Devil's Gate

Date Uploaded: May 14, 2025

Permanent Link: http://wnhpc.com/details/fb698917535805909

Contributor: Comstock Foundation for History and Culture on Facebook

Source: Facebook: Comstock Foundation for History and Culture

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Source Caption: Did Ja Know from C.L. Yearzago keeper of the tribal knowledgeToll Roads on the Comstock #2For all you that had such objections to Six Mile being a toll road be thankful you did not live here in the 1800s. You could not get into or out of VC without paying your way.Yes, Six Mile Canyon was a toll road then. To maintain and improve the roads in the area the Legislature issued franchises to people to build and maintain roads in the area and charge a fee for the maintenance….as well as profit. Generally it was .5 cents for walking; .10cents for a horse and rider; .15cents for a buggy or small wagon, .25 cents for an empty freight wagon and up to $40 for a loaded freight or ore wagon depending on the product carried or the weight of the ore.Virginia City Truckee Toll Road: Today we know it as Lousetown Road or Long Valley Road. It followed its present route for the most part and went north past the town of Washington and on down to the Truckee River.Virginia City-Placerville Toll Road: Connected VC with Placerville, CA via Johnsons Pass (Echo Summit). It was 100 miles long and built in 1861. It was maintained by several different toll road companies for use by both passenger and freight traffic.Virginia City-Dayton Toll Road: (also known as Devils Gate Toll Road) Started in 1859,it came up to VC from Silver City via Devils Gate. The toll booth was located at Devils Gate. The route consisted of heavy freight and ore traffic going to the mills on the Carson River then brought wood and lumber backup to VC. It’s pretty much the same as todays SR342 through Gold Hill. Geiger Road: (toll) Franchised to Dr. Davison M. Geiger and John H. Tilton in 1861 with construction starting in 1862. By 1863 it was the major route between VC and the Truckee Meadows. Freight, stages, passengers all used the road to haul everything from vegetables to actually hauling a steam locomotive for the V&T up the road. The old road still remains and terminates at 341 and Cartwright. Cartwright is not part of that old road.Ophir Grade: built in the 1860s. Went from VC down through the mining town of Jumbo west of American Flat to Washoe Valley and the lake. It was built by the Ophir Mining Company to transport ore down to it’s first mill on Washoe Lake. For a period it was known as the Washoe City-Virginia City Toll Road. It is still accessible from either VC or Washoe Valley. Ore was transported by wagon teams down the grade to the mill and lumber was brought back up to VC. Dayton Toll Road: The dirt road that leaves the intersection of 341/342 at Silver City and goes on down through Gold Canyon to Dayton. This was the primary route for all traffic from Dayton which met up with the Devils Gate toll road going on up to VC. The ranches in the Dayton Valley brought their beef and veggies up to VC this way.Leading from Gold Hill are two toll roads. One owned by W. R. Armstrong and G. D. Roberts; the other by Messrs. Waters & Carson. The former runs down Gold Canon to Dayton, a distance of seven miles; and being the route over which most of the quartz passes to the various mills below, has an immense travel, with a corresponding income. It was commenced in September, ’59, and has cost about fifty thousand dollars. The other extends from the town to the Halfway House, on the Carson Road. It was built in 1961 and cost twelve thousand dollars. (1862 City Directory).….and there were even more.Another great article we found: Check this story out, https://www.nevadaappeal.com/.../all-toll-roads-led-to.../Please visit us at www.comstockfoundation.orgBecome a volunteer, member or donate today! Picture and article courtesy of Joe Curtis #historicalplaces #mining #mininglife #explore #donovanmill #goldandsilver #virginiacitynevada #historylover #historicalphotography #travelnevada #historicalmuseum #historical #historylovers #nevadahistory #historicalplace #historicpreservation #travel #gold #virginiacity #silvercitynevada #historical_preservation #museums #Comstock See less

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