4 GEOLOGY OF THE COMSTOGK LODE. 



been dashed to pieces in tlie shafts.' None of the miners in the hot 

 mines receive less than S4 a day (eight hours), and a few get more. 



Good condition of the miners. — In spitc of the trying conditions the men are, with 

 very rare exceptions, in excellent physical condition. This appears to be 

 attributable to two causes. Even those who desire to practice close econ- 

 omy find themselves unable to live on the coarse fare on which miners in 

 other districts frequently subsist. The}' must have not only fresh meat but 

 fruit at any cost, and are large consumers of I'aw oysters brought from San 

 Francisco on ice, and similar delicacies. In short, they are compelled by 

 the physical effects of the conditions to which they are exposed, to employ 

 a much better diet than most workingmen. Moreover, while in the mines, 

 they are almost constantly in a perspiration as profuse as that induced by 

 a Turkish bath, a condition almost incompatible with bilious disorders. 

 They are thus much less liable than other workmen to derangements of the 

 digestive system, and are well nourished and extremely vigorous. The 

 average weight of the men is 1G6 pounds. It is said that short as the hours 

 of labor are, the work accomplished per man is as great as in cool mines. 

 In the California in 1877 the average amount of ore raised per man, includ- 

 ing employes of every kind, was 1.13 tons per day. 



Population. — The average number of miners employed from 1860 to 1870 

 was, as nearly as can be ascertained, about 1,500. From 1870 to 1880 it 

 was probably as high as 3,200, but in January, 1880, the number had 

 fallen off to 2,770. The population of the towns of Virginia, Gold Hill, 

 and Silver City has fluctuated greatly with the condition of the mines 

 and the number of miners at work. Silver City has never had many inhab- 

 itants, while Gold Hill and Virginia long since extended over the space 

 which originally separated them, and are divided only by artificial lines. In 

 round numbers the population of the three settlements in 1860 was 4,000; 

 in 1870, 13,000; and in 1880, I5,fj00. The maximum number of inhab- 

 itants thus far was about 21,000 in the year 1876. 



' It may not be improper to remark that geological examinations, which cannot of course he con- 

 fined to actual workings where everything possible is (lone to keep the air goo<l, are exceedingly trying. 

 All the members of my party were at times more or less overcome by heat and bad air. I (mce fainted 

 on the cage, and owe my life to the firm grasp of Mr. Hugh Lamb, foreman of the Consolidated Virgima 

 and California mines. ' 



