The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1919-05-24
ADDED TO
GHOST CITIES LIST

When the state of Nevada decided
that a dry experiment was necessary
for the morals of the people IL reach
ed out far and wide, says the Carson
City News. Small settlements that
existed by the cup that cheers found
that soda water and near beer did not
reach the parched throat OF the way
farer. These accommodation shops.
shops which carried a line OF mer
ohandise along with the wet goods in
the e of the store, have gradually
folded up their tents and there is not
even a sign of "to let" decorating the
establishment, as there is nothing to
let.
The last remnant of the once glor-
ious prosperity of Washoe City per-
ished with the edict. The Smith boys,
who have for years maintained a gen.
eral merchandise shop and a wet m
porium at the end of the store. have
sold out their stock in trade, shut up
shop and the last breath of real life
has departed from one of the first
settlements of note in Nevada.
washoe City fourished with the ad-
vent of the discovery of the Comstock
lode. 1t was found by the early settlers
that wood and water was handy. 1t
was also an intermediate point be-
tween the settlements on the Truckee
meadow and Carson City. Then some
one conceived the idea of utilizing the
water power and the timber that
edged the valley. The Washoe mill
was then built at a point Oh the
north end of little Washoe lake. Other
mills soon were erected and before
Washoe City realized its Importance.
a city had grown. 1t is stated that
fully 5000 people made their homes
il this end of the valley. Seven mills
crushing Comstock ore were o in
operation. First the big Washoe mill,
then the Temilic, and down at Ophir
a few miles to the south, the big
Ophir mill.
Wells Fargo established Offices with
pony express, lawyers crowded in and
the grade was built into Virginia City.
One of the big undertakings was 70
bridge the tule fields from the east to
the west side OF the lake. This was
done by driving piles over two miles
across this bridge, and it is of but re-
cent date that the lane way leading
from F~ranktown. where the Dali mill
was situated to the east side of the
lake was fit to travel.
Washoe City from 1860 to 1868 was
Of as much Importance on the map as
Virginia City. Two daily newspapers
published. 1t is said that the
late Tom Fitch was editor in CHI eff of
one. The "Puhutah" was one Of the
papers and either Fitch of J. r. Love-
Joy edited the paper. The other paper
later moved to Reno with John C.
but being ahead of the times.
and too vigorous in its editorial re-
marks. died a natural death. (In this
connection, it is interesting to note
Fremont Older, the noted Cali
editor. worked for Lewis in
Washoe and in Reno. Older was a
young printer at the time.-Ed.
Gazette.)
When the v. & T. came through and
entered the Comstock, the mills grad
ually moved to points along the Car
son river. The timber and saw mills
to keep in the race. but
the establishment of the v fume from
summit to Carson put the
town out of business. Then the peo-
PIE Of Washoe county decided that
Washoe City was no place for the
county government and voted it TO
Reno. This was the real knell, as the
county officers moved themselves and
the belongings to the new county seat
at Reno.
A few of the pioneers of this sec
tion remember Washoe City in its
glory. They all declare that it was the
real article. The theatre had a stock
company, while local talent from Reno
and other settlements played nightly
engagements in Washoe. Then Mark
Twain came along and spent some
time in the milling camp. He record
ed his views in his description of a
Washoe zephyr. 1t has stuck ever
since and the zephyrs now sweep a
fiat where the city once stood.
One old timer recited a prize fight
he witnessed during the days of
Washoe. 1t was between an Irishman
and a Mexican. There were no Queens
bury rules. When it was finished the
Mexican was down and out. He was
Out for all time. as the final punch on