Nevada railroads collection: Finding Aid mssNevadar
Huntington Library staff and Xiuzhi Zhou.
The Huntington Library
© 2000
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Business Number: (626) 405-2191
reference@huntington.org
Note
Finding aid last updated on September 9, 2022 by Kelly Kress.
Contributing Institution:
The Huntington Library
Title: Nevada railroads collection
Identifier/Call Number: mssNevadar
Physical Description:
10 Linear Feet
(18 boxes,15 volumes, 6 oversize maps)
Approximately 9000 pieces
Date (inclusive): 1862-1950
Date (bulk): 1870-1890
Abstract: Materials related to railroads built in Nevada and eastern California in connection with the Comstock Lode in Virginia City,
Nevada, and other mining booms in Nevada and California.
Language of Material: Materials are in English.
Conditions Governing Access
Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at the Huntington Library for more
information.
Conditions Governing Use
The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of this material,
nor does it charge fees for such activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and
obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item]. Nevada railroads collection, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Purchased from H. A. Levinson, February 27, 1963, and Yale Brown, May 16, 1963.
Biographical / Historical
Among the great names produced by Nevada's Comstock Lode are Adolph Sutro, Virginia & Truckee and the ring (William C. Ralston,
Darius O. Mills and William Sharon) who owned the Bank of California. Sharon was the bank's representative in the Comstock.
Ralston was the power behind the bank although he assumed only the modest title of cashier.
Adolph Sutro first came to the Comstock from San Francisco in 1860. He envisioned the great wealth to come from the Lode and
conceived the idea that the most economical method of developing the mines was to drive a tunnel, nearly four miles in length,
from the floor of Carson Valley, under the mines, then sink the mine shafts to meet it and remove the ore and drain the water
from the mines through the tunnel instead of lifting to the surface.
Sutro with a small amount of money, on October 18, 1865, started work on the tunnel, but met with great difficulty in financing
it, and the opposition of the powerful Bank of California, although Ralston had at first approved the project.
Ralston desired to control every part of the Comstock. He made loans to the mills at lower rates than his competitors, foreclosed
when they were unable to pay, and thus the bank became the owner of the principal mills situated along the banks of the Carson
River.
Sharon proposed building a railroad from the Comstock to the Carson River to haul the ore to the bank's mills and on the return
trip take up the enormous quantities of timber needed for shoring in the mines and wood for fuel for the steam engines.
Sharon's proposal was accepted and he with Ralston and Mills organized the Virginia and Truckee Railroad Company and in 1868
the line was built from Virginia to Carson, a distance of 21 miles.
To connect with the Central Pacific Railroad at Reno the line, in 1872 was extended to the banks of the Truckee River at Reno,
a distance of 31 miles.
H. M. Yerington who had been a mill owner but who had lost out to the Bank of California was employed as General Superintendent
which post he held for many years until his death.
In 1876 a branch to Genoa was located, but never built.
On July 8, 1878 after fourteen years of untiring labor and overcoming opposition, Sutro completed the tunnel.
To connect the Virginia and Truckee with the then booming mining towns of Hawthorne, Candeleria, Bodie, Aurora and Benton,
the Carson and Colorado Railroad, three foot narrow gauge, ws built in 1881-1883 from Mound House, nine miles east of Carson
on the Virginia and Truckee, to Hawley (later Keeler) California, a distance of 293 miles. Originally it was intended that
the railroad extend to the Colorado River, but it was never built farther than Hawley.
The Carson and Colorado Railroad was sold to the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1900.
In 1906 a branch from Carson to Minden, a distance of 15 miles, was built.
The line from Virginia to Carson was abandoned c. 1938.
On May 31, 1950 the Virginia and Truckee Railroad was completely abandoned.
Scope and Contents
The collection consists of materials related to railroads built in Nevada and eastern California in connection with the Comstock
Lode in Virginia City, Nevada, and other mining booms in Nevada and California (mainly in the period from 1870-1890). Subjects
in the collection include not only the railroad and mining industries but also the lumber industry.
Although the collection chiefly includes papers concerning the Virginia and Truckee Railroad (correspondence, business papers,
and operating statistics from 1862-1950), there are also materials related to the Carson and Colorado Railroad (letters and
business papers, 1880-1900), the Carson and Tahoe Lumber and Fluming Company (1870-1910), and the lake Tahoe Railroad and
Transportation Company (1907-1910).
Processing Information
Processed by Huntington Library staff. In 2000, Xiuzhi Zhou created a finding aid.
Related Materials
General
Former call number: mssNevada railroads.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Mineral industries -- California
Mineral industries -- Nevada
Mines and mineral resources -- California
Mines and mineral resources -- Nevada -- Comstock Lode
Business records -- California
Business records -- Nevada
Letters (correspondence) -- California
Letters (correspondence) -- Nevada
Virginia & Truckee R.R. and Virginia & Truckee Ry. companies
Box 1-5,7
Correspondence, memos, reports, & related papers.
1868 - 1950
Box 5
Ephemera, miscellaneous printed items, historical data, etc.
Box 6
Virginia & Truckee and Carson & Colorado railroads - freight memos
Physical Description: (1 vol.)
Scrapbook, Contains circulars, memos, etc. addressed chiefly to Ernest Eckert, Agent at Carson City, from Central Pacific
R.R., V. & T. R.R., Carson & Colorado.
1881-84.
Box 7 - 9
Bills, receipts, orders to pay, etc.
1862-1938
Box 10
Reports, pay rolls, daily statements, engine wood accounts, etc.
Box 11
Conductors' reports, special pay receipts
Box 13
Cancelled checks
1875-1877
Box 14
Cancelled checks
1878-79; 1889-98
Carson & Colorado R.R. and Carson & Colorado Railway companies
Bills, time rolls, cancelled checks, maps
Carson & Tahoe Lumber & Fluming Co.
Box 16
Correspondence, bills, receipts, etc.
1870 - 1910
Box 17
Cancelled checks
1872-1886
Daily log reports of the Sierra Nevada Wood & Lumber Co.
1901-02
Lake Tahoe Railway & Transportation Co.
Box 18
Correspondence, memos, etc.
1907-1910
V. & T. R.R. Co. - Cash Book, Virginia Station. NR 1
1876
V. & T. R.R. Co. - Conductors Train Register. NR 2
1875-1876
V. & T. R.R. Co. - Passenger statistics. NR 3
1887-1888
V. & T. R.R. Co. - Receipts & operating expenses. NR 4
1873-1889
V. & T. R.R. Co. - Time Book. NR 5
1872-1873
V. & T. R.R. Co. - Train orders NR 6
1873
V. & T. R.R. Co. - Train reports NR 7
1877
V. & T. R.R. Co. - Reports of Up Trains NR 8
1870-1872
V. & T. R.R. Co. - Agents Ledger NR 9
1887-1891
V. & T. R.R. Co. - Minden Station train register NR 10
1947-1950
Scope and Contents
(contains autographs of passengers on the last passenger train which ran May 7, 1950)
C. & C. R.R. Co. - Agencies Ledger NR 11
1881-1883
C. & C. R.R. Co. - Passenger statistics NR 12
1887-1888
C. & C. Ry. Co. - Passengner statistics NR 13
1894-1896
C. & C. Ry. Co. - Passenger earnings & apportionment NR 14
1898-1900
C. & C. R.R. Co. - Way Bill Register NR 15
1881-1884
General
(Note: The collection has been summarily sorted to make it available to readers. A more careful sorting or cataloging will
be done at some future date.)
Map of V. & T. R.R. Co. showing the Genoa Division... NR 16
1876
Map of the Eureka & Palisade R.R. from Alpha to Eureka, Nev. NR 17
1876
Map of the Eureka & Palisade R.R. from Palisade to Alpha, Nev. NR 18
1876
Map of Carson City, Nev. NR 19
1907
Virginia And Truckee Railroad Record Books
(1) EXHIBIT OF RECEIPTS AND OPERATING EXPENSES NR 4
Physical Description: 14 × 8 3/4 inches, leather, 204 pp.
Scope and Contents
This is a record for seventeen years, by months, for the years 1873 through 1889. A special printed form filled out in manuscript.
Doubtless, this was a confidental record for the private use of the railroad's owners.
This period includes the years of the Big Bonanza. The fabulous prosperity of the railroad and the Comstock during this period
is indicated by the dividends paid. For the years 1876, 1877 and 1878 dividends averaged about $750,000 per year.
Since it records concisely, the operating financial information accumulated from the many records of the company, it is most
valuable for a study of the railroad during this period.
Receipts are classified as from freight, passenger, ores, wood, lumber, weighing and miscellaneous. Disbursements are shown
for train service, locomotive service, telegraph service, repairs, loss and damage to freight and property, etc.
Of special interest are the manuscript notations of the payment of dividends, interest, the purchase of rails, payments to
the contractors for the Carson and Colorado Railroad, etc.
(2) AGENT'S LEDGER NO. 4 NR 9
Physical Description: 16½ × 13 3/4 inches, 3/4 leather, 302 pp.
Scope and Contents
For period December 1887 through January 1891. A special printed form filled out in manuscript. Each page is an account with
one of the railroad's station agents for a month with daily entries. Records the amount of business done by each station.
(3) REPORT OF UP TRAINS NR 8
Physical Description: 17 5/8 × 11 3/8 inches, 3/4 leather.
Scope and Contents
Period April 22, 1870 through December 31, 1872. Double spread special printed form filled out in manuscript. Records Up trains,
that is trains from Carson City, elevation 4615 feet to The Comstock, elevation at Virginia City terminus 6215 feet.
For each train, on each day during the period, is recorded the loaded cars with cargo and consignee, as also the name of
the conductor, the name of the locomotive and the departure and arrival at Mound House, Silver City and Gold Hill and the
time of arrival at Virginia City.
(4) CONDUCTORS' TRAIN REGISTER NR 2
Physical Description: 12 × 10 3/4 inches, 3/4 leather.
Scope and Contents
Period April 23, 1875 to April 30, 1876. Register at Carson City of each train by the conductor and engineer, with time of
arrival, locomotive number and consist of cars.
(5) PASSENGER STATISTICS NO. 1 NR 3
Physical Description: 11¼ × 11½ inches, 3/4 leather, 366 pp.
Scope and Contents
Months of July 1887 through December 1888. Special printed form filled out in manuscript. Each page is for a different station
and for a month. Shows number of passengers from each station to each other station on the V. & T. and the C. & C.
(6) TRAIN REPORTS NR 7
Physical Description: 13 × 8¼ inches, 3/4 leather, 320 pp.
Scope and Contents
Sunday January 28, 1877 to Saturday June 30, 1877. Manuscript. Reports trains to the Comstock with conductor, locomotive,
number of cars, cargo and destination.
(7) CASH BOOK, VIRGINIA STATION NR 1
Physical Description: 13 3/4 × 8¼ inches, boards.
Scope and Contents
J. E. Wratten, Agent. August 29, 1876 to November 15, 1876. Blank form book filled out in manuscript.
(8) TIME BOOK NR 5
Physical Description: 13¼ × 8 inches, boards
Scope and Contents
September 1872 to June 1873. Printed blank form book filled out in manuscript. Time record of engine crews and other employees.
(9) TRAIN ORDERS NR 6
Physical Description: 13 × 8 inches, boards, 286 pp.
Scope and Contents
August 4, 1873 to October 25, 1873. Blank ruled book with train orders in manuscript.
Carson And Colorado Railroad Record Books
(10) WAY BILL REGISTER NO. 1 NR 15
Physical Description: 19¼ × 15 inches, 3/4 leather.
Scope and Contents
Records way-bills from March 21, 1881 through April 30, 1884. This is the first way bill register of the railroad. A special
printed form filled out in manuscript. Records point of origin, destination and charges.
(11) PASSENGER EARNINGS AND APPORTIONMENT NO. 2 NR 14
Physical Description: 15¼ × 13 3/4 inches, 3/4 leather, 260 pp.
Scope and Contents
December 1897 through February 1900. Records passenger earnings from each station and apportionment to C. & C. R'y, V. & T.
R. R. and Southern Pacific R. R.
(12) AGENCIES LEDGER, NO. 1, AUDITOR NR 11
Physical Description: 16 3/4 × 13 3/4 inches, 3/4 leather, 396 pp.
Scope and Contents
March 1881 through December 1883. A special printed from filled out in manuscript. Each page is an account with one of the
railroad's station agents for a month, with daily entries.
(13) PASSENGER STATISTICS NO.1 NR 12
Physical Description: 13 × 10½ inches, 3/4 leather, 348 pp.
Scope and Contents
Month of July 1887 through July 1888. Special printed form filled out in manuscript. Each page is for a different station
for a month. Shows number of passengers from each station to each other station on the V. & T. and C. & C.
This is a companion record to V. & T. R. R. record, item 5.
(14) PASSENGER STATISTICS NO. 5 NR 13
Physical Description: 13 × 10½ inches, 3/4 leather, 376 pp.
Scope and Contents
March 1894 through September 1896. Similiar to item 13.
Virginia And Truckee Railroad Company Redeemed Bonds
(15) VIRGINIA AND TRUCKEE RAIL ROAD COMPANY, $1,000 BONDS Blank book with a redeemed bond and all its coupons pasted to a
page.
DATED AUGUST 1, 1874.
General
in Rare Book Dept.
Scope and Contents
Contains autograph certificate:
August 20, 1889
All bonds and coupons from 1 - 500,
all found to be cancelled and in place
in this book
----------------E. B. Yerington
----------------Sec'y
Now contains 412 bonds with coupons.
Virginia And Truckee Rail Road Miscellaneous Records
Box 13 & 14
(16-18) Cancelled checks drawn on the Virginia Agency of the Bank of California, mostly in the including some checks payable
in silver coin.
1870's,
Physical Description: One box.
Box 11
(19) Passenger conductor's and freight conductor's reports, etc. mostly in the
1870's.
Box 10
(20) Engine and wood pay-rolls and various operating reports, etc. on about twenty different forms.
Box 10
(21) Reports of tickets sold by other railroads, mostly emigrant tickets to Virginia City, some accompanied by the original
tickets signed by the passenger and taken up after passage. Also bills for currency from D. A. Bender & Co. and other records.
Box 6
(22) V. & T. and C. & C. rate notices in gummed stub file and scrap book file of agent at Carson.
Box 15
(23) Checks and miscellaneous items relating to the Carson and Colorado Railroad.
Box 1-5
(24) Letter files of supply department for years in four accordion paper files.
1884, 1887, 1891 and 1892
General
Interfiled with correspondence
Box 7-9
(25) Vouchers paid, also some bills to H. M. Yerington, mostly
1870's and 1880's,
1876 to 1879.
Scope and Contents
There are vouchers for the purchase of wood for the locomotives, other wood, mileage on foreign cars, purchase of scrap metal,
for advertisement of excursion trains, freight rebates, fluming lumber, purchase of steel rails, accident damage, purchases
from local merchants, etc.
Box 1-5
(26) Correspondence file, mostly
1860's to 1900's,
1870's.
Virginia And Truckee Railroad Right Of Way
Box 12
(27) RIGHT OF WAY MAP, W. H. Kirk, Chief Engineer, also station maps of Reno, Carson City, Minden, Mound House and Gold Hill
December 31, 1916,
Physical Description: blue prints.
Scope and Contents
Since these maps were made before there was any abandonment and after the last construction--the branch line to Minden, all
of the lines of the railroad are shown.
CARSON CITY MAP, A. C. Pratt, 27 × 18 inches, manuscript on linen tracing cloth, showing lines of Virginia and Truckee Railroad NR 19
January 17, 1907.
Box NR Box 12
YARD OF THE SUMMIT FLUME CARSON, 18 × 24 inches, manuscript on linen tracing cloth, showing tracks of Virginia and Truckee
Railroad in lumber yard and wood yard.
nd.
(28) GENOA DIVISION MAP, C. L. Anderson, Chief Engineer, manuscript mounted on linen, shows the Genoa Division as located
in and also the Lake Tahoe N. G. R. R.
NR 16
1876
General
The Genoa Division was never built.
Autograph Letter Signed And Letter Press Copy
(29) WESTERFIELD, W. J. Autograph letter signed, to H. M. Yerington, from Steamboat Springs, on Virginia & Truckee Railroad
Genoa Division letterhead, about accident on that date
May 26, 1872,
Physical Description: 3 pages. [Virginia and Truckee R. R. correspondence]
Scope and Contents
There is also the writer's office copy on yellow tissue. This copy was made in a hand letter press and this was the customary
way of making copies during the period.
It is unusual to find together both the original and a copy so made.
Virginia And Truckee Railroad Broadsides
General
Sent to Rare Book Dept.
(30) TIME TABLES, issued For the Government and information of employees only and not intended for the public, a collection
of 73 items:
General
To Rare Book Dept.
Scope and Contents
Virginia and Truckee Railroad, No. 1, effective July 11, 1870 in facsimile. Nos. 18, 21, 23, 28, 29, 30, 33, 34, 35, 37, 38,
39 and 41 through 59. No. 18 was effective April 24, 1881 and No. 59 was effective May 9, 1905.
Virginia and Truckee Railway. Nos. 60 through 92. No. 60 was effective November 18, 1905 and No. 92 was effective January
28, 1923. No. 62 effective August 1, 1906 first shows the line to Minden.
Supplements Nos. 3, 4, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14 and 18 to Time Table No. 94. For approximately the last twenty-five years of the
railroad no new time tables were promulgated, but changes were made by supplements to Time Table No. 94, which as supplemented,
was in effect at the date of abandonment May 31, 1950. Supplement No. 3 was effective September 30, 1926 and Supplement No.
18 was effective December 1, 1948.
(31) LIGHTNING EXPRESS, new arrangement through trains daily between Virginia and San Francisco, printed by H. S. Crocker
Co. San Francisco
May 1st 1876
Physical Description: 21½ × 14½ inches.
Scope and Contents
The Central Pacific Railroad was reluctant to allow its sleeping cars to run over the precipitous Virginia and Truckee grades
and high trestle, until one day Pullman came to Virginia City in his car, after which the Central Pacific relaxed and through
trains with sleeping cars were put into operation between San Francisco and Virginia City.
(32) SOUTHERN PACIFIC RAILROAD. Two broadsides taken from the Virginia and Truckee Railroad scrap book file:
Scope and Contents
Completion of the Southern Pacific Railroad via Lathrop the loop and Los Angeles, 31 × 14½ inches, 1877, Southern Pacific
R.R.
Through tickets to the new silver mines of Arizona, 19 × 6 inches, 1877, Southern Pacific Railroad.
This item also includes five Virginia and Truckee Railroad broadsides, announcing excursion trains, 1895, 1897, 1901, 1901
and the last 1927 for the visit of Col. Lindberg.
(33) SOUTHERN PACIFIC LINES RENO DISTRICT. Poster schedule showing seven connecting railways including the Virginia and Truckee
all of which, except one, now cease to exsist. 14 × 22 inches
1921.
Scope and Contents
This item also includes eight other broadside notices, fare schedules, etc. of the Virginia and Truckee
(34) KIMBALL, WARD. Virginia and Truckee Railway in all the world no trip like this. Caricature map of the railway by Kimball
with train schedule. Ward Kimball is a Walt Disney artist. 26 × 18½ inches
1941.
(35) ANTIQUITY. Four items, prints of sketches by railroad enthusiasts in the latter years of the railroad, when it was an
antiquity, but still operating.
(36) ADVERTISING POSTERS. A collection of twenty-three card posters that were received by the Virginia and Truckee from other
railroads, posted in the station at Carson City with thumb tacks, later taken down and laid aside and thus preserved.
Physical Description: Colored, 21½ × 14 inches, except two are 11 × 14 inches.
General
To Rare Book Dept.
Scope and Contents
Includes poster of the Chicago and North Western with dining car scene, 1877 and posters of the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific,
Chicago and Alton, Denver and Rio Grande, Chicago Milwaukee & St. Paul, Burlington, Rio Grande Western and Union Pacific railroads,
1880's.
Carson And Colorado Railroad Broadsides
(37) TIME TABLE NO. 15, Carson and Colorado Railroad, 1st and 2nd Divisions, to take effect on at 8:30 A. M.
Monday, October 15, 1883,
Physical Description: 17 × 13½ inches.
General
To Rare Book Dept.
Scope and Contents
This is a rare early time table in mint condition, showing the entire line of 293 miles from Mound House, Nevada to Hawley
(later Keeler) California. The railroad was only completed to Hawley in 1883.
On the verso are Rules and Regulations for the Government of Employees.
(38) FALLBERG, CARL. Original drawing, map of the Carson and Colorado Railroad. Used as an illustration in The Slim Princess,
John B. Hungerford, Reseda
NR 20
1956.
Physical Description: 24½ × 19½ inches.
(39) SHAW, FREDERICK. Map of Carson and Colorado Railroad, colored
1949,
Physical Description: 14 × 9 inches.
Scope and Contents
This item also includes three broadsides of the railroad, two train register sheets and a schedule of local ticket rates to
take effect September 10, 1900.
Time Table 13 Runs to V.C. [Virginia City] 1878 Box 10
Virginia And Truckee Railroad Miscellaneous Material
(40) Miscellaneous material, as follows:
a BOWKER, J. W. a. l. s. to H. M. Yerington, (see correspondence) Bowker was master mechanic. Locomotive No. 21 the J. W.
Bowker was named after him.
November 22, 1872.
b FULTON FOUNDRY, print as in Angel's Nevada (folers of printed items & ephemera) and a. l. s. to H. M. Yerington, (correspondence)
January 15, 1875.
Box NR Box 5
(c) VIRGINIA AND TRUCKEE RAIL ROAD COMPANY,
stock certificates issued, subsequently endorsed and cancelled, as follows:
d SUTRO, ADOLPH. Manuscript letter, to Mr. Yerington signed Adolph Sutro, Genl Supt. (see correspondence)
August 9, 1872
e HYMAN-MICHAELS COMPANY, purchase order to S. C. Bigelow, Receiver, for purchase of all metal in trackage of the railroad
from Carson to Virginia City. (see correspondence)
October 9, 1941,
f VIRGINIA AND TRUCKEE RAIL ROAD COMPANY. Impression of corporate seal. It has Virginia, Nevada and cut of locomotive in center.
(see ephemera)
g ENTERPRISE PUBLISHING COMPANY. Promissory note to the Virginia and Truckee Rail Road Company, 25,486.06. Enterprise Publishing
Company is the publisher of the Territorial Enterprise.
September 1, 1890, $
h STANFORD, LELAND. Manuscript letter from the Presidents office, Central Pacific Railroad Company, San Francisco, to H. M.
Yerington, Signed by Leland Stanford. (see correspondence)
January 8, 1875.
i COFFIN. Passenger way-bill, Empire to Carson, for one coffin, charges 25¢. with bills, etc.
November 25, 1880,
1880
j ANNUAL REPORT 1880. Printed report to Hon. Jasper Babcock, Secretary of State, annual report of the railroad for the year
1880.
k WRECK AT UNION TRESTLE, Virginia City
September 9, 1881.
Physical Description: Two blue photographic prints.
Box Box I (?)
(l) BALDWIN LOCOMOTIVE WORKS, correspondence and bills relative to the purchase of locomotives: (see correspondence B)
Scope and Contents
None of the railroad's locomotives were named for any of its owners. Of interest, therefore, is the letter to H. M. Yerington
from M. Baird & Co. Baldwin Locomotive Works, December 3, 1872, acknowledging instructions to change the name of No. 12, then
on order, from Sharon to Genoa.
m ESMERALDA NO. 14. Correspondence relative to the sale of this locomotive to Mexico. (see Smoot, Edgar K.)
n PUBLIC TIME TABLES, vd.
Box Box 5
(o) RAILROAD ENTHUSIASTS. Prints and other items published in the latter years of the railroad when it was the admiration
of railroad enthusiasts. Historical information
p LOCAL TICKETS. Local one-way card tickets, sold, used and taken up
1878.
q MANUSCRIPTS. Various statements and reports. vd.
Box Box 5
(r) EMBARGO. Passenger traffic embargo effective cancelled This was just prior to abandonment
May 9, 1950,
May 10, 1950.
May 31, 1950.
s WILLIAM C. RALSTON a. ns. s.
(1826 - 1875)
Physical Description: (2 pieces) correspondence
t DARIUS O. MILLS a. ls. s. and other items.
(1825 - 1910)
Physical Description: 4 letters, 1 telegram
u WILLIAM SHARON, a ls. s. and other related items. He was Nevada State Senator (15 peices) correspondence
1875-1881.
1872-84
v H. M. YERINGTON. A collection of items. correspondence
(41) LAST DAYS OF THE RAILROAD.
Physical Description: Three items:
Box Box 5
(a) Correspondence relative to the charter of the last special train and the last passenger train (as distinct froma mixed
train) to operate over the railroad, on
Sunday May 7, 1950.
b The last Minden train register. This is autographed on by all of the passengers, train crew and railroad officials on the
special passenger train operated on that date. The last train on the date of abandonment as also the work train operated the
next day to take empty cars to the Southern Pacific at Reno, are registered.
NR 10
May 7, 1950
May 31, 1950
Physical Description: (1 vol.)
Box Box 5
(c) Cover postmarked in the Railway Post Office on the train on the last day of operation, with typed historical note signed
by G. A. Sampson, Vice-President. This was the last Railway Post Office car, on a short line, in the states of Arizona, California,
Nevada or Utah.
May 31, 1950,
Virginia City And The Comstock
General
sent to Rare Book Dept.
(42) THE COMSTOCK. Thirty-two original glass plate photographic negatives, 5 × 8 inches, mostly interior views in Virginia
City, portraying the complete range of business establishments, restaurant, wine cellar, bakery, drugs, hardware, haberdashery,
candy, cigars, shoes, meats, saloon and general stores. In wood file box with index.
c. 1880-1890,
General
Photo Archives Album 287
(43) HAMMACK, E. S. Ten original black and white sketches used as the chapter head illustrations in the first edition of Lucius
Beebe and Charles Clegg, Legends of the Comstock Lode, Oakland
1950:
The legend of the fair but frail. p.15
Money to throw at the birds. p.23
Railroad to Golconda. p.29
The muse above the mine shafts. p.51
The dream of Adolph Sutro. p.57
Nabobs in broadcloth. p.63
Sunset over the Sierra. p.71
Adolph Heinrich Joseph Sutro
(1830 - 1898)
Scope and Contents
ILLUSTRATED LECTURE DELIVERED BY SUTRO 1874
General
In Rare Books Dept.
(44) STEREOPTICAN SLIDES used by Sutro to illustrate his lecture. Original photographic glass slides, English standard size
3¼ × 3¼ inches, in wood frames measuring about 7 × 4½ inches, about 126 of which 38 are hand colored photographs of drawings,
mostly of scenes in the mines, 13 are black and white diagrams, 43 are photographs of executed sealed agreements between The
Sutro Tunnel Company and the mines and 31 are hand colored original photographs of the Town of Sutro and the Sutro Tunnel.
Scope and Contents
These are the same slides described in George D. Lyman, Ralston's Ring, New York, 1937, p. 255. They are also mentioned in
Robert E. Stewart, Jr. and Mary Frances Stewart, Adolph Sutro A Biography, Berkeley, 1962. Some of these slides are illustrated
in the article listed as the next item.
General
Lantern slides were moved to Huntington Library Photo Archives: Adolph Sutro lantern slide collection, photCL 508
(45) LECTURE ON MINES AND MINING. Delivered by Adolph Sutro, at Piper's Opera House, Virginia City, and in all the principal
towns and mining camps in the state of Nevada. Virginia City, 4 pp. 18 × 24 inches, caption title; text in 8 columns. The
Daily Independent Supplement, Virginia City, American Imprints Inventory, Nevada 177.
1874.
October 31, 1874.
Scope and Contents
There is also another copy cut apart and pasted to separate sheets for use when showing the slides.
This lecture was a history of mining in the Comstock and of the Sutro Tunnel, but it was also a political effort to prevent
William Sharon of the Bank of California from being elected Nevada State Senator, but despite Sutro's efforts Sharon was elected,
although later the Bank of California lost its power.
General
In Sutro folder
(46) BROADSIDE. Miners! Laboring Men! Mechanics! Rally! Subject The Sutro Tunnel and the Bank of California 18 × 23½ inches.
With blank spaces to insert place, date and time of lecture.
(47) LANTERN CATALOGUE. Illustrated catalogue of Magic, Dissolving View and Optical Lanterns, lime light apparatus and slides,
Season n. p. English.
1889-90,
Scope and Contents
This illustrates the type of dissolving lantern used by lecturers during the period of Sutro's lectures, and it is quite likely
that he used such an apparatus, probably with lime light illuminant.
(48) THE INDEPENDENT, Sutro, Nevada, Vol. V, No. 46, 4 pp., 18 3/4 × 21 inches. Contains on first page, The Sutro Tunnel.
An Address Before the Bullion Club, New York City, by Adolph Sutro. Discovery of the First Silver Mine.
December 15, 1879,
November 6, 1879,
(49) BROWNE, ROSS E. Map of the Town of Sutro and other property belonging to the Sutro Tunnel Co. Lyon County, Nevada. Surveyed
and drawn by Ross E. Browne
255540[?] 373959[?]
1873.
Physical Description: 18½ × 19½ inches.
(50) SUTRO, ADOLPH. Portrait, copper line cut, 5 × 6 inches and half tone cut 3¼ × 3 5/8 inches.
Eureka And Palisade Railroad
(51) NORTON, G. W., Civil Engineer, manuscript map of the entire 84 miles of the line of the Eureka and Palisade Railroad
between Eureka and Palisade, Nevada, at a scale of 5,000 feet to one inch, with surrounding geographical features and inset
map of Eureka Station
NR 17, 18
Physical Description: two sheets about 30½ × 48 inches.
Scope and Contents
Has certificate dated January 1, 1876 certifying its correctness signed by W. H. Graham, Chief Engineer, Edgar Mills, President
and P. Enistr Secretary.
The railroad was built in 1876 and abandoned in 1938. It was three foot narrow gauge.
