The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1907-05-25
FATHER Of CABLE
SYSTEM IS DEAD
Charles E. Hoffman, Prominent
Mining Engineer, First
Put in System.
OWNED THE LEEDS
NINE YEARS AGO
Well Known in California and
Utah Mining Circles for
Years.
Sperisl 10 The Tribune

Special 10 The Tribune.
SAN LUIS POTOSI, Mexico, May
24-CharIes f. Hoffman, an American,
who died few days ago at the home
of his SON in this place. was one Of the
best known mining men of California
in the early days of that State s gold
development, and also in Utah. He
bore the scars of FIVE bullet wounds
which he received at the hands OF claim
jumpers. Mr.. Hoffman made his first
advent in California in 1850. He went
there direct from Germany. For eight
years he worked in the gold fields as an
ordinary miner. 1t was during that
period that he received the bullet
wounds which he bore TO his death,
Claim jumpers made efforts to drive
him OF of properties which he was
guarding.
In 1850 Hoffman was placed in charge
of the Enriqueta quicksilver mines in
the New Almaden district of California.
He had studied to be mining engi-
ueer, and his knowledge on that sub
ject was Of great advantage TO him.
He had entire charge of these quick
silver mines until 1867. More than $500
men were employed in the mines. and
it required no little executive ability
constructed the first gravity cable line
In America while in charge Of these
quicksilver mines The first of these
aerial cable lines was so successful that
he established A system of them to
carry the ore from the various mines
to the reduction plants. He changed
the methods of operating retorts 10
large furnaces, and made low grade ores,
which could not be treated before, avail
-tb will nG
put as a result Of the improvements.
Mr.. Hoffman was employed by the
Bank of California in 1865 to bring
water down from the mountains OF Ne
vada county, n distance Of forty miles,
for the North Bloomfield Hydraulic
company, which was organized by this
bank. This work was suspended in
1869. Mr. Hoffman purchased the
Meadow Valley mine In Nevada in that
year for a syndicate composed Of D. o.
Mills. Thomas Bell, Robinson Phoebe
and others. He afterward purchased
the Rye Patch mine. then the New Coso
mines. and erected smelter. He next
acquired the Leeds mine III Utah, the
Tip-Top silver mine in Arizona and
the Paradise Valley mine in Humboldt
county Nevada. Fl later purchased the
San Rafael gold mines in Lower Cali
fornia for the syndicate which he repre-
sented,
A syndicate Of Philadelphia men sent
Mr.. Hoffman 10 Mexico in the early
eighties TO inspect and report upon GER
tain mining properties. He erected re-
duction works for the Caborca Mining
company al Caborca, State of Sonora,
in 1881. He located at the ancient
Mexican mining camp OF FL Calon de
Amarillas in 1882. An outbreak of
Apache Indians forced him TO abandon
the mine which he owned AT that place
and caused him to lose large portion
of his fortune. In 1881 Mr.. Hoffman
became the manager of large mining
properties in the Catorce district, State
of San Luis Potosi He built the first
cable line in Mexico II was. twelve
miles long and was installed to lower
the ores from the mines to the reduc-
tion plant. He took charge Of the
Conception mine at Catorce and un-
watered, installing modern machinery.
He received a salary of $4,000 per
anpum and 4 per cent of the profits
This mine paid IN dividends $4,500,000
during the four years that Mr.. Hoff-
man had charge of it,
While living in Nevada and Utah,
Mr.. Hoffman spent some time in the
service of the United States Govern
ment as scout for the troops which
were sent into the mining districts to
quell uprisings of the Apaches and Pluto
Indians. He met with an accident sew
cral years ago which caused his retro.
ment from active business.