204 



LOCATION OF THE NEXT IRRIGATION CONGRESS. 



largest collections of law and other works on the Pa- 

 cific coast. 



Our public schools are equal to any on the Pacific 

 coast, while churches of various denominations and 

 fraternal societies are represented. 



Carson City is the headquarters of the Virginia & 

 Truckee, Carson and Colorado railroads, and the 

 central shipping point of all live stock east and west. 



It is surrounded by many natural attractions and 

 resorts among which, and deserving special men- 

 tion, are the celebrated " Shaw's Warm Springs," 

 renowned for their medicinal properties in rheumatic 

 and kindred ailments. A pleasant drive over smooth 

 roads of sixteen miles in a southerly direction brings 

 the tourist to " Walley's Hot Springs,'' conceded to be 

 equal, if not superior, to the hot springs of Arkansas. 

 Fourteen miles westward, at an elevation of 6,200 

 feet, lies the world-renowned Lake Tahoe famous 

 as a resort during the summer season. This entranc- 

 ing sheet of water is reached by daily stage to Glen- 

 brook, a cosy little village on the lake shore, where 

 steamers, which ply around and across the lake dur- 

 ing the day, are in waiting; and at night, moonlight 

 excursions, with music and dancing, go to make up 

 attractions which the tourist thoroughly enjoys. 

 Hotel accommodations are first-class and reasonable 

 at all points of the lake. 



A drive of sixteen miles northeasterly, or a ride by 

 rail of twenty-two miles up the mountain sides, over 

 the most crooked or winding railway ever con- 

 structed, brings the traveler to the " Comstock 

 Lode,'' situated at an altitude of over 6,000 feet. 

 Who has not heard of this famous lode, and the dis- 

 covery of its immense deposits of silver and gold 

 the most valuable and extensive ever found in 

 America ? Grand, instructive and interesting to the 

 tourist will be the perpendicular shafts sinking 3,000 

 feet into the bowels of mother earth, the enormous 

 hoisting works and powerful mining and pumping 

 machinery. Descending a shaft 1,750 feet the tourist 

 will find a locomotive and car to transport him again 

 to the sunlight emerging at the town of Sutro, four 

 miles distant. 



Virginia City, built over this famous lode, with 

 Gold hill contiguous, and Silver City, securely nestle 

 at the base of' old Mount Davidson, whose towering 

 summit apparently pierces the clouds, nearly 8,000 

 feet above the level of the sea. 



Will the lover of the grand and majestic in nature 

 now accompany me and ascend to the top of Mount 

 Davidson this lone sentry whose summit greets the 

 clouds, and behold a panoramic view that few mor- 

 tals have been permitted its equal to witness? 



Looking to the westward you behold the snow-clad 

 Sierras, and wafting from their lofty summits you 

 inhale the balmy air, freighted with the incense of fir 



and pine. At their base you see the Truckee river 

 like a silver thread winding its course eastward 

 through a most beautiful valley to its final resting 

 place. On either side of its banks lies the prosper- 

 ous town of Reno, where the State University and 

 other State institutions are situated, while the sur- 

 rounding country is dotted with prosperous farms 

 characteristics of a thrifty people. Little further south 

 your eyes are directed to Washoe lake and valley, 

 whose waters glisten like a silver sheen at your feet, 

 and whose shores are fringed with farms and or- 

 chards. To the southwest your vision will rest to sur- 

 vey Carson river and its fertile valley, the town of 

 Genoa, surrounded by elegant farm houses with all 

 modern improvements concomitant thereto, three 

 large creameries where the choicest of butter is made, 

 while waving fields of grain and alfalfa greet the eye 

 at every turn. The Carson river courses its way for 

 more than 100 miles in a northeasterly direction, dis- 

 charging its waters into two lakes. 



To the south and southeast you may view Mason 

 valley, through which the "Walker" runs, finally 

 emptying into a lake bearing the same name near 

 Hawthorne, in Esmeralda county. This is an exten- 

 sive valley, capable of supporting a large popula- 

 tion, and a desirable place to establish colonies. 

 Looking eastward for a distance of over 100 miles 

 you survey across Churchill county until the eye 

 mtets the summit of the Augusta range of mountains, 

 where Grant's Peak rears its lofty head, capped with 

 eternal snows. 



Gradually retracing your survey in a westerly 

 course, until your vision rests at the base of the " Old 

 Mountain," fringed with leafless sage and scattering 

 juniper, low down along the murmuring brooks and 

 streams, may be seen willows, cottonwood and other 

 trees skirting their banks, while among the shelving 

 rocks and pine you may imagine in the dim shade 

 the figures of ancient castle-domes rudely fashioned 

 among the gorges and canyons, which sight would be 

 sufficient to inspire the poet to sing of the grandeur, 

 majesty and beauty of the scene. 



To the wooer of Dame Fortune, what flights of 

 fancy his imagination may conjure! To what depths 

 of reverie may he not speculate when becoming con- 

 scious of his situation! for almost under his feet lie 

 the caverns of the Comstock lode, where its treas- 

 ures were and are imbedded, and from whence was 

 poured into the lap of commerce and trade untold 

 wealth of the precious metals, furnishing to our 

 Nation's exchequer during the dark period of its ex- 

 istence a sufficient amount to support and restore its 

 credit and make it possible for the early resumption of 

 "specie payments," besides a multitude of favors ex- 

 tended to our entire country. What further wealth 

 is in store in this " old lode " may be only conject- 



