Newspaper Items
Salt Lake & Mercur Railroad
This page was last updated on March 21, 2004
19 July 1894
"Railroad for the Mercur", a line from Fairfield to Mercur, the Salt
Lake & Mercur Railroad, filed articles of incorporation yesterday, with A.
A. Noon of Provo as President, Joseph G. Jacobs of SLC as V. P., and John J. Stewart
of SLC as Secretary-Treasurer, which three with H. G. McMillan of SLC and Reed
Smoot of Provo make the Board of Directors. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 19 July 1894)
31 July 1894
Daniels and Holdaway began work yesterday on the grade of the Salt Lake &
Mercur RR -- operations are desired by 1 October 1894. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 31 July 1894)
7 August 1894
It appears that the rail and equipment of the Provo 'dummy line' was to have
gone to the Salt Lake & Mercur, but the Provo bondholders are objecting, in
court, to the removal of the property. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 7 August 1894)
25 August 1894
On Salt Lake & Mercur, grade from Fairfield to the mill, four miles, and
graders now on the way to the mine and Mercur; rails are ready to ship from
Provo, and a carload of spikes is on the way; ties are piled all along the
grade. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily
Tribune, 25 August 1894)
15 September 1894
The route of the Salt Lake & Mercur has been changed from the east side of
the canyon, where would be much rock work, to the west side, where the grading
can be done largely with plow and scraper -- item from Mercur 'Mercury'. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 15 September 1894)
23 September 1894
Salt Lake & Mercur people have gotten tired of waiting for a settlement in
the Provo 'dummy liner suit, so have bought rails from the Union Pacific. The
Salt Lake & Mercur to have two engines, one a "heavy mountain
climber" to be used on the line from the mill to Mercur, and the other a
lighter engine to be used on the flatter portion from the mill to Fairfield
Station. -- item from 'Mercury'. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 23 September 1894)
26 September 1894
Two cars of rails left SLC yesterday morning for the Salt Lake & Mercur;
they are from the U. P. Wyoming Division, and more will follow. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 26 September 1894)
29 September 1894
"Territorial News." "The Mercur railroad company is purchasing
the rails for its road from the Union Pacific company." (Pitchard, Park Record, Park City, 29 September 1894)
7 October 1894
Tracklaying to begin on Salt Lake & Mercur tomorrow; grade ready to a point
about three miles from Mercur. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 7 October 1894)
13 October 1894
"Locomotive for Mercur" "The Mercur Railway people have
purchased a Shea locomotive from the Oregon Lumber Company for use on the heavy
grade between the mine and the mill. The engine was set up in Salt Lake
yesterday, and will start out over the Union Pacific this afternoon."
Other Salt Lake & Mercur notes: Carpenters are putting in bridges between
the mill and Fairfield; George Green to be first engineer on the road; heavier
of the two engines arrived yesterday and will be used in laying track to mill;
laying of rail commenced on the 10th, Wednesday, in the am, and is to be done
to the mill in a few days. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 13 October 1894)
15 November 1894
The Salt Lake & Mercur is hauling machinery to the mill, but the line is
not open to the public yet -- rails continue to be laid towards Mercur. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 15 November 1894)
1 December 1894
Item from the 'Mercury' -- the locomotive is now running two or three miles
above the mill, on the Salt Lake & Mercur RR. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 1 December 1894)
22 December 1894
In making a deep cut for the Salt Lake & Mercur RR through the hill below
the Mercur Mine, a vein of ore was struck that turned out to be worth the
trouble to mine! (Pitchard, Salt Lake
Daily Tribune, 22 December 1894)
1 January 1895
Camp Floyd area--Mercur Railroad is almost completed; Col. C. P. Moore began
the survey in July of 1894; the Mercur Gold Mining Co's mill is located about
mid-point of the line, as also the railroad's boarding house, station, enginehouse,
and the like are located halfway between Fairfield and Mercur, as is the Mercur
Gold Mining Co.'s mill. (Pitchard, Salt
Lake Daily Tribune, 1 January 1895)
19 January 1895
"The Mercur Railway." "Last Rail will be Laid This
Afternoon." (extract.) "On Thursday morning one of the engines of the
little system pulled a train of cars up to the switch near the Ruby and the
engineer saluted the camp with a succession of blasts from his whistle."
Thursday was the 17th of January, 1895. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Herald, 19 January 1895)
19 January 1895
Last spike on the Mercur railroad was driven yesterday afternoon; ore will now
be moved at 25¢ per ton, as opposed to the 80¢ per ton that the wagon haulage
had cost. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily
Tribune, 19 January 1895)
22 January 1895
"Mercur Mill now Operating." "Delivery of Ore Commenced on
Sunday Afternoon." (extract) "At an average cost of about $10,000 per
mile, the twelve miles of track which comprise the system of the Mercur &
Salt Lake railroad, were completed on Saturday afternoon and the ballasting was
finished the following day." Saturday was 19 January, and Sunday was 20 January, 1895. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily
Herald, 22 January 1895)
26 January 1895
An item lifted from the Mercur 'Mercury' -- the SL&M is at last finished,
and regular trains running; the engine has some trouble getting two loaded cars
around some of the curves on the 4 percent grade, but a new and more powerful
engine is to be gotten. It appears that the first 'official' run had been on
the 21st, with two cars of ore for the mill at Manning. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 26 January 1895)
16 March 1895
The Salt Lake & Mercur is moving an average of 170 tons of ore per day,
plus the other business. Mr. Jacobs informs the 'Mercury' that the company has
purchased a passenger coach, and is negotiating for another and larger engine.
The road is already making more than the expenses. Tuesday, 12th, was payday
for the 11 men on the roll. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 16 March 1895)
20 March 1895
Daniel and Holdaway, grading contractors on the Salt Lake & Mercur, have
filed a mechanic's lien against the road for $44,000; President Dern, of Mercur
Mining & Milling Co., agrees that there is a balance due to D & H, but
as the final estimates and such have not been completed as yet, he is quite
surprised by D & H have taken action against the railroad. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 20 March
1895)
23 March 1895
"Territorial News" "The Mercur railroad has been averaging 170
tons of ore a day, besides attending to the freight and coal business. Manager
Jacobs informs us that the company has purchased a passenger coach and is
negotiating for another and larger engine. The line is already making more than
operating expenses. - Mercur Mercury." (Pitchard, Park Record, Park City, 23 March 1895)
30 March 1895
"The Mercer railroad has been mortgaged to the Mercur Mining Company for
$44,000. The mortgage is in the shape of a mechanic's lien." (Pitchard, Park Record, Park City, 30 March
1895)
13 April 1895
Some time ago L. C. Trent & Co, of Salt Lake City, agent for Lima
Locomotive Works, received an order from the Salt Lake & Mercur for another
Shay, and Trent arranged for it at once with Lima -- info received yesterday is
to the effect that the loco is to be shipped during the coming week. The
present engine weighs 20 tons; the new one, 28 tons. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 13 April 1895)
9 May 1895
The Salt Lake & Mercur is about to receive another engine. They have
already a passenger car (a combine), but need another engine before they can
run a regular passenger train, as the present engine has all it can do to move
the ore trains and freight business. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 9 May 1895)
11 May 1895
"The Mercer railroad expects to get opened for passenger service sometime
next week. The new coach has arrived and the new engine is expected every
day." (Pitchard, Park Record, Park
City, 11 May 1895)
18 May 1895
The Mercur 'Mercury' says that on Wednesday the 15th the S.L.& M. got their
new and heavier engine, which will now handle the ore and freight traffic,
while the older and lighter engine will be repaired and refurbished to handle
the passenger job and other light work. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 18 May 1895)
7 June 1895
The Salt Lake & Mercur began running a passenger train on Tuesday, the 4th.
(Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 7 June 1895)
15 June 1895
"Passenger service on the Salt Lake & Mercur railroad has been
inaugurated and the little road promises to be an entire success." (Pitchard, Park Record, Park City, 15 June
1895)
1 October 1895
"Work on the extension of the Salt Lake & Mercur railway, to carry the
terminus around to and beyond the Mattie group, commenced Tuesday [October 1,
1895]. Manager Jacobs has ordered the ties, of which there are 4,000, from San
Pete, and has closed his order with the Colorado Coal & Iron Co. for forty
tons of forty-pound steel rails, enough to lay 3,360 feet of track. Mr. Jacobs
is in reality ordering more than is necessary to take the line to the Mattie,
but explains that the Mattie is not even the proposed terminus, and he doesn't
know where the extension will end. - Salt Lake Tribune." (Pitchard, Park Record, Park City, 5 October
1895)
5 October 1895
The U. P. is building a depot at Fairfield, because of the Salt Lake &
Mercur. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily
Tribune, 5 October 1895)
6 October 1895
Owing to the traffic arising from the Salt Lake & Mercur, the Union Pacific
is building a depot at the junction, Fairfield station. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 6 October 1895)
17 December 1895
A new engine and several coaches to be ordered for the Salt Lake & Mercur
road; two miles of iron has been relaid with 40 pound steel on the Mercur end
of the line. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily
Tribune, 17 December 1895)
1 January 1896
The Salt Lake & Mercur has two engines of the Shay pattern, eight ore cars,
and one combination passenger car; and recently ordered another engine. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 1 January 1896)
7 March 1896
The Salt Lake & Mercur's two engines weigh 22 and 28 tons. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 7 March
1896)
1 May 1896
"The Salt Lake & Mercur road will have its new Shay engine in a few
days." (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily
Tribune, 1 May 1896)
10 May 1896
Jacobs says that the new engine was shipped from Lima on the 5th, and should be
here by the 16th. (Pitchard, Salt Lake
Daily Tribune, 10 May 1896)
19 May 1896
"The new Shay engine recently purchased by the Salt Lake & Mercur
railroad company is now en route from the East and will soon be doing service
on the little road." (Pitchard, Salt
Lake Daily Herald, 19 May 1896)
8 July 1896
"The new Shay engine for the Salt Lake & Mercur road has arrived, and
with it in operation the company will be enabled to handle some heavy loads
over the steep grades of the road."
(Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 8 July 1896)
1 January 1897
Salt Lake & Mercur added about 1-1/2 miles of track, 'around almost into
the town of Mercur', and they added a locomotive, costing $6,000; and a coach,
costing $1,000. The depot, at Mercur, moved and added onto. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 1 January 1897)
1 January 1898
Salt Lake & Mercur built a 1-1/2 mile branch in 1897. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 1 January 1898)
6 March 1898
One-half page devoted to the new mill of the Golden Gate company at Mercur,
which started up yesterday. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 6 March 1898)
20 March 1898
Reported sale of the Salt Lake & Mercur by Jacobs to 'Chicago parties'; line
has three engines and 11 cars. (see item for 30 March) (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 20 March 1898)
29 March 1898
William Simpson, engineer on Salt Lake & Mercer engine #3, slippped and
fell under rear wheels of the engine. His leg was crushed, and later required
amputation above the knee. This is but the second serious injury since the road
began operating. (Pitchard, Salt Lake
Daily Tribune, 29 March 1898)
30 March 1898
J. G. Jacobs has returned from Chicago, and says that his railroad, the Salt Lake
& Mercer, is NOT sold. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 30 March 1898)
1 July 1898
The Salt Lake & Mercur filed at Provo today, a $300,000 mortgage with the
Produce Exchange Trust Co.; bonds are 20 year, at 5%. The proceeds are to be
used for extension, improvement and new equipment. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 1 July 1898)
16 August 1898
The S.L.& M. depot at Mercur is to be moved 200 feet to the south of its
present location, so that the De la Mar company can get at (and under!) the
ground upon which it presently sits.
(Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 16 August 1898)
18 November 1898
"The new locomotive some time ago ordered for the Salt Lake & Mercur
will be shipped from Lima, O., in a short time." (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 18 November 1898)
20 December 1898
The new locomotive for the Salt Lake & Mercur has passed Cheyenne, and
should be here today. It is a 40-ton Shay, accompanied by Stephen H. Reed, who
will set it up. This will give the Salt Lake & Mercur four engines; two of
the others are 28 tons, and the old 'dinkey' is 20 tons. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 20 December 1898)
1 January 1899
Review of 1898: The Salt Lake & Mercur has recently received a new 40-ton
locomotive, and one passenger coach.
(Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 1 January 1899)
19 February 1899
"The new yard tracks at Mercur have been completed." (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 19 February 1899)
13 April 1899
"Mercur's March Record," their best month yet; "The new
locomotive, which is now working like a charm, has afforded much
relief,…" (Pitchard, Salt Lake
Daily Tribune, 13 April 1899)
11 June 1899
T. J. Mackintosh has been appointed General Superintendent of Salt Lake &
Mercur, effective 1 July 1899. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 11 June 1899)
25 July 1899
"Mercur Broke Record" in that the railroad handled 400 carloads last
week, "…remarkable from the fact that the Salt Lake & Mercur has but
three locomotives,…" (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 25 July 1899)
1 October 1899
The Salt Lake & Mercur "Buys More Equipment," that being a 50-ton
Shay locomotive to be delivered April 1, 1900; and six steel ore cars of a
capacity of 20 tons with a light weight of the car of 17,000 pounds. The
current wooden cars have a capacity of only 15 tons, while the car weighs,
light, 22,000 pounds. (Pitchard, Salt
Lake Daily Tribune, 1 October 1899)
31 December 1899
Salt Lake & Mercur bought new engine and 10 heavy ore cars. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 31 December 1899)
8 March 1900
"Cars for Mercur Ores." "Manager Jacobs of the Salt Lake &
Mercur railroad is in receipt of two new steel cars that will be used in the
handling of Mercur ores between the mine and the mill, and that will enable him
to materially increase the tonnage. Notice from the works indicates that the
new locomotive will be on the ground early next month, and with this machine in
active service, but little time will be required in sending the output of the
bonanza up to 600 tons daily."
(Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 8 March 1900)
5 May 1900
"The new locomotive for the Salt Lake & Mercur railway is on its way
to Zion, and is expected early next week. It will greatly relieve the situation
on the Mercur line,…" (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 5 May 1900)
12 May 1900
"The new locomotive and two additional steel ore cars for the Salt Lake
& Mercur railway were rolled into the yards of the Oregon Short Line
yesterday morning and will be forwarded to the Mercur company's tracks at
Fairfield Junction today. The locomotive consists of a fifty-ton Shay, while
the ore cars will handle twenty tons."
(Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 12 May 1900)
30 December 1900
Review of 1900: The SL&M is shown as having five locomotives; (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 30 December 1900)
1 February 1901
"Thomas J. Mackintosh has resigned as general superintendent of the Salt
Lake & Mercur and the office is abolished, effective today. General Manager
J. G. Jacobs announced yesterday the appointment of W. S. Hall as
superintendent of both the Copper Belt road at Bingham and the Salt Lake &
Mercur. Mr. Hall's headquarters will be at the general offices of the companies
in the McCormick block, this city." Item further comments that Hall
"has been general agent of the Mercur road at Mercur ever since it was
built." In a separate item: "Two miles of the Copper Belt tramway are
completed and in operation and one more mile remains to be built under the
present plans." "The tramway has a 7 per cent grade and is operated
with a Shay engine, making it one of the most interesting railroads in
Utah."(Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily
Tribune, 1 February 1901)
27 June 1902
Large article on Mercur, which burned yesterday. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 27 June 1902)
