The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-09-07
IRON CoUNIY's WEALTH.
A Region Rich in Iron, Coal and the
Precious Metals

Region Rich in Iron, Coal and the
Precious Metals.
In Whitney's History of Utah there is
an interesting account of the early set
Element of Iron county, in the south
western portion of the state, from which
it would appear that it was then the in
tention Of making this locality the
Pittsburg of Utah; and this may yet be
accomplished, for there is no other
spot in this great inteI-mountain coun-
try where nature has been so prodigal
in her deposits oe coal and iron.
Nearly forty years ago blast furnaces
( were established at Cedar City, in Iron
county, and for a time the manufacture
of pig iron was the leading industry of
the county.
The coal for the furnaces was obtain
ed from the ineXhaustible beds of coal
in Coal Creek canyon, a few miles east
of Cedar, and the iron ore was hauled
from the vallew about twelve miles
west, while lime rock for f1ux was
found almost within the city limits of
the town.
The manufacture of iron was not
altogether a success. however, as the
product was too hard, being almost like
steel, still, before the advent of the
Utah Central railroad into Salt Lake,
Iron county pig iron was in demand,
and the metal was used in this city for
various purposes, and today there are
many old CRATES in this city that were
manufactured from iron brought from
Iron county.
Later on. large and expensive reduc-
ton works were sabliShed at Iron
City. mile or so down the canyon from
Iron mountain, and q foundry and iron
works were among its embellishments;
but for some reason. either because the
iron ore was too rich to handle, or be-
cause of the building of a railroad into
this city, the works were not a sue
cess, however, and today this plant,
with its deserted town, in which there
We're several fine buildings, including
a brick church and schoolhouse. stands
as a monument to the enterprise, and
lack of foresight, of its builders.
But. even if the manufacture of iron
in Iron county was partial failure
forty years age, this does not detract in
the least fl om the fact that this county
has a wonderful future before it in its
wealth of iron, its wealth of coal and
the wealth Of its mineral deposits; and
when the time is ripe for their utiliza-
ton, it is safe to say that this region
viii become one of the most important
sections of the state, financially COM
mercially, and otherwise, for with the
establishment there of big iron smelters,
iron works and manufactures there
will come employment for labor a de-
mand for the products of the range
field and garden, and it will be demon
strated that with the working of the
coal and iron deposits of the county
there VIII come greater and more per-
manent wealth than ever attends the
development of gold and silver mines.
There are but few. even in Utah, who
have the least conception of the ex-
tent of the coal beds of Iron county;
who have the least idea of the magni-
tude of the mountains of iron ore so
conveniently near; but the day will
come. however, when the people of this
state Will point with pride to these
wonderful resources, and will view with
satisfaction the establishment of great
iron works in this locality: for it is
only a question of time before the antic-
ipations and hopes of the citizens of
Iron county will be realized in this re-
spect; and when these works are in
full blast, when iron and steel rails are
manufactured there for the western
trade, when stoves and ranges and ma
chinery of every description are turned
out in any quantity desired, then the
people of Utah will realize the fact that
the south is no longer the tail end of
the state
Southern Utah has one great need.
and this is direct railroad cornmunica-
ton and facilities. Any number of
paper railroads have been built into
that region; but a great deal of smoke
always indicates the existence of some
fire; and it is to be hoped that the lat
est effort in the line Of railroad build
ing will lead TO something tangible, and
that Thomas Taylor's scheme TO build
from Cedar City to Los Angeles will
soon hear fruit