Newspaper Items
Salt Lake, Sevier Valley & Pioche Railroad
This page was last updated on March 21, 2004
23 June 1871
Judge Clinton already has a hotel out at Lake Point, and bath houses and the
like to be put up soon. Also, a fellow named Parkhurst has a lumber yard out
there. (Pitchard, Deseret Evening News,
23 June 1871)
16 April 1872
The 'City of Corinne' sold a few days ago to H. S. Jacobs & Company of Salt
Lake City, and the Lehigh & Utah Mining Co., of Mauch Chunk, Penn., and
possession was given yesterday. The mining company is building a reduction
works at Stockton. (Pitchard, Salt Lake
Herald, 16 April 1872)
19 May 1872
"On The Lake" item gives some details of the steamboat "City of
Corinne." It is 138 feet long, stem to stern, and 28 feet in the beam. Two
engines, of 125 horsepower each, drive the stern wheel. Built mostly of Oregon
fir, the ribs are eight inches apart, and the hull is planked inside and out
with three-inch thick fir. The Captain is a Mr. Evans, the engineer is John
Edgecomb, the chief clerk is G. B. Adams, and the steward is Samuel Lancaster.
H. S. Jacobs, as part owner, seems to be on hand as the host. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Herald, 19 May 1872)
20 May 1872
The steamboat 'City of Corinne' is owned by H. S. Jacobs & Co. (Pitchard, Deseret Evening News, 20 May
1872)
4 June 1872
Clinton's hotel is called 'Lake House'. (Pitchard, Deseret Evening News, 4 June 1872)
12 October 1872
Letter from Jacobs City, Dry Canyon, dated October 9, 1872, shows the town to
have been named, the day before, for 'Commodore' Jacobs, the same as H. S.
Jacobs, of S.L., S.V. & P.R.R. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Herald, 12 October 1872) (Dry Canyon is the location of the Ophir mining camp.)
14 November 1872
"Sail Boat.--The 'Kate Connor,' owned by Bishop Layton, which was lately
damaged by a severe storm on Salt Lake, is to be converted into a sail boat.
Her engine will be transferred to the grist mill at Kaysville." (Pitchard, Utah Mining Journal, 14 November
1872)
29 March 1873
Gen. Connor, president of the S. L., S. V. & P. R. R., received a telegram
from New York, yesterday, with the information that contracts had been closed
for 50 miles of iron, two locomotives and five cars, the iron to be shipped by May 1st. (Pitchard, Salt Lake
Herald, 29 March 1873)
15 April 1873
Groundbreaking ceremony yesterday for the SLSV&P; paper says that there was
about seven miles already graded. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Herald, 15 April 1873)
7 July 1873
"Salt Lake, Sevier Valley & Pioche RR -- we are informed that
three-fourths of the grading of this line between this city and Lake Point is
now completed, and that a locomotive and two flat cars are on the way for the
use of the company,…" (Pitchard, Deseret Evening News, 7 July 1873)
7 July 1873
Registered at the Pulaski House, in Ogden, on 6 July 1873, Sunday, were D. N.
Pasho and E. Harmon, of Dunkirk, New York. (Pitchard, Daily Ogden Junction, 7 July 1873) (These genlemen were making delivery of
SL,SV&P's new locomotive.)
8 July 1873
"A locomotive for the-Salt Lake, Sevier Valley & Pioche Railroad
arrived yesterday." "Hurrah for the Narrow Gauge." "General
Connor informed us last night that the 'Kate Connor' locomotive arrived
yesterday from the East… The 'engine is named after the General's daughter,
and … will undoubtedly be a success,…" (Pitchard, Salt Lake Tribune, 8 July 1873)
10 July 1873
A new locomotive has arrived for the Salt Lake, Sevier Valley and Pioche
Railroad. It is from the Brooks Locomotive Works of Dunkirk, N.Y. Mr. Pasho,
from the company, has accompanied the engine, which is named 'Kate Connor'.
also, a couple of flat cars arrived. (Pitchard, Deseret Evening News, 10 July 1873)
11 July 1873
"Locomotive 'Kate Connor'." "The narrow gauge locomotive, 'Kate
Connor', which arrived on Monday last for the Salt Lake, Sevier Valley and
Pioche Railroad, is said by engineers to be one of the best narrow gauge
locomotives they have seen. "It was manufactured by the Brooks Locomotive
Works, Dunkirk, New York, and weighs, when charged with coal and water, sixteen
tons, six hundred and thirty pounds. The feature of this locomotive, which commends
it for effective service, is its great steam generating capacity, which is a
desideratum in narrow gauge engines. "The 'Kate Connor' is intended, in
the first place, to be used as a construction engine and afterwards for
freight. It was brought on to this city by Mr. D. N. Pasho, an engineer and
traveling agent connected with the Brooks works." (Pitchard, Salt Lake Herald, 11 July 1873)
11 July 1873
"The New Locomotive 'Kate Connor'." "Yesterday we paid a visit
to the Utah Central depot, for the purpose of inspecting the new locomotive for
the Salt Lake, Sevier Valley and Pioche Railroad, and on arriving found Gen.
Barnum, Supt. Kimball, and a number of men making preparations to unload her.
An introduction to Mr. D. N. Pasho, who accompanied the engine from the works,
afforded us the opportunity of more closely examining it than we otherwise
could. It appears to be of excellent workmanship throughout, furnished with all
the appliances of first class engines, and elegantly painted. On inquiring, we
learned that it is from the Brooks Locomotive Works, Dunkirk, New York, the
president and superintendent of which is expected in the city shortly. "At
the depot we noticed also two box cars, one construction car, and two hand
cars, all for the Salt Lake, Sevier Valley & Pioche Railroad. Success to
it." (Pitchard, Salt Lake Tribune,
11 July 1873)
12 July 1873
"New Locomotive. -- We inspected, yesterday, at Salt Lake, in company with
General Barnum, the first locomotive of the Salt Lake, Sevier Valley and Pioche
R.R., which arrived last Monday. It is a very handsome engine, weighing sixteen
tons, six hundred and thirty pounds, with six driving wheels of three feet
diameter. It is artistically ornamented, symmetrically proportioned, and will
look very beautiful on the new narrow gauge road, which is graded to lake
Point, the bridge over Jordan being completed. The locomotive was manufactured
by the Brooks Engine Manufacturing Company at Dunkirk, Ohio, and came through
in nine days in charge of Mr. D. N. Pasho, who so managed that there was no
delay in its passage. Mr. Pasho, regarded the engine with pride, and being 'au
fait' in all matters connected with the manufacture of locomotives, would like
to set her in trim and run her out on her first trip. But, the road is not quite
ready." (Pitchard, Daily Ogden
Junction, 12 July 1873)
14 July 1873
"Engine Builder." "Mr. D. N. Pasho, representative of the Brooks
Locomotive Works, at Dunkirk, New York, will leave this evening for the east.
Mr. Pasho has but lately returned from Salt Lake whither he went to superintend
the putting up, and on the line, of the narrow gauge locomotive Kate Connor.
This sixteen-ton engine will be used at first in the construction of the Salt
Lake, Sevier Valley & Pioche railroad." (Pitchard, Daily Denver Times,
14 July 1873)
19 July 1873
On the 18th, the editor looked over the grade and such of the SL, SV&P,
with W. C. Rydalch; at the depot, looked over the 'Kate Connor', "…a
shed has been built over the locomotive to protect it from the weather."
Also at the depot, for the company, are "two box cars." The bridge
over the Jordan was built by Rushton and Winters; piles were driven in 14 feet
by a steam pile driver, and the stringers are of heavy red pine. H. P. Kimball
and W. C. Rydalch were grading and tracklaying contractors for the SLSV&P.
"On leaving the Jordan, the road swings west by south, until it reaches
Bassett & Robert's pasture, a distance of some 3 miles. This diversion from
a direct line was necessary in order to avoid, as far as possible, the big
salcratus lake. From this point the grade runs on an air line a distance of 11
miles, to Millstone Point. It then curves north-west, past the Little Cave, Big
Cave, Kesler's, and Black Rock, on the shore of the Great Salt Lake." (Pitchard, Salt Lake Herald, 19 July 1873)
12 August 1873
"Four hundred tons of iron and another locomotive are also to come on
immediately for the Salt Lake, Sevier Valley and Pioche railroad." (Pitchard, Salt Lake Herald, 12 August 1873)
21 August 1873
"Five carloads of iron for the Salt Lake, Sevier Valley & Pioche
Railroad have arrived." "The grading on this road is being prosecuted
with vigor." (Pitchard, Salt Lake
Herald, 21 August 1873)
23 August 1873
Eight car loads of iron were received for the SLSV&PRR yesterday, making 17
car loads this week. (Pitchard, Salt Lake
Daily Tribune, 23 August 1873)
30 August 1873
"Local Summary" "Eight car loads of iron arrived on Friday 22d,
at the depot, for ' the Salt Lake, Sevier Valley and Pioche Railroad." (Pitchard, Utah Mining Gazette, 30 August
1873)
6 September 1873
"Resources of Utah." "Statistics of Progress during the Year
1873 -- Summary for Six Months ending June 30th." April -- "The Salt
Lake, Sevier Valley and Pioche Railroad. Ground was broken on the Salt Lake
section of this road on the 14th of April and grading towards the Lake
immediately commenced." (Pitchard, Utah Mining Gazette, 6 September 1873)
13 September 1873
"Resources of Utah." "Statistics of Progress during the Year
1873" July -- "The Salt Lake, Sevier Valley and Pioche Railroad
Company, had received five car loads of iron rails, and would commence laying
the track at once. Two hundred tons more was on the way, and 1,000 tons
additional contracted for. The locomotive engine, 'Kate Connor,' from the
Brooks works, Dunkirk, New York, had also arrived, likewise two box cars, one
construction car, and two hand cars. The road was graded and ready for the ties
for over ten miles from the city,…" (Pitchard, Utah Mining Gazette, 13 September 1873)
25 September 1873
"A full train of iron and material arrived yesterday for the Salt Lake,
Sevier Valley & Pioche R.R., which has been graded twenty miles already,
and the company intend laying the track in a few days and pushing the work
through to completion." (Pitchard, Salt Lake Tribune, 25 September 1873)
25 September 1873
Tracklaying began today on the SLSV&P, on the spur to the Utah Central
depot, but can't run the engine on the track, as no bolts on hand for the
fishplates! (Pitchard, Deseret Evening
News, 25 September 1873)
26 September 1873
"Nineteen kegs of fish-plate bolts for the S.L.,S.V.& P.R.R. were
received yesterday, also 260 tons of rails, making about 500 tons of materials
received to date. It requires 40 tons of rails per mile…" (Pitchard, Deseret Evening News, 26 September 1873)
27 September 1873
"Salt Lake, Sevier Valley and Pioche Railroad." "Track laying on
this important road commenced on the west side of the Babbitt block on
Wednesday last, and will be continued without interruption until the road is completed
to Clinton's, west of the point of the mountain,… Mr. William F. Tully,-, has
charge of the track laying,… Ten flats, two box cars and one locomotive, the
Kate Connor, comprises the construction train." "The freight depot,
or point of transfer from the Utah Central, will be on the west side of the
present Utah Central freight warehouse, and the passenger depot, it is thought,
will be located one or two blocks west of the Utah Central block." (Pitchard, Utah Mining Gazette, 27 September
1873)
30 September 1873
"Unfortunate Suspension." "Work on the Salt Lake, Sevier Valley
& Pioche Railroad Discontinued." "No Funds Left to Carry on the
Great Enterprise." "Owing to the recent financial crisis in the East,
the Salt Lake, Sevier Valley & Pioche Railroad Co. have for the present
suspended operations." (Note: item continues, contains no useful
information, is largely an attempt to inspire the locals to come up with the
money to finish the road.) (Pitchard, Salt Lake Tribune, 30 September 1873)
4 October 1873
"Local Summary." "The Salt Lake, Sevier Valley and Pioche
railroad has been obliged to suspend, temporarily, on account of the tightness
of the money market, caused by the financial difficulties east." (Pitchard, Utah Mining Gazette, 4 October
1873)
13 October 1873
"At a Standstill -- the Salt Lake, Sevier Valley & Pioche Railroad
enterprise is in 'status quo'." (Pitchard, Deseret Evening News, 13 October 1873)
14 October 1873
"At a Standstill" - General Connor tells the Tribune that the
SLSV&PRR "…has not as yet resumed operations, and it is uncertain
when work will be recommenced." (Pitchard, Salt Lake Tribune, 14 October 1873)
5 January 1874
"Judge Clinton's faith in the Salt Lake, Sevier Valley and Pioche Railroad
has induced him to build a large, three storey rock building, at Salt Lake,
with the intention of putting up bathing houses and all the conveniences
belonging to a stylish watering place." (Pitchard, Deseret Evening News, 5 January 1874)
14 March 1874
Item on Dry Canyon gives the info that the names of the little camps that
combined to form Jacobs City had been Stringtown, Monoville and Flagtown. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Herald, 14 March 1874)
28 March 1874
Map of Dry Canyon, Ophir district takes up most of the front page of this issue
of the Gazette. (Pitchard, Utah Mining
Gazette, 28 March 1874)
30 April 1874
"Another Open Letter", in reply to one in the paper the day before,
which opened the floodgates, as-it were, on the bungling of H. S. Jacobs, and
its becoming public knowledge. In all of the flap, not much useful equipment
information, but this letter of the 30th says that Jacobs "…purchased
and sent forward a locomotive and two box cars and hand cars, before the road
had been graded a mile,… A freight bill of $1,700 had to be paid on their
arrival as the first step in his economical business management for the benefit
of the Company." (Pitchard, Salt Lake Herald, 30 April 1874)
(Note: Under dates of 29 April, 30 April, 5 May, 8 May and 10 May there
appeared a number of lengthy items bearing upon the failure of the Salt Lake,
Sevier Valley & Pioche Railroad, and where the fault lay.)
10 May 1874
A very long item, in which General P. E. Connor relates the best general
history (no pun intended) of the Salt Lake, Sevier Valley and Pioche Railroad
Company yet available, and of Jacobs' wrecking of the enterprise through his
incompetence and fraudulent dealings. Quotes from a number of Jacobs' own
letters, in company records, which point out the duplicity of 'that great
failure', Jacobs. Equipment not mentioned, except in the briefest way possible.
(Pitchard, Salt Lake Herald, 10 May 1874)
16 May 1874
An unsigned in the paper; dated at New York, September 4, 1873: "Salt
Lake, Sevier Valley and Pioche Railroad." "The following extracts,
from a letter received by one of our citizens, throw a flood of light on the
actions of Mr. Jacobs, and show how totally unfit he is to retain any office
connected with railroading in Utah, and moreover fully justifies the action of
the resident officials of the S.L., S.V.& P. Railroad: "The object of
this letter is to acquaint you of facts in regard to the claim I have against
the Salt Lake, Sevier Valley and Pioche Railroad." An order for 2,500 tons
of rail, from Danville, not closed on account of Jacobs; "I gave Mr.
Jacobs my bill of brokerage; which amounted to $2,250, and as he did not settle
the same, I sued him as President, for the amount." More hoo-haw on the
iron deal - still Jacobs defaulted; a Mr. Hendricks is mentioned."
"My brother, in an interview he had with General Connor, has, I think,
explained all this,…" "You may imagine the mess he [Jacobs] has
made of everything; the very locomotive I contracted for from Grant, has been
obliged to be resold, as this fellow could not satisfy him [Grant?], but
deceived him in his statement." (Here is the only clue I have yet found to
the identity of SLSV&P #1.) (Pitchard, Utah Mining Gazette, 16 May 1874)
23 June 1874
A letter from H. S. Jacobs is published, in which he tries to defend his
actions in regard to the Salt Lake, Sevier Valley & Pioche Railroad and the
failure thereof. Among other comments, he says: "The rails, together with
bolts, fishplates, spikes and switches, with locomotives and cars for 20 miles
of road, were purchased by me and delivered at Salt Lake City,…" (Note:
One locomotive and two box cars is the entire extent of the equipment known to
have been received.) (Pitchard, Salt Lake
Tribune, 23 June 1874)
30 August 1874
Article "Utah Western Railway", giving a brief history of the last two
years or so; says that passes over the SLSV&P were 'freely issued'; the
Utah Western has bought out the S. L., S. V. & P. R. R. entirely. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Herald, 30 August 1874)
18 December 1891
"Death of General Connor" last night at 7:55pm; referred to as 'The
Liberator of Utah', born 17 March 1820 in County Kerry, Ireland, came to U. S.
fairly early, and enlisted in the Army in 1839. His daughter, Catherine Frances
Connor, for whom the 'Kate Connor' was named, born in Salt Lake City in 1863. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 18 December 1891)
