Virginia & Gold Hill Water Company
Comstock Historical Marker No. 14
Following the discovery of silver and gold, the miners obtained their water from the small streams or from the springs located in the canyons such as Ophir Ravine, in Virginis City, and Bullion and Crown Point ravines above Gold Hill. Originally water was free for the taking but as demand increased the supply became valuable. Two companies were formed to collect and distribute water. The Virginia Water Company and the Gold Hill Water Company. The two organizations were consolidated May 12, 1862, as the Virginia and Gold Hill Water Company with an enlarged capital of $250,000. The first water mains were wooden flumes. In August 1863, riveted iron supply pipes were laid around the community. In 1871, the company reorganized with W.S. Hobart, John Mackay, James Fair, James Flood and W.S. O'Brien as directors. A plan was executed to bring water from the Hobart Creek and Marlette Reservoir area 1,500 feet above Lake tahoe on the west side of Washoe Valley. A pipe line was laid from this point down to the Washoe Valley and back up the other side to Virginia City in a reverse siphon process. This required a pipe line 7 miles long and 11.5 inches in diameter. The water pressure exceeded 200psi. The pipeline was completed July 25, 1873. The pipeline transported two million gallons a day. By 1887, two more pipelines had been laid to supply water to the Comstock. The Virginia and Gold Hill Water Company was purchased by Storey County over 100 years later. This water systems has served the drinking and fire fighting needs since 1861. This building served as the Water Company office into the 1980s.
This marker sponsored by the Russ and Pam Brandon family, Virginia City, Nevada, 2009
Marker is on South B Street north of Taylor Street, on the right when traveling south.
Courtesy hmdb.org
