The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-05-11

The southern portion of Utah is pro-
lfic in its deposits Of the precious met
ais, its great beds of coal and it's noun
tains of iron. and now that this region
IS soon to have railroad facilities and
advantages, if the work now in hand
counts for anything, a great deal Of in
terest is being centered in this locality.
Starting at a point near the head
waters of Clear creek in the northeast
corner of Beaver county, the proposed
line would run through the counties Of
Beaver, Iron and Washington, in this
state, taking in on its route portions
of these counties that are well known
to be rich in mineral and other COM
mercial commodities.
In Beaver county the road would be
but short distance from the New
ton mining district, which is so prolific
in its deposits Of the yellow metal that
it is predicted that with development
and railroad facilities it will vie with
other portions Of the state for the title
of being the greatest gold producing
camp in Utah.
The next place of Importance to be
touched by this line would be Cedar
AlAys III lIOn County. III lIl6 llIlt-1Gul-
ate vicinity of Cedar City there are
immense beds of coal, which, in quail
lty is said to be equal to any used in
this city, and, as for quantity, it is
certainly inexhaustible. This in itself
is a matter Of great consequence from
a business and commercial point of
view, but when we stop TO consider the
fact that in the mountains a few miles
across the valley, west, there are great
mountains OF hemotite and magnetic
iron ore, tina. eXis-s liz nearly a pure
state, we car more fully comprehend
what a read through the southern coun-
try must mean.
This section also abounds in lime
stone and water, thus affording every
facility for the establishment of foun-
dries and iron works, where with coal
on the one hand and iron on the other,
the manufacture Of iron ard steel for
commercial purposes could be carried
on most successfully.
At Kanarra a few miles south. there
are also inexhausta bic deposits of COAL
while on the west mountains, in Pinto
Iron Mining district there are fine de-
posts OF gold, silver, lead and copper
ores; and although this district is prac-
tically undeveloped, the surface show
ingS are most encoura ging, and in tine
there is every reason to believe that /
many producing and paying mines will
be opened up there.
The next point OF note on the line |
would be Silver Reef. in Washington !
county. This is a camp with a history |
and splendid record and in days gone |
by it has made more than one fortune, |
: several Salt LakerS can testify. The ,
ore in this locality is found in q sand /
stone formation. the mineral being
principally silver.
At one time, when silver held its I
own with gold at a ratio OF 16 to l,
Silver Reef was one Of the most pro-
ductive and remunerative camps in the
west; but since the degradation of the
white metal, 1t has been but little
worked. excepting in a small way, as
it would not pay mining and transpor-
tation expenses, besides a profit With
railroad facilities, however, this camp
would take & new lease on life, and I
once again 1T would go on record as
great wealth producer
Below st. George the road would
enter a country rich in its deposits of
copper and other minerals. For many
years an effort has been made TO
utilize this copper, but the distance
from fuel, timber, and then from mar
ket, has robbed the enterprise of every
chance OF profit. A smelter was erect
ed for the treatment of these ores, but
by the time the expenses were all
paid, the promoters found themselves
holding the sack with no thanks for
their pains. With railroad facilities.
however. this would all be changed,
and what is Tow practically unpro-
ductive region, from the northern line
Of Beaver county to the Arizona line
wfuld, with the iron horse in daily
transit through ITS length and breadth.
be transformed into one of the richest
and most productive portions of our
new state.