The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-12-31

WlIhouC looking back over its history
and noting the marked changes that
have taken place. The statement that
this camp, nearly half a. century old,
and which was never mentioned as a
producer Of the red metal until within
a year or two, is now developing into
a great copper center, is received IN
many quarters with an incredulity that
has a tendency to iiscredit other facts
regarding its progress, and look back
ward is in order.
It was in 1862 that a train of prairie
schooners' arrived in Emigration can
yon freighted with a small saw mill and
q. stamp mill. Fort Douglas was under
construction at that time, Salt Lake
was building up rapidly, and lumber
was in demand at $125 per thousand
The train was en- route to alleged gold
fields in Idaho. but by advice of Brig
ham Young the party were induced to
set up their sawnliH in Utah. They
went into Bingham canyon, then dense
~ covered with pine and fir, and set up
their mill near where now is seen the
big dump of the Niagara (Old Spanish)
mine. Very shortly after gold was dis
covered in the creek and the discovery
led to many thousands Of dollars being
washed out from along the edges.
First Location in Utah
Some time in 1863 General Conner,
then in command of United States
troops in Utah, with a party of twelve,
including other military officers, To-
Gated what is now known as the Old
Jordan and Galena mines. This is said
to have been the earliest mining loca-
ton in Utah. 1t was beyond dispute
the first or second.
Other locations were speedily made
and it was not long before Bingham
1ooEad 10 hxr a r11do -rl7RlrarS nf
that time for a desirable supply or
lead carbonate ore. Besides the several
mines that have since become famous,
there were a large number of claims
worked in a small way by prospectors.
the whole aggregating an output of
considerable proportions.
Then quartz mining in Bingham was
p, crude and inexpensive proposition.
Two prospectors, with grub stake and
simple tools, could go on to any side
hill, find vein start a tunnel and soon
run into pay carbonate. When the ore
chute above the tunnel was worked
out as far as it could be by primitive
methods, attention was turned TO sink
ing. This was sometimes carried to
the creek level. with the result that
base ore showing the presence of cop
per, replaced the carbonate. AS in
those days the smeters could not. re-
duce these ores, generally lowgrade,
and make returns, the sight of sulphides
would set the miners teeth on edge
and he would incontinently abandon his
diggings and hunt another hole. Thus
it is that there are locations by the
score in Bingham which originally
yielded good pay that have been idle
for many years and now are being
rapidly gobbled up and consolidated
into acreage propositions by compan-
les with capital to go to the deep. AL
most without exception wherever the
sulphide areas are penetrated, copper
appears in paying percentages. In in
stances the richness is startling, and
so uniform as to lead enthusiasts TO
predict that Bingham will take the lead
of all other copper camps.
THE HIGHLAND BOY.
The story of Bingham's evolution,
however, would not be complete with !
out reference to another and distinc- |
tive feature, and this has to do with |
the history of the great Highland Boy |
mine TO-DAY one of the largest, if not |
the largest, producing mine in Utah. |
In the summer of 1896 Samuel New |
house. assisted by Thomas Weir, OBJ |
tanned an option on small group of |
claims in Upper Carr fork, and began
development work in October. What |
was in sight to them was an immense |
vein of iron carbonate ore, a cyaniding |
proved to carry fair pay |
in gold. The mines passed from the |
promoters into the hands of a rich |
and elaborate preparations to |
operate them included a cyaniding |
plant, said to have cost $4,000, capable |
of treating $50 to 200 tons of ore daily. |
This mill first turned it's wheels in the |
spring of 1898. 1t was operated several |
months and then permanently shut |
down.
Previous to its erection and subse-
quently the mine was being developed |
on a large scale. The main vein was
at regular intervals and in
places found to be upwards Of 10 feet |
in width, all in ore. In the fourth level /
sulphides began to come in, and in the |
fifth base ore was the rule. carrying /
from to 16 per cent copper. So it has |
been on down to the seventh level.
without practical diminution in size of |
vein or values.
The encountering of the base ore and
is tremendous proportions was a rev.
elation. The promoters at the time
hey closed their deal were innocent |
If any knowledge of its existence. as
vas also the Highland Boy (now Utah
company when the cy-
lniding plant was ordered. A review of
the situation resulted In the decision TO
erect a copper smelter and reserve the |
carbonate (cyaniding) ore for fiuxing.
rhe 250-ton smelter now operating in |
he valley-soon to be increased to 500 |
ons-and the two-nile bucket tram
way, now transporting ores from mine
o depot at the rate of 200 tons daily at
/ cost Of u cents per ton. were thus
.volved. Since the smelter started,
bout June 1. So 900 to $1,000 tons of ore
lave been treated.
This recalling of changes brought
" the whirligig of time having led
o special reference to the Highland
Boy mines, 1t has placed them where
hey properly belong in this review of
the head. The United
states company's vast possessions may
Iuite possibly prove to be greater. but
he Highland Boy with its wonderful
reduction and but two years and {
Ialf of existence, is great right now,
'eyond the widest expectations Of
.nyone connected with IL. But a few
weeks ago gentleman now with |
rafwn from the management, but who
Intimately knows the actual conditions
{ The mine, stated that there were then
yer 100000 tons more of ore in sight
han there were when the smelter {
bowed in," three months before; that 4
1wer areas being opened up were of |
igher values than any above, and {
hat there is enough .ore now practi-
ally shown up to keep the sme1ter in I
S present size busy for fifteen years. {
10 one competent TO express an opinion I
Tho has lately visited the seventh level J
the Highland Boy. will gainsay this 7
tatement.
Values of Ores.
Concerning present values coming
>orn Highland Boy ores, the following 7
oEnments are found in a November n
umber Of the News Bureau, journal +
eyoted TO finance. stocks and bonds, +
i1f,lished in Boston where a consider ] /;