“ The most important of the mines here is the Comstock Lode (q.v.) . It was discovered in 1859, and the value of the output from 1860 to 1890 was $340,000,000. Since 1890, however, the production has materially decreased. The court-house and the Miners' Union Library are noteworthy features of the town. Under the charter of 1881 the government is vested in a board of three county commissioners. Virginia City grew up around the Comstock Lode, and was called successively Ophir and Silver City. ”