A city in the Rocky Mountains.
--The resident population of Virginia, Nevada Territory, on the 1st of July, was estimated at fifteen thousand, the daily average number of transient visitors being as many more. Main street, which is the Broadway and walk of the city, is some three-quarters of a mile in length, crowded with every grade and description, a large proportion being elegantly dressed males and females. The buildings on Main street are mostly brick, the first story iron, open in front. This gives a light, cheerful appearance to the street, especially in the night time, when brilliantly lighted with gas. Many of the buildings in the city are provided with vaults and salamanders; the four and five story brick and front fire proof, now going up, all have one or both of these indispensable features. Some of the streets are so blocked up with lumber-brick, and mortar, that teams are at times unable to get strong; common laborer get from $2 to $4 a day, without board.--The city supports four daily newspapers, a theatre, opera-house, several, churches, any number of negro minstrels and melodists, to say nothing of the institutions already enumerated above. At Wells & Pargo's banking-house and express office it is not uncommon to see tons of "sliver bricks" wheeled in and out in the course of an hour. There "bricks" in shape resemble the ordinary fire brick, but are much larger, and from 285 to 990 per cent fineness, which is from 10 to 15 per cent, pure sliver, averaging some $1,800 each. Some of $20 and upwards are usually paid in $20 pieces. No paper currency there, no in any of the mining towns west of the Rocky Mountains — Salt Lake City being the only place where paper circulates for money.
