[From Thompson & West's History of Nevada 1881, With Illustrations And Biographical Sketches Of Its Prominent Men And Pioneers, pp. 492-512]

492      HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEVADA.

CHAPTER XLIX.

HISTORY OF LYON COUNTY.

Character of the Surface—Samuel S. Buckland—G. W. Burner—John Carling—Organization and Boundaries—Appointments and Elections—Creation of a County Debt—Internal Improvements—Court House and County Jail—Investigation and Economy— Kimber Cleaver--J. S. Campbell -- John Lothrop—G. P. Randall—J. D. Sims--Prospecting for Coal —Principal Mining Districts—Principal Towns and Cities—Principal Quartz Mills—History of the Sutro Tunnel—Col. C. C. Thomas.

            THE general character of the surface of Lyon County is mountainous and barren, except along the Carson River where there is land susceptible of cultivation.

            The Carson Valley bottom, as it was called, commenced about one mile above Dayton and continued down the river about twelve miles. Near Fort Churchill, now Bucklands, there is quite an extensive tract of good land, which, by irrigation, might be capable of raising an immense amount of all kinds

HISTORY OF LYON COUNTY.      493

of produce. This section is now known as the Big Bend of Carson Valley. The quantity of hay grown in 1865 was estimated at 2,100 tons, Grain and vegetables were also raised in abundance. It was estimated that 10,000 acres of land might easily be brought under cultivation. There is not much alkali in the soil, the drainage of the river effecting the elimination of that class of minerals. In many parts of the county, especially south and east of Dayton, the country is covered with ranges of low mountains. The nut pine abounded in these portions of the county in an early day. The cutting and hauling of this timber, or wood rather, to the mills of Dayton, furnished employment for many men. It was estimated in 1865 that the twenty-eight mills around Dayton consumed 1,815 cords of wood per day, much of which came from this source. This extraordinary destruction soon denuded a country by no means well timbered, and that source of revenue was soon exhausted. Walker River runs through the southeastern corner of the county, leaving about eight miles of the famous Mason Valley within the lines.

SAMUEL S. BUCKLAND,

Whose name appears so often in the early history of Nevada, was born at Kirkersville, Licking County, Ohio, September 13, 1826, where he remained until he reached the age of about twenty-four years, at which time he came, by way of the Isthmus of Panama, to California, arriving in San Francisco on his birthday, 1850. His aspirations led him to the mines, and he soon after started for those in the northern part of the State, in company with James O. Williams, of " Williams' Station " notoriety, where he remained until 1857. During the last-named year he came to what is now Nevada, intending to buy an improved ranch of the Mormons, but found they had left for the eastern part of the territory three days prior to his arrival. In the fall of the year he engaged in packing supplies from Placerville, California, to Genoa, using ten mules, and receiving eight cents per pound freightage. There being but little snow that winter he continued this business nearly all the time until the spring of 1858, when he took up a ranch in Jack's Valley. In these last two business relations he was associated with James O. Williams. After selling this ranch they dissolved partnership and Mr. Buckland, took up another ranch at the north end of Carson Valley, which he sold during the same year.

            In July, 1858, he took charge of a band of 300 cattle belonging to W. H. Bloomfield, moving them from Carson Valley to the big bend of the Carson River. He arrived at the place known as Buckland's Station the last day of July, that year. He took up a ranch for Bloomfield on what is known as the Island, and built a cabin. In the fall of 1859 he settled on his present ranch, and at the suggestion of Mr. Roberts, Agent for the Overland Stage Company, established a station and kept the stage stock and boarded the company's men. In the winter of 1859-60 he built a bridge across the Carson River near the station, which was used as a toll-bridge for some years. This was the first bridge built over the river below Carson Valley, and was in use until 1865, when it was replaced by one of a toll-road company's. During the month of November, 1859, snow fell to the depth of two and one-half feet and the winter was unusually severe. Mr. Buckland, however, lived in a tent and " took boarders." Sometimes as many as twenty men were staying with him. All who could found room to sleep on the floor of his "tent hotel," and the remainder were obliged to resort to the haystack. He did not charge for lodging, though be acted as chambermaid and cook for the weary travelers. In the spring of 1860 he built a log cabin, of good size, that was replaced by his present residence ten years later. In 1864 he opened a store, the goods being kept in his house until he erected a stone building for their reception. His partner in the mercantile business was Henry Bethel, who lost his life by the explosion of the steamer Yo Semite, on the Sacramento River, in October, 1865.

            Mr. Buckland was married December 6, 1860, to Miss Eliza A. Prentice, at the residence of G. M. Reed. Their union was blessed with eight children, three of whom are now living: George H., aged eighteen ; Nelson J., aged fourteen, and John F., aged nine years. The portraits of these brave pioneers, and the pleasant home they have made out of the wilderness in the valley of the Carson, will be found elsewhere in this work.

G. W. BURRIER

Is a native of Pennsylvania, born in Luzerne County, September 14, 1838, where he lived until he was about four years of age. He then went with his parents to Rock County, Wisconsin. In April, 1861, he left home and came to the then wild country that is now called the State of Nevada. Soon after his arrival, he located on some land near where his present residence now stands, and purchasing some of W. H. Bloomfield, has a fine ranch containing 637 acres, all of which is inclosed, 60 acres having been plowed; 260 acres is classed as hay land, and the remainder is well adapted for grazing. Mr. Burrier was one of the first to sow grain in his section of the country, putting in ten acres of barley as early as 1862. Owing to a lack of knowledge as to the proper way to irrigate, he, like others, made a failure of his first attempt. His total yield that year was not over three tons, but he has since learned how to produce as much, and as fine grain as can be raised in the county. In 1864 he experimented with trees, setting out several varieties of fruit-bearing trees; among them were a dozen apple, only three of which lived, but they began bearing the next year, and have continued to yield fruit ever since. His peach trees all died. In 1865 he procured some strawberry plants from California, and

494      HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEVADA.

the next year gathered about forty pounds of fine fruit, that sold readily for half a dollar per pound. There were 1,000 plants originally, but requiring too much attention, were allowed to run wild. Coming from a warmer climate they start too early in the spring for his locality. Currants are a success, but blackberries brought from California do not thrive.

            During the winter of 1861-62, snow fell to a depth of about eighteen inches, on a level around his habitation, and a warm rain following soon after, his partly constructed log-house was washed away; he, however, regained the logs and built a house on higher ground, in which he lived until he built a frame house, his present residence, during the winter of 1863-64.

            Mr. Burrier was married in 1872 to Miss Helen Burst, at Hanover, Rock County, Wisconsin, and they have an interesting little daughter about six years of age.

JOHN CARLIN,

Son of John and Catherine (Daley) Carlin, is a native of Hudson County, New Jersey, and the date of his birth was the fourteenth of March, 1841. His first occupation, according to his best recollections, was driving a produce wagon from his home into Washington Market in the city of New York. In 1860 he came to California, by way of the Isthmus of Panama. He naturally sought the mines as the proper place to enlarge his worldly treasures and became one of the early prospectors in the Mono County placers. In the spring of 1861 he mined at Placerville, El Dorado County, and was again in the Mono diggings in the fall of that year. Having accumulated a little coin by industry and hard work he came to Dayton, Lyon County, Nevada, in 1861 and engaged in teaming until January, 1863, at which time he purchased one-half of his present home ranch, then containing 360 acres, and one year later became sole owner. From a small farm of 360 acres he has from time to time purchased adjoining lands until be is at present the possessor of 4,000 acres of very desirable land, on a portion of which stands his elegant residence that can best be appreciated by reference to a view of the same to be found in this work. His land is well divided, 120 acres being under cultivation, 1,000 acres of meadow and the remainder in pasture land, the whole being under a substantial fence. He has also about twenty miles of ditches for irrigating purposes.

            Mr. Carling was married in October, 1865, to Miss M. L. Newman, of Lyon County, and of the six children born to them but three are living, named James H., aged twelve; Mary E., aged eight; and Maggie C., aged five years. Their mother now sleeps in the cemetery that overlooks the ruins of Fort Churchill, a dweller in the city of the dead, having crossed the silent river on the twenty-second of July, 1880.

ORGANIZATION AND BOUNDARIES.

            We have given an extended history of the early settlement of the territory of which Washoe, Storey, Douglas and Lyon Counties were formed, and in this sketch will speak of Lyon County as a political organization, and give some account of the social and financial features at the time it was created a county. The great influx of active, aggressive men, eager for wealth and not always particular how it was obtained rendered the formation of county governments absolutely necessary. The most feasible routes of travel to the new mines lay through this section; the only available water-power for the reduction of ores was along the Carson River; the overland travel came directly through it, and these facts, with the rich silver mines of the Devil's Gate and other districts, then supposed to be equal, if not better, than the Virginia and Gold Hill mines, had induced a large number of people to settle within its limits. In fact, Silver City was a town sooner than Virginia City or Gold Hill, and Dayton was supposed to be a candidate for the location of the future Capitol.  Section 5 of the act to create counties and establish the boundaries thereof, approved November 25, 1861, provides that there shall be a county, to be known as Lyon County, to include all that part of the Territory within the boundaries described as follows:

            Beginning at the southeast corner of Washoe County; thence following the north line of Ormsby County, in a southeasterly direction, to the Half-way House between Silver City and Carson City; thence following the said line of Ormsby County to Douglas County; thence following the northern boundary of Douglas County to the 119th meridian of west longitude; thence north five miles; thence, by direct line, northwesterly to a point on Carson River one mile below Reed's Station; thence north three miles; thence westerly, by a direct line, to the southern boundary of the Gold Hill Mining District, but running so as to include in this county the Devil's Gate Toll-house; thence continuing westerly in the same course to the eastern boundary of Washoe County; and thence southerly along the eastern boundary of said county to the place of beginning.

            Dayton was appointed the county seat. At the same time the county of Churchill was organized on the east of Lyon, with provisions that for judicial and revenue purposes they should be considered one county. The name Lyon was in honor of General Nathaniel Lyon, who fell in the battle of Willson's Creek, near Springfield, Missouri.

APPOINTMENTS AND ELECTIONS.

            In accordance with the provisions of the creative Act, the Governor, in December, 1861, appointed the county officers, who held their positions till January 14, 1862, when their successors were elected. These surrendered to their successors, who were chosen at the general election held September 3, 1862, so that there were three sets of officers in power during the year 1862.

HISTORY OF LYON COUNTY.      495

            Below will be found, under appropriate heads, the names of all the persons who have filled the different offices of honor and trust in the county from its organization down to the present time, either by appointment or election, with the date of such appointment or election, and the particular office each has filled.

SENATORS.

            R. M. Ford, elected Territorial Councilman September 3, 1862; N. P. Sheldon, elected September 2, 1863; D. L. Hastings and John McDonald, elected on the defeated Constitutional ticket January 19, 1864; W. G. Lee, elected September 7, 1864, but superseded by Alfred James, elected under the new Constitution November 8, 1864; C. Carpenter, elected November 6, 1866; D. L. Hastings and M. S. Hurd were elected November 3, 1868; J. C. Haylett, elected November 5, 1870; J. S. Davenport, elected November 5, 1872; W. R. King, elected November 3, 1874; Wm. J. Westerfield, elected November 7, 1876; Wm. R. King, elected November 5, 1878; Wm. J. Westerfield, elected November 2, 1880.

ASSEMBLYMEN.

            Jno. McDonald, Jr., Jno. B. Winters and J. M. Ackley were elected September 3, 1862; McDonald, R E. Trask and Benj. Curler were elected September 2, 1863; Curler, J. B. Brayleton, C. F. Brandt and C. A. Witherell were elected January 19, 1864, but did not serve, the Constitution being defeated; J. D. Redfern and H.G. Parker were elected as Territorial Representatives September 7, 1864; W. T. Toombs, W. C. Lee, H. S. Parker, November 8, 1864; Jas. Crawford, Geo. A. Hudson and Geo. W. Walton, elected November 7, 1865; Walton, J. F. Rooney and A. Koneman, elected November 6, 1866; C. D. King, J. K. Barney and T. C. Ford, elected November 3, 1868; Geo. W. Likens, W. D. Dovey and J. F. Rooney, elected November 8, 1870; James Crawford, T. M. Hart and T. P. Mack, elected November 5, 1872; N. C. Dovey, H. J. Carling and L. Morrill, elected November 3, 1874; P. D. Wright, H. Kennedy and C. Cleaver, elected November 7, 1876; W. E. Smith, H. Kennedy and Levy Lamb, elected November 5, 1878; J. J. Corbett, M. H. Fallon and J. E. Gignoux, elected November 2, 1880.

COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.

            E. B. Zabriskie, Rufus E. Trask and S. S. Buckland, were appointed by the Legislature December 11, 1861; B. C. Howard, R. E. Trask, S. S. Buckland, elected January 14, 1862; T. Varney, L. L. Crockett and B. C. Howard, elected September 3, 1862; Chas. Ludlam, appointed County Commissioner December 22, 1862, in place of Varney, deceased, Howard resigned May 7, 1866; A. Koneman was appointed July 2, 1866; L. L. Crockett and T. J. Cochran, elected September 2, 1863; G. W. Walton, elected September 7, 1864; F. H. Smith, Jno. Cutler and J. K. Barney, elected November 6, 1866; Smith resigned September 4, 1867, and Robt. Robinson was appointed September 9, 1867.

            W. W. Byron, J. F. Rooney and W. Buncher were elected November 3, 1868; J. L. Campbell, A. Perkins and C. R. Ahern were elected November 8, 1870, Ahern resigned November 4, 1871; J. A. Angell, appointed December 9, 1871; Albert Perkins and J. M. McGinnis were elected November 5, 1872; J. R. Shaw and J. M. McGinnis, elected November 3, 1874; J. G. McKinzie, G. W. Burrier were elected November 7, 1876; G. W. Burrier and J. R. Shaw, elected November 5, 1878; J. R. Shaw and H. J. T. Schell were elected November 2, 1880.

DISTRICT ATTORNEYS.

            Frank H. Kennedy, appointed by the Executive December 18, 1861; Elias B. Zabriskie, appointed March 22, 1862, resigned November 17, 1862, and F. H. Kennedy, re-appointed; Wm. M. Gates, elected September 2, 1863, re-elected November 6, 1866, reelected again November 3, 1868; J. Powell, Jr., elected November 8, 1870; Geo. W. Keith, elected November 5, 1872, re-elected November 3, 1874, November 7, 1876; John Powell, Jr., elected November 5, 1878; Geo. W. Keith, elected November 2. 1880.

COUNTY SHERIFFS.

            J. Martin Reese was appointed by the Executive December 11, 1861; G. H. Moore, elected January 14, 1862, re-elected September 3, 1862, resigned October 20, 1863--H. C. Lynch, appointed; G. W. Shaw, elected September 7, 1864, re-elected November 6, 1866, November 3, 1868, November 8, 1870. and November 5, 1872; R. A. Cooke, elected November 3, 1874, re-elected November 7, 1876, re-elected again November 5, 1878, and November 2, 1880.

COUNTY CLERKS.

            Daniel Kendrick was appointed by the Executive December 21, 1861, re-elected January 14, 1862, reelected again September 3, 1862, September 7, 1864, November 6, 1866; died August 20, 1867, and W. A. Landers was appointed to fill vacancy on the twenty-second of same month; G. W. Keith, elected November 3, 1868, re-elected November 8, 1870; J. A. Bonhan, elected November 5, 1872, re-elected November 3, 1874, J. S. Dallas, elected November 7, 1876, re-elected November 5, 1878, and again November 2, 1880.

COUNTY TREASURERS.

            John Irvine was appointed by the Executive December 21, 1861; John Irvine, Jr., was elected January 14, 1862, resigned June 2, 1862, N. C. Power was appointed; E. H. Dean was elected September 7, 1834, and resigned November 8, 1865, B. F. Leet was appointed; B. H. Carrick, elected November 6, 1866, re-elected November 3, 1868, re-elected again November 8, 1870; W. W. Byron, elected November 5, 1872; Geo. W. Shaw, elected November 3, 1874; J. D. Sims, elected November 7, 1876, re-elected November 5, 1878, re-elected again November 2, 1880.

COUNTY ASSESSORS.

            Daniel Vanderhoof, elected January 14, 1862; Daniel L. Smith, elected September 3, 1862; J. K. Barney, elected September 7, 1864; D. L. Smith,

496      HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEVADA.

elected November 6, 1866; G. C. McFadden, elected November 3, 1868, re-elected November 8, 1870, re-elected again November 5, 1872; O. E. Nash elected November 3, 1874, C. F. Brant, elected November 7, 1876, re-elected November 5, 1878; Fred Winzell, elected November 2, 1880.

COUNTY RECORDERS.

            John G. Shirts was appointed by the Executive December 20, 1861; A. W. Russell, elected January 14, 1862, re-elected September 3, 1862, re-elected again September 7, 1864; C. D. McDuffie, elected November 6, 1866; L. L. Crockett, elected November 3, 1868, re-elected November 8, 1870, and again November 5, 1872; Z. T. Gilpin, elected November 3, 1874; John Lothrop, elected November 7, 1876, re-elected November 5, 1878; W. R. Davis, elected November 2, 1880.

COUNTY SUPERINTENDENTS OF SCHOOLS.

            S. W. Bees was elected January 14, 1862; C. D. McDuffie, elected September 3, 1862, re-elected September 7, 1864; J. C. Hazlett, elected November 6, 1866, re-elected November 3, 1868; P. T. Kirby, elected November 8, 1870, resigned November 4, 1871, C. V. Boiset appointed February 20, 1872; M. B. Augustine, elected November 5, 1872; J. G. Cromwell, elected November 3, 1874, resigned December 6, 1875; C. D. McDuffie appointed, who resigned September 4, 1876, and was succeeded by W. E. Doovey; John G. Young was elected November 7, 1876, re-elected November 5, 1878; T. B. Mercer, elected November 2, 1880.

COUNTY SURVEYORS.

            Francis Tagliabue was appointed by the Executive, December 13, 1861; John Day was elected January 14, 1862, and was reelected September 3, 1862, re-elected again September 7, 1864, again re-elected November 6, 1866; R. T. Mullard, elected November 3, 1868; J. C. Gruber, elected November 8, 1870; A. S. Dildine, elected November 5, 1872, re-elected November 3, 1874, again re-elected November 7, 1876, and November 5, 1878; John M. Campbell, and elected November 2, 1880.

PUBLIC ADMINISTRATORS.

            T. H. Laverty, elected November 6, 1866; J. H. Jaqua, elected November 3, 1868; W. H. H. Scott, elected November 8, 1870; Isaac Leversee, elected November 5, 1872, re-elected November 3, 1874; Thomas R. Hawkins, elected November 7, 1876; George E. Jaqua, elected November 5, 1878; J. P. Haynes, elected November 2, 1880.

COUNTY COLLECTORS.

            J. S. Dilley was elected January 14, 1862; M. W. Starling, elected September 3,1862, re-elected September 3, 1862, re-elected September 7, 1864, resigned September 4, 1866; B. H. Carrick was appointed.

INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.

            Soon after the approval of the bills organizing the counties of Lyon and Churchill, and uniting them temporarily for judicial and revenue purposes, a full set of officers was appointed by the Governor, who held their respective places till their successors were elected, in January, 1862. By a reference to the election returns of that year it will be seen that there were no lack of candidates, although they were to hold only till the next general election, in September of the same year.

            At the meeting of the Board of Commissioners in 1862, A. F. Hurley contested the election of A. W. Russell for Recorder, on what grounds does not appear, but the Board declined to investigate the matter for want of jurisdiction. Churchill County was made a district for the election of a Commissioner. The Board made an appropriation of $10,000 to build a free bridge across the Carson, provided the public would subscribe a sufficient sum in addition to this to complete the bridge. This appropriation was however revoked at a subsequent meeting; and in December following the Legislature authorized Bolivar Roberts to build a toll-bridge across the Carson, at Dayton. By a special Act of the Legislature, the Dayton Gaslight Company was organized, to be under the management of M. W. Starling, William Haydon, James H. Jaqua, and their associates. The Silver City Water Company was also created, Robert C. Buzan and others being managers. Isaac H. Stith and associates were authorized to build a toll-bridge across the Carson, at Franklin Mill; and finally a vast project for inland navigation was conceived and attempted. This project was nothing less than an attempt to improve the Carson River and Carson Lake, the Humboldt River and Humboldt Lake, so as to make a continuous line of navigation from Dayton to Humboldt City. The charter was granted to J. Jacobson, John Bowen, Alexander Pierson, John Taylor, T. Reynolds, and associates. The plan has never been executed, but it was considered far more feasible than the great Sutro Tunnel was, which is now a fixed fact, and with the same energy might also have been accomplished.

CREATION OF A COUNTY DEBT.

            To create a county government is much easier than to run it afterwards. Money is required. Salaries of officers must be paid, rents for rooms as well. In short, a county government must be paid for. The debts had accumulated until outstanding warrants called for $1,902.50, exclusive of interest. There was no money in the treasury, and something had to be done. The Auditor was authorized to issue bonds, bearing interest, and payable out of the general fund when there should be any. It was stipulated that the bonds should be sold for not less than half of the face thereof. It was also ordered that the rent of the Court House and jail be paid the same way.

            The jail was an insecure place, and extra guards had to be stationed around the prisoner who had murdered Varney. Silver City also had its share of criminals, with no suitable lock-up; a sum of $250 was ordered to be expended for that object, provided

HISTORY OF LYON COUNTY.      497

the citizens of Silver City raise half as much more for the same purpose.

COURT HOUSE AND COUNTY JAIL.

            A king without a kingdom; a general without an army; a county without a Court House—what are they? A Court House was determined upon, and Commissioner Howard was authorized to procure plans and estimates, and to obtain such legislation at the session of 1864 as would enable the Commissioners to issue bonds necessary for the purpose. Accordingly the Legislature passed an Act, approved February 18, 1864, which authorized the Commissioners to issue bonds, to the amount of $30,000, bearing interest at the rate of ten per cent. per annum.

            A call for plans and proposals was inserted in a Virginia paper April 4th, and was duly responded to. Sites were offered for the buildings in different parts of the town, but the Commissioners fixed upon a lot on Main Street, near Leslie's hay yard and a house occupied by Rothschild; provided that the parties interested in the lot gave a trust-deed to the Commissioners, and opened streets in the vicinity; these latter conditions not being complied with the location should be at another specified point. John C. McDonald, Jr. was appointed to sell the bonds to be issued by the county. April 4, 1864, the contract for building the Court House was awarded to Wm. M. Hussey, who gave bonds for the faithful performance of the work in the sum of $6,000. B. C. Howard, one of the Commissioners was authorized to superintend the work, at a salary of $200 per month. March 20, 1865, the Commissioners levied a special tax of forty-five cents on each $100 for the erection of the county buildings, to be applied to the bonds. In May, 1866, the Grand Jury made an examination into the affairs of the Court House, there being some dissatisfaction on the part of the public in regard to the matter. Their report August 8, 1866, will make the matter plainer than any condensed history can. It was as follows:

            We find the Commissioners of Lyon County authorized by Act (approved February 18, 1864,) to issue bonds in $30,000, payable $5,000 in one year, $5,000 in two years, $10,000 in three years and $10,000 in four years, bearing interest payable semiannually at ten per cent. per annum; to appoint a suitable person to negotiate the sale of bonds, no sale to be negotiated at not less than seventy-five per cent. on the par value. Said agent encouraged the letting of the contract for the erection of the building, as he had succeeded in negotiating for the sale of the bonds. A contract was let in April, 1864, to Wm. M. Hussey, for $18,750, for the erection of a Court House, exclusive of the jail. The contractor proceeded at once to the erection of the building. After he had expended several thousand dollars, and had completed the basement walls, the first story approaching completion, information was received from the agent that the parties with whom he had negotiated for the sale of the bonds had declined advancing the money upon them without assigning any satisfactory reason. Then it was that the first financial embarrassment occurred, leaving the Commissioners with the contract upon their hands, it having been abandoned by the contractor, and the county deeply involved for the work already performed. * * To relieve the embarrassment individual notes were issued by the Commissioners pledging the faith of the county for the redemption. These notes were given to quiet the apprehension of parties who had furnished labor and material, the Commissioners presuming that the interest that would accrue on these notes would be much less than the costs that would necessarily arise from legal proceedings threatened by the various claimants. Then to procure money to relieve their obligations the Commissioners were obliged to give their notes pledging the bonds as collateral security.

            Accompanying the report was a financial statement of the Court House affairs, showing the total cost of the jail and Court House to be $49,066.15. The $30,000 of bonds had been sold for $24,500, leaving a debt of over $25,000, on account of the Court House, still outstanding. The Commissioners found, in the course of their investigations, that B. C. Howard had been paid $2,180 for superintending the work of construction. They also found that the sum of $3,509.10 had been paid for interest upon notes which had been given from time to time during the process of the work of building, and that these various sums were incorporated into the total cost of the building.

            In this way the county buildings cost the county twice as much as they would have done for cash in hand, and the accumulation of years of interest has made them cost, probably, three times as much.

INVESTIGATION AND ECONOMY.

            The Grand Jury, at this time, went into a thorough investigation of all the financial matters of the county from its organization to that time (1866). . They found the entire receipts of the county, from December 30, 1861, to August 7, 1866, to be $199,263.54, and the total disbursements for same time, including a defalcation of Treasurer Dean in the sum of $2,484, to be $195,669.18. And still there was an outstanding indebtedness of $40,952.82.

            They entered into an extensive mathematical calculation and found that at the present rates of income and expenditure it would take just 272 years to pay off the debt, and recommended that it be bonded and a tax levied that would extinguish the debt in four years. They also recommended that the expenditures be put on a cash basis, and thought that the legitimate expenses might be brought within $1,000 per month. As there was no paper published in the county the report was posted in the Clerk's office. October 8, 1866, in accordance with the recommendation of the Grand Jury, the Commissioners levied a tax of ninety cents on each $100, to be applied to the Court House bonds.

            Following up the work of economy and retrenchment thus auspiciously begun, the county was very soon enabled to pay current expenses without the

498      HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEVADA.

necessity of putting its scrip on the market at a discount, and materially to reduce the bonded debt. In 1873, less than ten years, the bonded debt was reduced to $15,000, and to-day it is entirely wiped out. The present population of the county is 2,400.

            For a more perfect knowledge of the products of the county, the number of acres under cultivation, the stock and grain raised and the fruit trees and vineyards, reference is had to pages 135, 136, 139 and 140 of the general history. For the bullion product of the county see table elsewhere in this book.

PROSPECTING FOR COAL.

            Coal has not been found in quantity, or is it likely to be. The ranges of metamorphic slates, granite, syenite and porphyry which traverse the State indicate the presence of metals older than coal. On the other hand the fact that the Great Basin was formerly an inland sea; that the rivers flowing from the Rocky Mountains and also from the Sierra would be likely to bring down with them large quantities of drift-wood, point to the probability of deposits of lignite, or brown coal, which is a deposit of a recent age. The peat beds and deposits of vegetable matters several feet in thickness along the Humboldt, point to such a conclusion. If they had been buried a few hundred feet in a tight clay for a hundred thousand years or more, they would now have been tertiary coal or lignite. Such deposits have been sought for, but not with great success. The largest yet known is in this county, about twenty-five miles southeast of Dayton in El Dorado Cañon, though mention of it is made at other places. It is found in a similar formation near Walkers Lake, and also in Washoe Valley, and appears to be composed of nearly the same kinds of timber now growing on the hills and mountains to the east, the pine being particularly abundant. The first discoveries were made in 1861 by Whitman and others. They proceeded to organize a mining district and establish regulations for the size of claims. Forty acres were allowed in each claim, which was to be surveyed and treated as real estate. The Whitman Company expended $10,000 or more in prospecting, but did not find very much to remunerate them. The coal was worth at the mines about twelve dollars per ton. It is said that it contained so much incombustible matter as to choke the flues and obstruct the draft, though much of the difficulty might have resulted from inexperience in the use of it. The beds of coal were on a slope about twenty degrees from a horizontal, and were from six inches to thirty inches in thickness, inclosed in strata of clays of different kinds, some of them approximating fire clays in mineral character, all finally terminating in a coarse sand.

            The discoveries in El Dorado Cañon were made soon after. This coal, or lignite, met with more favor than that of the Whitman Mine, several hundred tons being carried to market in a short time. Samples from the Newcastle Mine assayed as follows:—

            Moisture.                                            19 65

            Hydro Carbonaceous Matter              40 59

            Fixed Carbon                                     28 31

            Ash                                                     11 00

            With traces of sulphur and iron.

            It was remarkably free from sulphur, and if found in sufficient quantities, would be of value. For the most of the foregoing statements we are indebted to the work of J. Ross Brown on the mines of the Pacific Coast.

            According to the report of the State Geologist for 1876, the explorations for coal in El Dorado Cañon have been quite extensive, something over $200,000 having been expended in the search. The shafts have been carried down to a depth of 600 feet or more. The prospects were at one time so promising that a railroad to the mines was contemplated, a charter having been granted by the Legislature for this purpose.

PRINCIPAL MINING DISTRICTS.

            The mineral veins in the early days were not considered much inferior to those of Virginia City and Gold Hill. In all mining countries where the mines are free to those who will find and work them there are a large number of men who will stake off claims in any direction that is possible for a lead to be found. Everything like a quartz vein, or even a stained rock, will attract their attention; they lay claim to it, doing just enough to hold the ground, and otherwise wait the approach of the industrial miner, with shafts and tunnels, to develop the supposed lead, and enhance the value of their ground. If the lead runs through their ground they make a stake, if not, they seek some other scene of excitement, and try again. Lyon County was no exception to this rule. It was overrun by a multitude of prospectors and forestallers. By the first of January, 1860, the number of claims recorded amounted to thousands, many of which never had five dollars of work done on them. To give the names of all the locations would be giving too much space to folly. Only noted mines will be mentioned.

            DEVIL'S GATE DISTRICT was organized November 19, 1859, and is situated in Lyon County, about two miles from Dayton. The first claim was named the "Wild Cat," and was recorded November 24, 1859. By the first of January, 1860, there were as many as 100 locations recorded. Among the prominent claims were the Pride of the West, Buckeye, Gray and Cook, Kossuth, Mount Hope, Daney, and many others. The Daney eventually became a celebrated mine. The Surveyor General, in his report of 1865, claims that the Grosh Brothers made the discovery of silver in this district as early as 1857, on the ground then (1865) owned by the Kossuth Company.

            INDIAN SPRING DISTRICT was claimed to be rich, having a number of promising mines, among which were the Whitman, Jackson, Enterprise, Consoli-

HISTORY OF LYON COUNTY.      499

dated, Maiden, Half X, Commodore, Walton, Spring Dale, Maine, Superior, Buena Vista, Constitution, Red, White and Blue, Banner, Washington and Oswego.

            In the southeastern part of the county, near Esmeralda, were found several veins of copper ore, which assayed also fifteen to eighteen dollars per ton in gold and silver. The ledges appeared to be true fissure veins, with selvage or gouge of clay, and firm, well-defined walls, with a dip to the east. This belt of veins, carrying silver and gold as well as copper, was said to cover hundreds of square miles in the vicinity of Walker River, and to extend an unknown distance into other counties. This view of the matter was taken in 1865, when it was supposed that Nevada was almost a mass of ore.

            PALMYRA DISTRICT was about eight miles southeast of Dayton, among the Pine Nut Mountains. The whole district was covered with a dense growth of nut pine, which, however, was soon stripped off. Water was found in sufficient quantity for steam purposes. The mining claims looking best at the time of the organization were the Orizaba, Tecumseh, Rappahannock, Rey Del Monte, Orizaba No. 2, Santa Rosa, Palmyra, Montgomery, Santa Cruz, Walker, Oriental, Magna Charta, Nebraska, Buena Vista, Prince of Wales, Anna McLellan, Winfield Scott, Montezuma, Margaret White, La Fayette, St. Lawrence, Cash Ledge, Express Company, Montgomery Ledge, Green Mountain Company, Vera Cruz, Green Mountain Boy, Hooker Ledge, San Jose Company, and the Wagram. These were all considered promising, but none of them have been mined with good results.

PRINCIPAL TOWNS AND CITIES.

            CLEAVER is one of the stations on the Carson and Colorado Railroad, thirty-nine miles southeast of Dayton, in the valley of Walker River, being a northern extension of Mason Valley. The surrounding region is well adapted to farming and grazing, and the station has the promise of growing into a business town. The Carson and Colorado Railroad, which has now fifty miles of track in Lyon County, is more fully described in the chapter on railroads in the early pages of this work.

KIMBER CLEAVER,

Was born near Toronto, Canada West, July 10, 1837. His father, J. H. Cleaver, emigrated from Pennsylvania to Canada a few years before his birth. Becoming involved in the War of the Patriots of 1837-38 the family sacrificed their property in the struggle for liberty, and, being forced to leave the country of their adoption, became henceforth one of that band of fearless pioneers who blazed the way of civilization to the far West, bringing up in Iowa in 1853. The subject of this sketch had, by his early life and experience instilled in him a great desire for knowledge, which on every occasion he developed, thereby securing, by close application to his books, an excellent common school education. In 1861, when the youth and aged were rallying around the flag, Kimber Cleaver entered for the War of the Rebellion as member of Company H, Thirteenth Regiment Iowa Infantry, the flag of which regiment he faithfully followed from Shiloh (where he was wounded) to Vicksburg, and from Atlanta to the Sea, being again wounded at Atlanta, serving in all three years and ten months, seeing active service most of the time. At the close of the war he returned to Marshalltown, Iowa, and the peaceful pursuits of his farm. He was married to Miss R. A. Randall on May 14, 1868, and removed to Mason Valley, Lyon County, in 1873. He has, of course, experienced some fluctuations in fortune during an active life of nearly forty-four years, but now, being well established on a pleasant ranch, and also dealing in agricultural implements, with a home and his wife and happy children about him, he evinces no desire for a change. He is an earnest advocate of Republican principles and is an active leader of the temperance cause, being an officer of the Grand Lodge of the I. O. G. T. of Nevada, and an untiring and efficient member of the home lodge, which numbers among its members many of the representative men of the valley, who, with Mr. Cleaver, are zealous in their desire to inspire the youth of the land with industrious and temperate habits and to instill into their minds the nobler aspirations of manhood.

            COMO AND PALMYRA, two towns in Palmyra Mining District, situated southeast from Dayton, at one time contained seven hundred inhabitants, but they have since been nearly abandoned. Como was quite a place in its day. In 1864 the town cast 200 votes for Lincoln and not one for McClellan. The people had determined to have 200 votes, and to make the number a sick German was taken from his bed and carried to the polls. Some said the man was dead when he was voted; others say he was alive at the time, but died shortly afterwards.

            At that time Como was the county seat of Lyon County, and had a newspaper called the Como Sentinel, a lively, hopeful sheet, with no doubt whatever of the ultimate success of everything connected with Como.

            Notwithstanding all the blandishments of the place, men would commit suicide. The first death was of this nature. The place was so alarmingly healthy that it was a debatable question whether any one would not have to move away to die, so that the suicide might have been a grand, self-sacrificing experiment. The ingenuity, as well as the liberality, of the citizens, was taxed to give him a decent burial. There was no sawed lumber to be had for love or money, but a wagon-bed which had been utilized as a pig pen was brought into requisition, and the youthful swine had to give up his house to accommodate the suicide's body. Alf. Doten made the coffin. As there was no paint, a mixture of blood

500      HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEVADA.

and other materials was used to stain the wood, polishing it with a rag. This piece of extravagance cost his friends forty dollars.

            When the first mill arrived in Como, a public reception was tendered it. A procession headed by a band composed of fife, drum, cymbals and cornet, escorted it into the town. This mill, called the Solomon Davis Mill, had quite an eventful history. It was built in California for saving free gold, and when quite old, was brought into Nevada and set up at Dayton, being the second steam mill at that place. It proved a failure, and in 1863 it was moved to Como with the ceremonies mentioned. It was true to its former character, and made no money for its owners. In December, 1865, this mill was moved to the Kearsage District, and ground out a twelve-horse load of bullion for Almarin B. Paul, which was taken to Virginia City under a strong guard of troops. When it arrived it proved to be pyrites of iron!

            The town of Como, in spite of its having such a romantic name, gradually dwindled away, hotel, saloon, stores and mining offices consolidating until but one solitary individual, Judge G. W. Walton, was left. On the night of November 22, 1874, the cabin burned down, leaving his charred remains as the last of Como. He was a Mason, and his body was taken in charge by the fraternity and buried in the southwest corner of their cemetery at Dayton. Judge Walton at his death was sixty-three years old.

            Captain Truckee, perhaps the best Indian that ever inhabited Nevada, lived in this vicinity. He was always the white man's friend, and when he died he was buried according to his wish, " alle same white man," with a " wooden head-stone marking his grave. This has since rotted away, and now no one can tell where Captain Truckee sleeps. His death occurred October 8, 1860.

            DAYTON, the present county seat, is at the mouth of the gulch, or stream, which runs from the Bonanza mines to the Carson River, and at the end of the twenty-mile desert, across the Great Bend of the Carson, and seven miles from Gold Hill. It has had an existence since 1849, but for ten years previous to the discovery of silver was only a straggling hamlet, bearing the name of Chinatown, in consequence of the Chinese engaged in washing the gravel of the ravine for gold, being the most numerous of any nationality. The present name was determined at a public meeting, held for that purpose November 3, 1861. The discovery of the rich silver lodes had the effect of nearly destroying the place for awhile, as the discovery of gold did San Francisco, hardly a half-dozen persons being left to keep possession. Many of the houses were moved away to Virginia City and Gold Hill. As the mines developed the relation of Dayton to them became apparent. It was the natural gateway to the outside world. In addition to this the mill-sites along the Carson River were necessary to reduce the rich ores, consequently a reaction set in that made Dayton nearly as flourishing as Virginia City or Gold Hill. All the mineral had to pay toll there. From the time that milling commenced Dayton had a full share of the profits arising from mining. In 1865 it had 2,500 inhabitants, a school house, lodge of Free and Accepted Masons numbering fifty members, lodge of independent Order of Odd Fellows numbering twenty-seven, a military company of eighty-four, one brewery, five carpenters, three grocery stores, seven hotels, five saloons, three lumber yards, and other institutions common to flourishing towns in mining countries.

            In 1880 the population was about 200. It has a post-office, telegraph and express office, hotel, drugstore, three for general merchandise, several saloons, two blacksmith shops, two shoe shops, and one barber shop. The people complain of its being terribly dull.

            In July, 1866, the people of Dayton sustained heavy loses by fire. The office of the Lyon County Sentinel was destroyed, and the paper was subsequently issued in small sheets containing legal advertisements.

J. L. CAMPBELL,

The subject of the following sketch, is a native of Indiana, born in the city of Logansport, Cass County, March 7, 1832. His father and mother were natives of the State of New Jersey. At the age of twelve years, Mr. Campbell emigrated, with his parents, to New Boston, Illinois, where he remained as a plow-boy, on his father's farm, until he reached his majority. He had during that time acquired a fair education, and, as youth ripened into manhood, he thought to better his condition by leaving the parental roof, and launching out into the great world in search of the fortune he believed in store for him. He, therefore, decided upon California as the place for his future operations, and, accordingly, prepared for a trip across the plains, and, after a five months' journey, through the barren country lying between his home and the Pacific Coast, arrived in Sonora, Tuolumne County, where he engaged in the butchering business, and continued to follow that occupation until 1862, at which time he crossed the mountains, and located at Dayton, Lyon County, Nevada. Since his arrival in this State, Mr. Campbell has followed the same business, having besides his establishment in Dayton a branch meat-market in the town of Sutro, about three miles away. He kills his own beef, and, therefore, is able to supply his many customers with a fine quality of meat.

            He was first married at Sonora, California, to Miss Lizzie Mitchell, a native of Ohio, who joined her husband in Dayton, July 1, 1863, and was buried in the cemetery at that place, on the twenty-first of September, the same year. One son, George B., is the result of that union.

            Mr. Campbell was again married in 1867, and has six children, four boys and two girls.

HISTORY OF LYON COUNTY.      501

MR. JOHN LOTHROP

Is a native of Missouri, and was born July 25, 1842. When ten years of age he crossed the plains to California, in 1860 he became a resident of the State of Nevada, and was actively employed in mining pursuits for several years, and has so satisfactorily established himself in the esteem and regard of his fellow-citizens that he has been called upon to give them good service as Deputy Sheriff and Deputy Clerk, and has three times been elected County Recorder of Lyon County and is now a resident of Dayton, the county seat of Lyon County.

G. P. RANDALL

Was born in Rhode Island, October 9, 1831. His father, Samuel R. Randall, removed to Cincinnati in 1838. While there he was sent to school and was advanced in his studies as much as was possible at his age, receiving judicious care and careful instruction at home, besides. When twelve years of age, his parents removed to Campbell County, Kentucky, and when eighteen years old, G. P. Randall returned to Cincinnati and worked at the blacksmith trade until 1852.

            He then left for California, reaching that long-looked for goal on the last day of August, 1852. In that year he was in Downieville, Sierra County, and then in San Francisco, going from thence to Punto de los Reyes, thirty-five miles from San Francisco, where he remained until 1858 engaged in farming.

            During the spring he removed to Calaveras County and erected a substantial steam saw-mill in Nassau Valley, and had it constantly running until 1861, when he removed it to French Gulch, in the same county. In 1863 be disposed of his business, sold the saw-mill and went to Summit City, Alpine County, but was there only a short time. He then came to Nevada, farming in Carson Valley, Douglas County, and was so engaged until in 1866 when he went to Empire City and engaged in his legitimate business of blacksmithing, and for eight years continued at that calling. In 1874 he removed to Dayton, Lyon County, and purchased a blacksmith shop. He immediately added extensive improvements, and now, in 1880, his shops and yards occupy an entire block in the center of the growing town of Dayton. The work which he turns out of his shops in wagon-making and all the branches of the business shows him a careful workman.

            Mr. Randall owns also a pretty residence in the town. He married Miss M. E. C. Williamson, April 22, 1855. They have eight children living and three deceased.

J. D. SIMS,

Whose father, Robert Sims, left Tennessee at an early day and settled in the then sparsely peopled district of Missouri, now well-known as Greene County. There, the subject of this sketch, was born in 1841, and meritoriously remained with his father until he was nineteen years of age, giving most of his time and care to the clearing and cultivation of the farm, going to California in 1860, by the southern overland stage route. He stopped in Napa Valley until the fall of that year, when he left for Sacramento.

            In the following spring he removed to the State of Nevada and settled permanently in Dayton, Lyon County. For a number of years he found steady employment in the quartz mills, but concluding on a change, in 1874, he established himself in a general merchandising business, which has proven so successful that he has found it necessary to extend his facilities for trade, and to very materially enlarge his stock, and he now owns and occupies the well-known brick building on Main Street. Mr. Sims was elected Treasurer of Lyon County in 1876, and being re-elected at each succeeding election he has filled the position ever since; on the eighteenth of September, 1880, was nominated by the Republican convention for a third term, and being again re-elected, is still Treasurer.  In August, 1871, he married Miss Hattie E. Midgley, by whom he had four children, two of whom are dead and two are now living. Mrs. Sims died on the twenty-third of April, 1880.

            FORT CHURCHILL has often been mentioned in this History, and is more noted for its past than for its present. The glory of its military career has long since departed. The Post was first occupied in June, 1860, by U. S. troops, under Captain Stewart, who had been engaged in subduing the Indians at Pyramid Lake, and after the commencement of the War of the Rebellion, was enlarged and garrisoned by the California Volunteers. Barracks and quarters were erected at a large cost, there being six fine buildings for officers' quarters which cost $16,000 each. In March, 1870, the Fort was abandoned, and the buildings sold at auction, bringing the sum of $750. As a ranch overlooking the valley of the Carson, it, for some years, held its name, and later the name is applied to a station on the Carson and Colorado Railroad, twenty miles meat, of Dayton. The railroad follows the Carson River to this point in order to pass the Fort Churchill Cañon, then turning south to the plains of Mason Valley and Walker River.

            MASON VALLEY embraces a large extent of country, having within it the corners of the three counties of Lyon, Douglas and Esmeralda. This is principally described in the History of Esmeralda County, where the town of that name and post-office is located. Properly speaking, the extended valley should be called Walker River Valley. This extensive valley embraces one or more square townships of government survey in Lyon County, the river flowing from the south through Esmeralda, across the corner of Lyon, for about ten miles, and into Churchill, where it turns east, and then southerly to its mouth in Walker Lake. Entering this valley from the

502      HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEVADA.

north is the Carson and Colorado Railroad, with the stations of Wabuska, Cleaver and Mason. This railroad has its initial point at Mound House, in Lyon County, on the Virginia and Truckee Railroad, and its present terminus at Hawthorne, in Esmeralda, having a total length of 100 miles, about half of which is in Lyon.

            MOUND HOUSE is a busy milling and railroad center, six miles southwest of Dayton, being the junction of the new Carson and Colorado Railroad with the Virginia and Truckee Railroad.

            WABUSKA is one of the villages in the northern part of Mason Valley, and is a station on the Carson and Colorado Railroad, thirty-two miles southeast of Dayton. The exact location is in township fifteen north, range twenty-five east, Mount Diablo meridian of the United States Land Survey.

            SILVER CITY was settled before Virginia City, and was a place of considerable importance in 1860, having four hotels, ten stores, two drug stores, two butcher shops, three blacksmith shops, and several elegant dwellings. In early days it rivaled Virginia City in its mines, but failed to develop any "bonanzas," and afterwards derived most of its importance from the quartz mills in its vicinity, and to being on the line of travel between the "bonanza" mines and the mills on the river. In 1861 it had a population of over 1,000 persons, the "Directory" giving the names of 260 persons engaged in business. Several hundred horses and mules, engaged in hauling quartz, were boarded here in the early years, and the string of teams daily going to and fro were quite a feature.

            THE DEVIL'S GATE is an opening or gorge across a reef of the metamorphic rock which traverses the country parallel to the trend of the mountains. It was a landmark from an early day, and was constituted one point in the boundary line between Storey and Lyon Counties. The town has few resources for prosperity within itself, and, depending upon the Comstock mines for life, it has partaken of the general recent dullness.

            It now has two hotels, two stables, one brewery, express office, post-office, barber shop, blacksmith shop, butcher shop, two shoe shops, one store for general merchandise and several saloons.

            WADSWORTH on the Central Pacific Railroad is claimed to be in Lyon County in its extreme northwestern corner, and is also claimed by Storey and Washoe, the latter maintaining jurisdiction.

PRINCIPAL QUARTZ MILLS.

            Lyon County contains nearly all the mill-sites available for reducing the ores of the mines of the Comstock Lode, and, for a time, the whole of the Carson River for twenty-five miles was claimed, and much of it improved. John Lothrop, present County Recorder, came to Dayton April 23, 1861, and found the Logan and Holmes two-stamp mill about 1,000 feet southeast of the present works of the Lyon Mill and Mining Company. It had been driven by an undershot water-wheel, but seemed to have been abandoned. The Sutro Mill was building at the same time. This was the second mill built in the canon, and the first that was run by steam power. It had fifteen stamps, and was considered at the time " a highly respectable affair." The Carson and Colorado Railroad runs through its ancient site at the southwest bank of the cañon in Dayton. It worked ores for the Gould & Curry but it would seem not very thoroughly, for Sutro has since worked over the tailings, and made $100,000 out of them. The mill was burned in 1863, a man sleeping on the premises perishing in the flames. There was a rumor that the fire was premeditated to obtain quite a large sum for which the mill was insured.

            During the same season, 1861, the Solomon Davis Mill was set up. This was an old affair from California and was only capable of saving free gold. It proved a failure and was removed to Como, and thence to the Kearsage District. Its history is given more fully in the account of the town of Como.

            The Rocky Point Mill, built in 1861, was the first large mill. A mill was put up opposite the point where the Sutro Tunnel now opens about the same time, but was soon after carried away by a flood. The Illinois Mill was above the Rocky Point, and had fifteen stamps. The Shaw Mill was east of the Rocky Point. It had fifteen stamps, but was never put in operation, as the Rocky Point Company claimed the water with which the company expected to run the mill, and succeeded in holding it. From this time on mill-sites were rapidly appropriated. Many a contest took place in settling these rights, in which a strong arm and a resolute will took precedence of a prior location. That the chaos terminated in a peaceful industrial period of years is a matter of astonishment and wonder to this day. If technical law was violated, and the strong arm grasped more than the courts would have awarded it, the property generally fell to those who would utilize it.

            In 1862 the following mills were in operation on Carson River. First on the river below Ormsby County was the Eureka Mill. The water was brought through ditch and flume 1,500 feet from the dam 120 feet long across the river. The building was 75x180, had twenty stamps, four arastras, and reduced thirty tons of rock a day. They used the Hurd process of concentrating, with forty-two Hungarian bowls, twelve copper concentrators, six flues, two Varny pans and employed twenty-five hands.

            San Francisco Mill, next below, with twenty stamps, Chas. Itgen, A. H. Doscher, Chas. McWilliams and William C. Divoll, proprietors, the last named being Superintendent.

            The Franklin Mill, Superintendent J. McDonald, near the Daney ledge, was a large and substantial structure 30x60 feet, with ten stamps, two arastras, with shaking tables and Hungarian riffles. This was

HISTORY OF LYON COUNTY.      503

one of the most substantial structures on the river. The dam half a mile above was of stone, twenty feet wide at the bottom and ten at the top. The cost was about $60,000. The works were intended to reduce the Daney ores, the mine being but one and one-half miles distant.

            Barton Company's Mill was situated on the east side of the river below the Franklin. The water was carried one and one-half miles from a substantial dam. The machinery was arastras, using the Patio process, J. N. Barton, Superintendent.

            Sproul's Mills, owned by J. R. Sproul, C. C. Goodwin, Levi Hite and J. R. Brett, the first named being Superintendent, run ten stamps, but have water-power for 100, if necessary; use twenty Hungarian pans and employ fifteen hands.

            Carson River Quartz Mill, Woodworth, Stewart and Winters proprietors, was one and one-half miles above Dayton. They had ten stamps and four arastras. Two Turbine wheels were driven by a large stream of water taken from the river 2,000 feet above, the canal being twenty-three feet wide. The Hungarian bowls and Hayden process are used.

            The Aurora Mills immediately joining the foregoing, were owned by Mossheimer, John D. and Joseph D. Winters and G. Kustel, the latter being Superintendent. Had thirty-eight stamps and reduced forty tons of rock per day. The two Turbine wheels were driven by water taken out of the river 600 yards above.

            Keller & Co.'s Mill was below the Aurora, was 60x75 feet, had fifteen stamps, reducing twenty tons of ore per day, saving both silver and gold.

            Solomon and Jacobs Mill was a steam mill of small capacity, working ten arastras, and employing ten or twelve hands.

            Sutro's Mill had ten stamps, and reduced about twelve tons of rock a day.

            The Dayton Mill, owned by Ford, Berry & Co., was at the lower end of the town of Dayton. It had fifteen stamps and crushed about fifteen tons per day. Cost $60,000. L. J. Carr, Superintendent.

            Mineral Rapids Mill. A town was laid out here which was intended to eclipse Dayton, but it did not. The mill, owned by Colton & Smith, was run by steam and had ten stamps and four twelve-foot arastras, crushing twenty tons of rock per day. The mill did custom work, not being connected with any mine.

            The Rocky Point Mill, owned by H. Logan, J. R. Logan, J. P. Holmes, and John Black, built in 1860, was one of the most extensive establishments in the country, the main building being 90x100 feet, with water-wheel of one hundred-horse-power, forty stamps, and reduced fifty tons of rock per day, working for both silver and gold. The water was brought a distance of 2,000 feet in a flume ten feet wide and three feet deep. The dam was built of stone and timber, and with the race cost over $10,000. The wheel was sixteen feet in diameter and twelve long, with forty buckets holding, when full, 6,000 pounds of water. Superintendents were Logan and Black. It cost $200,000, and in 1868 was owned by the Imperial Silver Mining Company.

            Freeborn & Sheldon's Mill was on the east side of Carson River, three-quarters of a mile below Dayton. It was on a large scale, the building being seventy-five feet square. The machinery was driven by a Turbine wheel weighing 5,000 pounds, being the heaviest in the country at that time, having a power sufficient to run forty stamps. J. S. Aitkin was Superintendent.

            Gautier's Mill was on the east side of the river, run ten stamps, crushing fifteen tons of rock a day. The process of amalgamation was Gautier's own invention.

            The Succor Mill, one mile and a half below Dayton, run fifteen stamps, crushing twenty tons per day. The building was sixty feet square. The ditch or flume conveying the water was thirty feet wide. J. B. Moore was the Superintendent.

            Frothingham & Co.'s Mill was four miles below Dayton, and run three stamps and four arastras, crushing and reducing eight tons of rock per day. P. Frothingham was Superintendent.

            This completes the list of all the mills completed on Carson River in 1862. Many more were contemplated, and some were built. In Gold Cañon near the Devil's Gate were the following:

            Pioneer Mill of the Washoe Gold and Silver Mining Company. This mill was in Gold Cañon, just above Devil's Gate, and was started August 13, 1860. It has been claimed for this mill that it was the first in the Territory, but it is quite certain that one if not two were prior to this. The Logan and Holmes mill (a small affair however) started in October, in 1859, and E. B. Harris' mill, contest the priority with the one in question, having probably started a day or two sooner. The subject of priority is more particularly mentioned in the early history of mining. It was erected under the superintendence of Almarin B. Paul, having two engines, thirty-two stamps, twenty-four amalgamating pans, and employed fifteen men.

            Burk & Co.'s Mill, formerly McNulty's Mill was situated at the junction of Gold Cañon and American Ravine at the lower end of the city, and was the second quartz mill started in the Territory, was run by steam, had five stamps, with ten grinders, on the principle of the grist mill, invented by the superintendent.

            Trench's Mill was built during 1860, at a cost of about $40,000 and was near the American Ravine. It had a thirty-horse-power steam engine, twelve stamps, two of the Brevoort's grinders, eighteen pans, the invention of the proprietor. The main building was 50x80.

            Silver City Quartz Mill was owned by Lambert, Weaver & Sullivan and had a thirty-five-horsepower steam engine, five stamps, two Brevoort's

504      HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEVADA.

grinders and crushed ten tons a day. This mill commenced running in February, 1861, and cost about $35,000.

            Union Mill was on American Ravine about fifty yards above the Silver City Mill, had a forty-horsepower steam engine, ten stamps and crushed custom rock.

            Pioneer Company's Mill, near Devil's Gate, had a forty-horse-power engine, fifteen stamps, and crushed twenty tons of rock per day. Like several other mills they had an improvement of their own in the shape of a muller or grinder.

            Swansea Mill was in Gold Cañon, one mile below Silver City. It had a forty-horse-power engine and twelve stamps weighing 800 pounds each, doing custom work, crushing about twenty tons of rock per day. Amalgamated with Hungarian bowls. John Tregloan, Superintendent.

            Excelsior Mill was situated above and near the Swansea. It had a forty-five-horse-power engine with eight stamps weighing 900 pounds each, crushing sixteen tons per day. They also had two ten-foot arastras. John Briggs, Superintendent.

            Osgood & Co.'s Mill was on the Dayton Road. It was worked by an eighteen-horse-power engine, had eight stamps crushing twelve tons per day, doing custom work. Employed twelve men and used the Bertola process of working ores. C. A. Chapin, Superintendent.

            Van Horn & Co.'s Mill, one mile and a half above Dayton, was driven by water, having an over-shot wheel forty feet in diameter. It was running six stamps with a reserved power for six more. Van Horn, Weston and Simon were the proprietors.

            The Eastern Slope Mill was one mile and a quarter below the Devil's Gate, had twelve double stemmed stamps driven by a forty-horse-power engine and crushed twenty tons of rock per day, employing twelve hands. They used the Novelty Company's process, an entirely new one and one from which great things were expected. J. C. Cushing, Superintendent.

            The Phoenix Mill was on the south side of Gold Cañon half a mile below Silver City. It had a forty horse-power steam engine, crushed forty tons of rock per day. It was one of the largest mills running at that time and cost $50,000. It was said to have been managed very successfully. Bowton and Uznay proprietors.

            Kellogg's Mill was about half a mile below Silver City. The building was about 40x60. It had a steam engine of twenty-horse-power, eight stamps weighing 600 pounds each and crushed fifteen tons per day. They used the Chili mill in amalgamating.

            It will be seen that the mill men were laboring under many difficulties in reducing the ores. Almost every Superintendent had a plan of his own. How these experiments succeeded will be learned in the portion of the work devoted to mining.

            In 1868 there were thirty-one quartz mills in operation, which had an aggregate of 440 stamps, 227 pans, and cost in round numbers the sum of $950,000. The greatest public work is the Sutro Tunnel, which has its terminus, or opening, in this county. Lyon has an area of 621 square miles and a population according to the census of 1880 of 2,409.

THE SUTRO TUNNEL.

            The plan of working deep mines by means of an adit is nothing new. Since the Romans worked the mines of Spain, for silver, to the working of the mines of Saxony, the adit has been a common method. Some of these adits, or tunnels as the miners choose to call them, are of immense length. The adit of the Clausethal, in the Harz Mountains, is six and a half miles long. It was commenced in 1777, and was not completed until 1800. Within the last few years, the surveyors demonstrated that a tunnel of fourteen miles in length would intersect the lodes 300 feet deeper, and the work was undertaken to save that much elevation of water and ore. The supposed importance of the work was indicated by naming it after the King of Hanover, the "Ernst August Tunnel." One in Gevenap, in Cornwall, has a total length of more than thirty miles. One in Germany, commencing on the banks of the river Gram passing through the mines of Hodritz to those of Schemnitz, has a direct line of about ten miles. It was constructed both as a drain, and for the exploration of the ground along its course. When the immense wealth of the Comstock Lode, as well as the floods of water, began to be apparent, the necessity of working the mines in a more scientific manner was soon considered. The elevation of the mines, near 2,000 feet above Carson River, which was but five or six miles distant, suggested that as a proper location for a drainage adit.

THE PROJECTOR'S TRIUMPH.

            Mr. Adolph Sutro, a German by birth, and acquainted with the manner in which the mines of his native country were worked, undertook the herculean task—as will be hereafter related—of opening this great lode by such a work--and the Sutro Tunnel was--made.

            On March 1, 1881, this tunnel had attained a length of 20,469 feet. The mouth of this tunnel is on the northwestern face of the Dayton range of mountains, in Lyon County, near the Carson River, and about 150 feet above its bed. At the Virginia City end of the tunnel, and at right angles to it, are two branches, known as the North Lateral and South Lateral Tunnels. The former had attained, on March 1, 1881, a length of 4,403 feet, and the latter, 4,114 feet. These extensions are still being continued. Including the main tunnel, the total distance penetrated underground is 28,986 feet, or fifty-four feet less than five miles and a half.

            The Sutro Tunnel was constructed at a total cost of about $4,500,000, and it took nearly nine years to complete it from its mouth to the Comstock Lode

HISTORY OF LYON COUNTY.      505

Its cost, including lateral branches, up to and including March 1, 1881, is $5,069,801.16. It has an interesting history. At the time the scheme was proposed, it was denounced as Utopian, and Adolph Sutro, its projector, was mercilessly ridiculed. When it was seen that he was terribly in earnest, he received some encouragement; but when be began to lay his plans for success, he encountered the most bitter opposition from the mining and milling companies and the banking and railroad corporations in Virginia City. But Sutro's shrewdness, with his indomitable energy, pluck and perseverance proved in the long run too much for his powerful antagonists. Starting without a dollar of money, and defeated in his many efforts to obtain government aid, he traveled through all the European money centers, and, after many refusals, succeeded in raising sufficient means to begin the enterprise, and conduct it to success. The tunnel is a monument to Sutro's genius, as well as to his pluck and stamina—and we shall now relate something of its construction and history.

THE IDEA CONCEIVED.

            Soon after the discovery of silver, on the Comstock, Adolph Sutro, who was carrying on the cigar business in Virginia City, formed an opinion that the vein was a true fissure one and likely to be productive to an indefinite depth. He next conceived the idea that the most economical method of developing the various mines was by means of a gigantic tunnel from Carson Valley to the lode. This idea, suggesting in itself the greatest mining enterprise ever undertaken in this country, and involving in extent some of the costliest engineering feats of the Old World was at first regarded as chimerical and impracticable. The encouragement and capital necessary to the execution of the scheme were nowhere to be found. On April 20, 1860, a communication appeared in the Alta California, of San Francisco, from Sutro calling attention to the lack of any system in working the Comstock mines. " Most of the companies," he said, "commence without an eye to future success. Instead of running a tunnel from low down on the bill, and then sinking a shaft to meet it, which at once insures drainage, ventilation, and facilitates the work by going upwards, the claims are mostly entered from above, and large openings made which require considerable timbering ; and exposes the mine to all sorts of difficulties." He wrote this when he had been in Virginia only a week, and when he did not know to his entire satisfaction that there was an extensive vein of ore there. Such explorations as had been then made did not extend to a greater depth than twenty or thirty feet. In 1861 Sutro erected a mill and reduction works, and took up his residence in the neighborhood of the Comstock. He continued amid a wilderness of indifference to advocate his project and after awhile the people began to look upon Sutro as a monomaniac upon the subject. He watched the current of events, and day after day it became plainer--to him that there was absolute necessity for a deep mining tunnel.

THE PROJECT FAVORED.

            In the fall of 1864 he petitioned the Legislature of Nevada for a franchise, and a bill was drafted, giving him and his associates the right of way for a tunnel, as far as it lay in the power of the State to give it. While this Act gave to the project the official sanction of the State, yet the amount of toll or royalty to be paid by the mine owners was not yet provided for, but was wisely left to a voluntary agreement between the tunnel projectors, and the various mining companies interested in the completion of the work. Senator Stewart was the first President of the Tunnel Company. He and Sutro spent nearly eight months in persuading the mine managers to enter into some kind of agreement with their company to push along the enterprise. After protracted negotiations and considerable expenditure of money, it was at length agreed by a majority of the companies representing nine-tenths of the value of the lode, that a royalty of two dollars per ton should be paid on every ton of pay ore extracted, and a compensation was also provided for the waste rock and passengers which should be transported through the tunnel after its completion. The royalty was then regarded as a mere bagatelle. The people interested now began to appreciate the magnificence of the undertaking and instead of throwing obstacles in the way they all joined to help Sutro, the Bank of California among them.

            The following document shows the standing of the Bank of California towards the enterprise at the date mentioned:

BANK OF CALIFORNIA.

D. O. MILLS, President.                                             W. C. RALSTON, Cashier. SAN FRANCISCO, May 4th, 1866.

To THE ORIENTAL BANK CORPORATION LONDON-

            Dear Sirs: This letter will be presented to you by Mr. A. Sutro of this city who visits England with the view of laying before capitalists there a very important enterprise, projected by himself, and known as the Sutro Tunnel in the State of Nevada. This tunnel is designed to cut the great Comstock Lode or ledge, upon which our richest silver mines are located, at a depth of 2,000 feet from the surface, to drain it of water, render it easily accessible at that point and thus increase the facilities and diminish the expenses of the progressive development of these mines.

            Too much cannot be said of the great importance of the work, if practicable upon any remunerative basis. We learn that the scheme has been very carefully examined by scientific men, and they unhesitatingly pronounce in its favor at all points—practicability, profit and great public utility. Mr. Sutro, we presume, is furnished with the necessary documents to make this apparent; and our object in this letter is simply to gain for him, through your kindness, such an introduction as will enable him to present his enterprise to the public fairly upon its merits.

            Commending Mr. Sutro to your courteous attentions, we remain dear sirs, yours very truly.

W. C. RALSTON, Cashier.

506      HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEVADA.

            In a year or two the bank company was fighting the tunnel project with terrific power. No one thought that a two dollars royalty was an adequate compensation for the manifold benefits the tunnel would confer. Many were firm in the conviction that, even at a royalty of six or eight dollars per ton, it would be advantageous to them. The Bank of California, which later entered into a vigorous warfare against the enterprise, then seemed particularly anxious to help Sutro.

            At that time the title, or fee, to the mines was in the United States Government, and an Act of Congress was deemed necessary, which should embody the general features of the Act already passed by the Legislature of the State, and which would grant other necessary privileges in addition. Sutro accordingly visited Washington, and, on the twenty-fifth of July, 1866, the bill, commonly known as the " Sutro Tunnel Act," was approved. By the provisions of this bill the General Government entered into a direct compact with Mr. Sutro for the completion of the tunnel, and, in addition to giving the right of way, empowered him to purchase 4,357 acres of land at the mouth, and to claim the ownership of the mines within 2,000 feet on either side of the tunnel, which he would have had under the common mining law. The bill also confirmed the royalty of two dollars a ton, and made the patents of mining companies thereafter obtained subject to the condition that the royalty be paid. Other minor concessions were also made by the Act. But there were many difficulties to be overcome. Objections were to be met, capital to be secured, and private interests were to be guarded.

BRIGHT PROSPECTS OF SUCCESS.

            After the Act of incorporation passed Congress, Sutro thought his long-cherished project stood on a basis that was not susceptible of doubt. Visiting New York to enlist the aid of capitalists he published a little pamphlet in which he explained the advantages of the tunnel, and the probable income that would be derived from it. He was, however, confronted by the objection that if, as he alleged, there were millions in the scheme, he would easily raise the money in California to carry it forward. After considerable importunity, however, they promised that, if he would return to the Pacific Coast, and raise three or four or five hundred thousand dollars, they would get $3,000,000 for him in the East. He returned to California and submitted the proposition to the mining companies. They began to subscribe, and, in May, 1867, he had $600,000 pledged. A great many private people put down their names for five or ten or twenty thousand dollars each, and he had a fair prospect of raising $1,000,000 in San Francisco, and the whole amount required, perhaps, in California.

OPPOSITION COMMENCED.

            It was at this promising stage of the work that the Bank of California stepped in and concluded  led to break up the enterprise. Early in the year Sutro had induced the Nevada Legislature to memorialize Congress in the strongest terms, to aid the project by a loan. The Bank of California at that period virtually controlled the mines and mills. Thinking Sutro was about to get a subsidy from the United States, they set out to defeat his project. The first step taken by them was to get the mining companies to repudiate their subscriptions. The officers of the mining companies had willingly entered into contracts for royalty on the ores raised and also for other things, but the mining companies bad changed sides, as the following telegram will show:—

VIRGINIA, Nevada, Jan. 15, 1868.

            To the Hon. William M. Stewart and James W. Nye--

            We are opposed to the Sutro Tunnel project and desire it defeated if possible.

            Signed: William Sharon, Charles Bonner, Superintendent Savage Company; B. F. Sherwood, President Central Company; John B. Winters, President Yellow Jacket Company; John P. Jones, Superintendent Kentuck Company; J. W. Mackay, Superintendent Bullion Company; Thomas G. Taylor, President Alpha and Superintendent Crown Point and Best and Belcher Company; F. A. Tritle, President Belcher Company; Isaac L. Requa, Superintendent Chollar-Potosi Company.

            Alpheus Bull, President of the Savage Mining Company, in his official report July 10, 1866, wrote as follows:

            The importance of affording drainage at a great depth, if it can possibly be obtained, cannot be too highly estimated. The Sutro Tunnel Company is the only party that proposes to undertake this important enterprise, and your trustees have entered into a contract with that company, for the purpose of effecting this great object. It is much to be desired that success may attend the effort, for it is in my opinion a work upon which depends the future value and profitable working of the mines of the Comstock Lode. I recommend that this contract be ratified by the stockholders at their present meeting.

            The company in accordance with his recommendation did ratify it. In July, 1867, he wrote to the company that there were grave reasons for doubting the policy of the arrangement, and recommended the stockholders to repudiate it. This was generally done under the pretext that Sutro had not complied with the terms of his contract. Two conditions it was claimed had not been fulfilled; first, the tunnel company were to procure bona fide subscriptions to the amount of $3,000,000; and, second, the agreements were to have been submitted for ratification by the stockholders in the mines at their annual meetings. Sutro, however, showed that he had secured extensions of time from the trustees, and that under such extensions they had no right to repudiate their contracts. The real motive which, it is said, inspired the opposition to the tunnel project, was the fear that it would, when completed, ruin the business of the railroad, owned by the bank people, which carried the ores from Virginia to the

HISTORY OF LYON COUNTY.      507

quartz mills owned by the same interest and located on the Carson River. As Sutro's scheme contemplated the erection of extensive reduction works at the mouth of his tunnel, it was an easy matter to array against it the hostility of the people of Virginia City. They became alarmed at the prospect of seeing their town sooner or later depopulated, and witnessing the rise of a still larger camp at the mouth of the tunnel some four miles southeast of them. They therefore regarded with genuine apprehension the destruction of property values to the extent of $13,000,000 or $14,000,000—that is to say, property in Virginia City and Gold Hill, the mills on the Carson, and the railroad.

            The upshot was, that Sutro was baffled on the very threshold of his success. He could not raise a cent. He returned to New York disappointed but not vanquished. He soon discovered, to his dismay, that he could get no money there. Then he formed the resolution to visit Europe in quest of the sinews of war. During his tour abroad he met such men as Von Beust, Sir Roderick Murchison, Von Cotta, Weissbach, Kerl, Rivot, Chevalier and many others —the great scientific celebrities of the world. They all indorsed his project. But it was impossible to raise money to further it. The great obstacle in 1867 was a feeling all over Europe that there was going to be a war between Prussia and France. Nothing could be done with American enterprises, either railroads or tunnels, or anything else, because war was bound to come. It did not come for two years afterwards, but it did come, and long before it broke out investors had became timid.

FAVORABLE ACTION BY CONGRESS.

            At the close of 1867, Sutro returned to America, still resolutely intent upon accomplishing his purpose. His first step was to submit the memorial of the Nevada Legislature to Congress, which was referred to the Committee on Mines and Mining, of which, at that time, Mr. Rigby, of California, was Chairman; the other members were Judge Woodward, of Pennsylvania; Mr. D. R. Ashley, of Nevada; J. Proctor Knott, of Kentucky; M. C. Hunter, of Indiana; Judge Ferris, of New York; Mr. Mallory, of Oregon; General Ashley, of Ohio; and Mr. Driggs, of Michigan. They became deeply interested in the question. Sutro was irrepressible. He fairly bombarded the committee with arguments in behalf of the tunnel. He haunted both Houses of Congress and soon became hale fellow well met with nearly all the Senators and Representatives. The result of his active winter campaign was that the committee mentioned, in au able report to the House, recommended a loan of $5,000,000 to the tunnel company, with a mortgage on all its property. A bill was drafted and had every chance of a favorable consideration. But Sutro's evil star was still in the ascendant. When the committee was about to be called in the House, the impeachment of Andrew Johnson commenced, and that lasted for months. Sutro had in fact accomplished nothing. Congress adjourned before his bill was reached. Under large expense, out of pocket and almost despairing, he went home again. But he was still full of courage. After a few months' reflection in California he returned to Washington to again press his claim before Congress. The session of 1868-69 was a short one, and the whole time was occupied in passing appropriation bills. Sutro this time could not get a hearing, so he went back to California once more and kept up communication with financial men all the time, but did not succeed in doing anything.

IMPORTANT VISIT BY CONGRESSMEN.

            In the summer of 1869 the Ways and Means Committee paid a visit to California. Mr. Hooper was the acting Chairman. Sutro saw the importance of getting those gentlemen over to Virginia City. He urged them very earnestly to go to the mines on their return to the East. They accepted his invitation, but the California Bank people, Sutro's relentless enemies, insisted on taking charge of the committee during t