Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1913-10-17


The Iron Deposits of Iron County.
Columns have been written respecting the
iron deposits OF this county and hundreds of per-
sons both in and out of the state have for years
expected that the day would not long be delayed
when the treatment of the ore on gigantic scale
would be commenced, but so far only the pleasure
of anticipation of what might be has rewarded
the hopeful The amount of the iron ores in this
county has been given scores OF times in about as
many different figures, but the latest statement
respecting the extent of the deposits comes from
the Beaver County Press, at Milford, in DISCUS
sion of an article recently appearing in the Salt
Lake Herald Republican. from whichswe quote:
''The Salt Lake Herald Republican of recent
date wakes eloquent over the great iron deposits
of Southern Utah and tells of the 600 000 600 tons
of iron ore in sight. That statement was well in
tended. but il does not tell half the story. When
the great combination was arranged fourteen
years ago between E. H. Hartman, j. j. Hill,
Edwin Hawley and John w. Gates for the de-
velopment of these great iron properties, the most
famous iron expert of the world, John T. Jones,
was sent to make the most rigid examination.
After his return from the properties and while
still engaged on his final report he told the writer
that 1000, 600, 600 tons of the richest iron of
This did not include the great Bull Valley, Wash
ington county, deposits of possibly one to two
billion tons more Think of it, right here in South
ern Utah of iron ore alone, at depth of not to-
the combined estimated tonnage of the United
States Steel Corporation, and muchhigher grade
average of ore, too. Hardly any of it shows less
than 81 per cent while much of it is up close to
the maximum limit of 70. Only the unfortunate
ambition and bitter competition of the two great
railroad magnates prevented at that time the de-
velopment of these properties into probably the
greatest iron and steel making industries of the
world here in Southern Utah. Right up to the
days of their death we personally know it was the
great ambition and desire of both Mr.. Hartman
and Mr.. Hawley to secure control of these great
iron properties and develop them on such gigan-
tic scale as the world has never before witnessed
in the manufacture of iron aud steel products.
But it is a matter now of only few years when
other Harrmans or Hawleys will appear and the
iron possibilities of Southern Utah will be re-
allied. 1t may be that the great future iron city
of the world will be here at Milford or some loca-
tion close by for here seems to be the greatest
and best water supply for big city. In the
making of iron and steel plenty of good water is
prime essential-next to good ore and an abund-
ance of coal of the right coaking quality"
For the most part the above comment by the
News is most timely, and essentially correct
However the enthusiasm of the editor evidently
reached the boiling point when ne infers that Mil.
ford will most likely be the future iron city of
the world. The iron ores are in Iron county and
in this county are located the only extensive coal
deposits of the southern part of the state, much
of which, according to capable biologists, is of a
semi-anthracite nature Regardless of whether
coal GUAM, III WOuIu dIIOru all HeCSS-
sary fuel for operating the steam power required,
for which purpose thousands of tons annually
would be necessary. In Cedar and Harmony
mountains are abundant scources of water. so that
it would be necessary for mills located at or near
the iron deposits to secure from the outside only
the coke required in the treatment of the ores.
In view of these facts it is most NATURAL and
logical to assume that the mills would be located
at the point nearest the source of production
which would provide the minimum of expense.
This place would be some point in Iron county,
and quite likely in the midst of the iron fields.
which could be Raced by line of railroad not to
exceed thirty miles in length. over section Of
country so free from building obstacles that the
cost of con instruction would be such trivial item
that it would hardly be considered an expense by
any man or set of men with sufficient funds to
launch the project.
In view of the facts. we believe the aspira-
tions of the Press to be decidedly vague. indeed.
and hardly probable of frniton