Ghost Towns of the American West by Raymond Bial

Author:Raymond Bial [Bial, Raymond]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Every town had at least one saloon—usually several. Reverend John Steele recalled a visit to one town: "There were a number of good stores, meat shops, bakeries, blacksmith shops, etc., but the gambling saloons were the terror of the town. The rooms were spacious, supplied with music, and adorned with mirrors, pictures, and every device to attract the young, and induce them to gamble and drink."

themselves with a few shots of whiskey in the local saloon—most towns had numerous drinking establishments. Like most western towns, Virginia City, Nevada, sought to become a "steady business city," yet it was reported that there was a saloon "every fifteen feet."

Perhaps the most famous resident of Virginia City was Mark Twain. He and a partner staked a claim to a silver mine, about which he recalled, "We put our name to it and tried to feel that our fortunes were made." Like most prospectors, however, Twain never found silver or gold. Making a name for himself as a newspaper writer, he recalled the bustling growth of Virginia City: "Large fire-proof buildings were going up in the principal streets, and the wooden suburbs were spreading out in all directions. Town lots soared up in prices that were amazing."

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