The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-05-27

The camp Of La Plata, twenty miles
or more northeast of ogden, is one OF
the greatest practically undeveloped
mineral portions of Utah and from all
accounts this locality will soon receive
The recognition that it deserves from
mining men and capitalists.
Five years ago the strike at La Plata
caused great connection in Utah min
ing circles, and the rush to this camp
was almost unprecedented in the an
nals of mining history in the territory,
unless we might except the great eN-
citemenu that took place when mining
was at a fever heat at the heads Of
Big and Little Cottonwoods.
La Plata, as many of our readers
know, was first discovered by a sheep
herder. In one Of the paths deeply
worn by the hoofs Of his docks, he one
day found a solid ledge of galena ore.
After making known his accidental find
1he rush began, and before long quite
a camp sprung up in the pretty vale
on both sides of which are located the
most promising finds made UP to that
time. Several stores were soon doing
a good business, a comfortable hotel
was erected and all the characteristics
of a red hot mining camp were observ-
able
Lead and silver ores pcedominated,
and the ground was found to be COW
eted with rich float, ranging in size
from pebble up to great boulders of
high grade ore weighing number OF
tons each, and one of the most re-
rnarkable incidents that marked the
founding of the new camp was the
breaking up of these boulders and the
shipping of them to the railroad at
Logan and Ogden; and today the visi-
tor to this camp. if he so desired, could
pick up baskets fun of lead carbonates
on Sunrise and Shutdown hills.
A company was organized for the
DEVELOPMENT of the La Plata mine, and
under the anagement of Tom Harri-
son this property was soon in a most
promising condition. A hoist was put
in. a shaft house erected and every
thing indicated a bright future for the
company.
The Sunrise and Shutdown compan-
les also began the systematic opening
of their mines with every assurance of
success. and in the Yellow Jacket a
fine showing of sand carbonaltes was
uncovered. besides which a great deal
OF work was done on great many
promising prospects throughout the dis
trict.
The camp was but a few months old,
however, and in a most promising and
thriving condition, when the Central
Pacific Railroad company came for
wa.>d and claimed the lana on which
most of the principal mineral lodes of
the district were located.
Injunotions were served on the mine
owners and work in the development of
their claims came to a standstill In
many instances this occasioned great
loss, especially with the La Plata Min
ing company, as during the suspension
of work water found its way into its
shaft and it was not long before the
entire underground workings caved in,
leaving the mine in a wrecked condi-
ton.
Several years of litigation followed,
and. when at last the case was decided
in favor of the claim owners, the war
fare on silver had been carried to such
an extent that bat few of the silver
lead producers of the territory could
be worked at a profit, in consequence
of which but very few of the original
locators in the La Plata district had
the heart to do more than the annual
assessment work on their properties,
and the camp is in about the same con-
dition today that it was five years ago,
but it is believed that this season will
witness an awakening in this once
prosperous and promising camp, and
that the deserted houses and buildings
there will once again shelter the miner
ard his family. and the men who once
before engaged in business in this pic
ft1-eeoiIe SpOt.