Adolph Sutro had the idea of a horizontal tunnel so as to haul out the ore and drain off the water from the deepest shafts of the Comstock, whose mouths opened up near the top of Mt. Davidson, the site of Virginia City. His financial problems were finally solved when the big mining companies agreed to put up the huge sum of $5'000'000 and the money was eventually forthcoming in the shape of royalties of $2.00 per ton, the water to be free. Delays stalled completion for 13 years, so long that the heyday of the Comstock was over. Ore removal continued for years, however, and in 1880, as a sample year, the 20'489 feet of tunnel delivered two billion gallons of water; water almost impossible to remove vertically, which flooded mining operations and was so hot it steamed.

Dayton now has a charming old-time atmosphere with some of the original buildings standing here and there. It is not quite dead, however. Complete demise is impossible for any town on a highway. There will, at least, be filling stations and taverns.

Daniel and I stopped at Mia's Restaurant for dinner after having taken pictures of Dayton's Cemetery. When we had a look at the menu, we realised that it was all swiss food. It was really funny to be in the middle of nowhere to eat a "bratwurst" with "Sauerkraut" like in Switzerland. We had a nice talk with Mia and her husband. They haden't been in Switzerland for years and we told them a little bit what had changed there. Both of them have a strong english accent when they speak swiss german which was fun. It was a really nice evening.

After dinner, Mia showed us the building, the large ballroom and told us about the cellar where ghost photographers every now and then try to catch a picture of a ghost.