men around
you are men Of the world, who have
travelled, and in many instances made
money.
among the maryels of Virginia City
While every thing else is frightfully
dear, and the storekeepers seem to con-
slider all purchasers the happy possessors
of Fortunatus purse, food is uncom-
monty cheap, and an excellent dinner of
four courses can be had for fifty cents,
or a more elaborate dinner, with game,
poultry, and half bottle of fair wine,
for dollar. Every delicacy in season
finds its way from San Francisco and
New York, and two oceans contribute
their produce to the marbled and mir
rored lunch counters.
Another development OF the luxurious
character of the citizens is club after
the metropolitan pattern, with richly
furnished billiard-rooms and reading
rooms, where the bachelor may smoke
the pipe of celibacy in peace.
They are nearly all bachelors in Vir-
ginia; the atmosphere of the place is by
no means favorable to wives and chill
dren; the feminine element is very
dscolIetce in manners rs well as in dress,
and yet there are good and affectionate
women in the town, especially among
the miners wives, and we see them TO
advantage in times of trouble, when
some wounded creature is brought to the
surface from below. There are few
clearinghouse; the upper parts of the
stores and other buildings are let out as
lodgings, and the meals are supplied by
the many excellent restaurants
While night has fallen on the visible
town, the invisible town under ground is
glimmering with thousand lights, just
as it has been glimmering through all
the summer days that have shone and all
the winter nights that have lowered ever
since the Comstock lode was tirst pene-
trated by shaft. There is no repose in
that mysterious region; none of the end
less changes and renewals of season that
sweeten existence on the earth; no re-
lapse of day into night, or night into
day; no summer. no winter, and no Sun
day. The farthest journey possible on
the surface could not take the traveller
to country half so miraculous as that
which lies less than a mile below the
parallels of familiar stores on G Street;
it is as with a physiognomist, who travel
ing in the interior of Africa, and scan
ming the strangest human faces among
the natives, would not see any thing half
so strange as the heart of his nearest
neighbor, had he the power to probe the
little. depth of flesh that seals it and its
innermost secrets. Nearly one-fourth of
the whole population is hidden in the