Neptune and Kempton Mines

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Overview

The Neptune and Kempton mines were two of the pioneering mines in Bingham Canyon, and were located at the head of Galena Gulch, just above the Jordan mine, on the south slope of the ridge separating Galena Gulch from Muddy Fork.

The Neptune and Kempton mining claims were situated at the far northeast corner of Section 3 of Township 4 South, Range 3 West, on adjacent and adjoining the much larger Jordan mining claim. There was a legal battle in late 1873 between the Neptune and Kempton companies to determine where the apex was for of the ore vein both were taking ore from. The two claims were located just south of the top of the ridge between Galena Gulch on the south, and Muddy Fork on the north.

The two mines were among the earliest mines in Bingham, following the first practical development of the mines in the Bingham District in the fall of 1870. These very early mines in late 1870 began when Bristol & Daggett developed the Spanish and Winamuck mines. A group of mines consisting of about nine claims that later became the English company, Utah Silver Mining Company, was also successful in that same period.

In the 1870-1871 period, the principal shipments were from the Neptune, Kempton, Jordan, West Jordan, Spanish, Galena, and Yosemite. This large and increasing output brought Bingham to the front in the nation as a producer of lead, with the best returns coming from the the silver that was also present in the combined lead and silver ore known as galena.

Many mines opened, shipping carbonate lead ore that was relative cheap and easy for the basic smelters of the era to process. The largest mine was the Jordan and Galena with the largest body of low-grade silver-bearing lead ore then known in Utah. But the sudden surge in developing mines was also exhausting the lead carbonate ore that was close to the surface and easy to reach with tunnels less than 200 feet. At that depth, the miners reached the difficult to smelt sulphide ore. Successful smelting of suplhide silver-bearing lead ore, known as galena, required reducing prior to being smelted, and economical processes to do so had not yet been developed.

By 1874, the Winamuck, Neptune, Kempton, Spanish, and Utah mines had passed through their carbonate zone into the sulphide zone, and the Jordan and Galena were encountering considerable sulphide ore. The following year the Winamuck smelter shut down as the supply of carbonate ore became much less than even a year before.

The following description come from the 1875 "Statistics of Mines and Mining," publishing the the Government Printing Office.

Next in importance to the Winnamuck mine are the Neptune and Kempton. They lie on the south side of Jordan Hill, at the head of the main canon.

The Neptune runs northeast and southwest, and dips about 39 degree to the northwest. It is, however, crossed by a fault, the general line of which is nearly north and south. By this fault the vein has been dislocated considerably, the northeastern portion lying about 120 to 150 feet farther to the north than the southwestern part. The exact distance is not known, the fault not appearing on the surface, and communication with the northeastern portion in depth having only been made through the Kempton.

The work on the Neptune has been mostly done for purposes of exploration and development. It consists of five inclines, sunk at short distances from each other on the dip of the vein to depths varying from 110 to 120 feet. From these inclines numerous drifts have been run, aggregating more than 1,000 feet in length. An amazing quantity of ore has been developed by this work, the vein showing a width of from 5 to 40 feet, in which the solid ore is often from 3 to 20 feet thick.

Although no stoping of any moment was being done, it produced, together with the Kempton, 40 tons of first-class and 20 tons of second-class ore per day. The first-class ore from the Neptune assays from 53 to 65 per cent, of lead and 27 to 31 ounces of silver and 0.15 to 0.30 ounce of gold per ton, and the second class from 30 to 35 per cent, of lead and 12 to 14 ounces of silver.

The Kempton, which, like the Neptune, is owned by the Schoenberg Brothers, of New York, lies wholly in the magnesian limestone on the east side of the fault spoken of above. It runs about north 15 degrees east and dips 80 degrees to the northwest, and joins the northeast portion of the Neptune indicated in the sketch. It has been explored by one main incline 210 feet deep, from which drifts 600 feet long have been run along the vein. It is from 3 to 10 feet wide, the largest expansion having taken place in the lowest level, where 10 feet of solid galena are in sight. The ore from the Kempton is also separated into two classes, the assay or the first class being given as 53 to 74 per cent, of lead and 35 ounces of silver per ton, and of the second class as 32 to 45 per cent, of lead and 11 to 13 ounces of silver per ton. In the fall of 1874 about 40,000 tons of ore were in sight in these two mines.

A tunnel is being run from the mountain-side below for the Neptune. This tunnel starts 227 feet vertically below the level of the present shaft-house, and will bring in 377 feet of " backs " on the vein, measured on the incline. It will be 615 feet long to the foot-wall of the vein, and through it all the ore will be brought out after its completion. At present the ore is hoisted from the Neptune through the main incline by means of a 15-horse-power engine, and from the Kempton by means of a horse-whim.

The smelting-works which have treated most of the ore from the Neptune and Kempton are the Sheridan Hill Works, located on the Jordan River, at the crossing of the Bingham Canon Railroad. They belong in part to the parties owning the mines, and have treated, beside the Neptune and Kempton ore, other ores, richer in silver, in order to increase the value of the work-lead or " base-bullion" produced.

The following description comes from the 1876 "Statistics of Mines and Mining," publishing the the Government Printing Office.

The production of the Neptune and Kempton property has been about 4.000 tons during the year. Ten times that quantity could have been extracted without opening any new ground. The main work of the year has been the driving of the deep tunnel, which is to cut the lode 700 feet below its outcrop. To meet this a shaft has been sunk on the vein and on the line of the tunnel. At the close of the year the tunnel was thought to be in close proximity to the vein, but had not yet reached it. In many parts of the mine the reserves of ore at hand are very great. In that portion around the Galena chamber the body of mineral is apparently 20 feet in width and of excellent quality. Not far off considerable excitement was caused by the discovery of a body of black oxide of copper, which at one place was 14 feet in width. In October the lessees of the mine leased the Sheridan Hill smelter at Bingham Junction, and smelted their own ore during the remainder of the year.

Timeline

July 31, 1873
In a decision in the law suit, Neptune Mining company vs. Kempton Mining company, the judge dissolved the previously issued injunction stopping the Neptune company from working its claim due to a claim by the Kempton company of trespass and theft. The Neptune company had sued the Kempton company to have the injunction removed. (Salt Lake Tribune, July 31, 1873)

September 13, 1873
The Kempton mine was shipping 12 tons of ore per day. The Neptune mine had 200 tons of ore sacked and sitting on its dump, and was adding 16 tons per day. (Utah Mining Gazette, September 13, 1873)

October 25, 1873
The Neptune had been purchased by Rogers & Company in March 1873. The mine had driven three tunnels down along the dip of the vein, which was 30 degrees. The total of the tunnels and drifts was about 465 feet. A tunnel was being driven to connect with the other tunnels and the ore vein at a lower level. The mine was shipping an average of 20 tons per day, with an estimated 5,000 tons of ore in sight. The assay was 20 to 28 ounces of silver and 50 to 60 percent lead in each ton of ore. There were, as yet, no buildings at either the Neptune mine or the Kempton mine. (Utah Mining Gazette, October 25, 1873)

The Kempton was located "a few feet below and on the east of the Neptune, and a stranger would be led to suppose from their proximity to each other, they were one and the same. In fact, in passing through the eastern part of the Neptune we noticed two holes where the Kempton inclines had broke through into the Neptune works. Both mines are undoubtedly on the same body of ore, and we understand there is a law suit pending as to which is the prior location. The Kempton is working three inclines, and shipping large quantities of ore, notwithstanding a restraining order, we are informed, has been issued by the court to prevent further shipments pending the trial." (Utah Mining Gazette, October 25, 1873)

May 2, 1874
The Neptune and Kempton mines were being operated as a single mine by May 1974, with the same owners as the Sheridan Hill smelter at Bingham Junction (Midvale). (Utah Mining Gazette, May 2, 1874)

June 6, 1874
"The Neptune and Kempton mines have about 19,000 tons of ore in sight, and it is expected that when the hoisting works are completed fifty tons per day will be raised. A tunnel, now in 150 feet, is being run to tap the vein 100 feet below the surface; its total length is computed to be about 700 feet. The Kempton tunnel is in about ninety feet, and both it and the Neptune tunnel are splendidly timbered. In the lowest levels eight feet of solid galena is exposed. The Neptune is a bed or contact vein varying from three to forty-five feet in width, while the Kempton is a gash vein or fissure three to twelve feet in width." (Utah Mining Gazette, June 6, 1874)

June 10, 1874
"The new steam hoisting apparatus for the Neptune and Kempton mine at Bing ham, will be ready for operation next week." (Ogden Junction, June 10, 1874)

January 22, 1875
"The Neptune & Kempton, since the 1st of November, 1874, have shipped on an average about twenty-five tons of ore daily. They are now working sixty-five men and taking out twenty tons of ore per day, though this amount could be doubled if the facilities for removing the ore from the mine were sufficiently increased." (Salt Lake Herald, January 22, 1875)

July 21, 1875
The "difficulties" of the Neptune and Kempton mines had been settled, with an H. A. Sanger of Chicago taking possession of both. (Salt Lake Tribune, July 21, 1875)

October 1, 1875
The horse tramway between the depot at the Winnamuck mill, and the Neptune mine had been completed, a distance of three miles. (Real Estate and Mining Gazette, October 1, 1875)

From the terminus of the steam cars at the Winnamuck smelter, the company [Bingham Canyon & Camp Floyd railroad] have constructed a tramway running a distance of nearly three miles up the canyon to the head of main Bingham, connecting with the famous Neptune and Kempton mines, the Jordan, the Spanish and others in that locality less known to fame, but nevertheless rich and paying mines. A branch of the tramway turns to the left at the junction of Bear gulch with Bingham, runs over and around the mountain crossing the divide in its course, and reaching out with its iron arms to the Mayflower and Yosemite mines. This tramway is of great public benefit to Bingham as it reduces the tariff on ores and brings to market hundreds of tons of ore that could not be transported with profit by any other means.

November 21, 1875
"Neptune & Kempton, working twenty men. The tunnel is in over 400 feet: ore shipments regular." (Salt Lake Herald, November 21, 1875)

December 21, 1876
The Neptune and Kempton mines were to return to production soon, following a decree by a chancery court in New York City against one of the Schoenberg Brothers, concerning a complaint by a silver and gold refiner in Newark, New Jersey, and bankers in New York and Salt Lake City. The decree was against Issac Schoenberg. (Salt Lake Tribune, December 21, 1876)

(During and after this 1875-1877 period, the Neptune and Kempton mines were seldom mentioned in online newspapers, except to be included in the lists of past paying mines at Bingham. From 1877 onward, there were small news items about the mines being worked by leasers, shipping minimal quantities of ore. In 1899, there were notes that the dumps of the Neptune and Kempton mines, along with the Old Telegraph, were being worked and small shipments to smelters being made.)

By the time of an 1893 guide to mines at Bingham, the Neptune and Kempton mines were only shown as being worked by leasers, with a minimum of production.

During 1899, the Dewey mill processed 18,000 tons of ore from various Bingham mines, with the largest being the Old Jordan, the Old Telegraph mines, and a small amount from the Neptune mine. Most of the ore came by way of the Standish & Jimpson horse tram, which later became the Copper Belt Railroad.

(During the entire year of 1899, the leasers working the Neptune-Kempton mines shipped about 600 tons of first class ore to the smelters. About 4,000 tons of second class milling ore from the dumps had been shipped to the Dewey mill.)

October 25, 1901
The leasers of the Neptune and Kempton mines sued the United States Mining company for trespass. The leasers alleged that during the previous month of May 1901, employees of the U. S. company used explosives and blew down the portal of the Kempton tunnel, and destroyed 50 feet of the tunnel. (Salt Lake Herald, October 25, 1901)

February 24, 1902
Enos Wall, together with Governor Heber Wells and Thomas Kearns, had taken a six year lease of the Neptune and Kempton mines, and had shipped 150 tons of lead ore in the previous week. (Salt Lake Tribune, February 24, 1902)

June 30, 1902
Enos Wall was shipping a 500-ton lot of ore from the Neptune-Kempton mines, to the Dewey mill, which he had leased in December 1901. The ore was moved by wagon to the Copper Belt railroad, then by rail car to the Dewey mill. (Salt Lake Herald, June 30, 1902)

July 12, 1902
Enos Wall became the sole leaser, with an option to purchase the Kempton Lode five years later on August 1, 1907. (Deseret Evening News, August 8, 1907)

In mid July 1902, Wall took control of the Kempton claim. His association with the Kempton claim, and its close proximity to the claims and property of the United States Mining company in Galena Gulch in Bingham became part of a larger law suit to settle several encroachment and trespass claims against the U. S. company, or in-turn, against Wall and the other adjoining mining companies. Wall was among several operators with adjoining properties that were attempting to join in the U. S. company's success with their Jordan and Galena mines.

(Read more about Enos Wall)

October 21, 1902
The United States Mining company sued the multiple owners of the Kempton Lode, including Enos Wall, Thomas Kearns and Heber Wells, asserting that the apex of the Kempton Lode was within the boundaries of the U. S. company's Jordan Extension mining claim. The defendants admit that although they claim that the apex was in the Kempton claim, they had been working the vein as it extended into any adjacent claims, including the Northern Light, Grizzly, and Fairview claims, three claims that were controlled by the United States company. (Salt Lake Herald, October 21, 1902)

1904
Statements were made that Wall was planning to process the lead-silver ore from his Kempton mine. The Kempton remained active until November when Wall and his associates lost their law suit against the United States company. The question before the court was whether or not the vast limestone belt that included the claims of the U. S. company's Jordan and Galena mines, was continuous, and therefore under ownership to the U. S. company, or fractured with multiple apexes at the surface. The Kempton owners contended that the limestone belt was not continous, and was therefore subject to multiple mining claims. The appeals court in St. Louis found in favor of the U. S. company, agreeing that the limestone belt in Galena Gulch was continous and therefore subject to the U. S. company's patents and claims. (Salt Lake Tribune, July 24, 1904; November 26, 1904; December 13, 1904)

But the fight wasn't over. The case continued into the succeeding years of 1903 through 1909, by various injunctions and other legal actions in the state district court, the federal appeals court, and the U. S. Supreme Court. Finally, in September 1909 the case was settled out of court, in the favor of the U. S. company.

August 8, 1907
Enos Wall sued the previous owners of the Kempton Lode, to force them to take the amount agreed upon in the option from 1902. (Deseret Evening News, August 8, 1907)

The 1908 Mines Register, published in 1909, shows that Fred Bemis was also the superintendent of Wall's Kempton mine, and that the Kempton mine had a 125-ton mill that was opened in 1905. (This was the Wall mill.)

"Kempton Mine. Utah. Office: care of Col. Enos A. Wall, owner, Salt Lake City, Utah. Mine office: Bingham Canyon, Salt Lake Co., Utah. Fred Bemis, superintendent. Lands, in the West Mountain district, carry argentiferous and auriferous lead and copper sulphides, values being mainly in lead. Has a 125-ton mill, rebuilt 1905, which is unique, inasmuch as practically all the machinery was designed by the owner. The equipment includes a set of Wall corrugated rolls, a set of steel rolls for middlings, also invented by Col. Wall, 3 sets of Wall jigs, 2 Wall tables for concentrates, and 2 Wilfley tables."

November 13, 1908
Enos Wall withdrew his complaint against the previous owners of the Kempton Lode. (Salt Lake Tribune, November 13, 1908)

(No further references to the Neptune or Kempton mines after this period in 1907-1909. This may indicate that the mines were sold to the United States company as part of the settlement. Enos Wall was deeply involved in his legal battles with the management of Utah Copper, and may have needed the funds from a settlement and sale to support that fight.)

Decemember 1910
Enos Wall wrote in his Mines and Methods magazine, letting the world know his side of the previous fight with the United States company. (Mines and Methods, December 1910)

An enormous body or silver-lead ore, said to contain at least $4,000,000 in value, had been opened up in the Kempton mine lying immediately adjacent to the Old Jordan. The Kempton was an old mine, and had been operated more or less continuously for over thirty years, and its patented area overlapped and included a portion or the Old Jordan claim. The proximity and magnitude of this Kempton orebody at once greatly excited the natural cupidity and greed of Manager A. F. Holden, of the United States Mining company.

The resourceful manager of the United States Mining company therefore reasoned that this limestone stratum, or belt, which is over 300 feet in width, and exposed for some five miles in length. Is itself a lode. and embraces all fissures and orebodies found within its confines. The Old Jordan and the Kempton are each part of the same lode, and as the Old Jordan was first located and covers a portion of the apex of the limestone, it is entitled to the entire width of the lode. But there was one apparently insuperable difficulty. A transverse fault intenvened between the Old Jordan mine and the Kempton orebody which has caused a displacement.

Although Wall continued to be defended in Mines and Methods publication into mid 1913, he never metioned the Kempton mine again, or the Jordan and Galena claims for that matter.

(Mines and Methods magazine was published monthly in Salt Lake City beginning in September 1909. Although Enos Wall was never shown as having any financial interest, or control of editorial content, the magazine regaularly printed his, at times extreme, views on all matters of mining in Utah, especially pointing out the mistakes that the management of Utah Copper continued to make in their running of the company and the operations of their Bingham mine. There were regular articles about the benefits of using Wall's patented milling processes and machines. The June 1913 issue was the last, due to the soft metal markets and a "general lack of interest in mining properties at present." At that time it was reported that Enos Wall had been behind the publication from its start. The announced planned move of the publication to New York City never took place. Also see the June 30, 1910 issue of the Salt Lake Herald, and the August 6, 1913 issue of the Deseret News for additional background.)

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