Utah's Iron and Steel Industries
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(The following comes from the Salt Lake Tribune, January 1, 1900.)
Utah's Great Iron Deposits.
It is not too much to say, perhaps, that no portion of Utah is at present being more seriously courted by men of millions than is Iron county. With the older iron regions of the North and East badly impoverished the present season has turned them toward the West, with the deposits of Utah just now enjoying the preference. The Colorado Fuel and Iron company has its representative upon the ground in Mr. J. C. Ladd, and while he has not succeeded in all he has undertaken in his company's behalf, he has made good progress, having already acquired a number of claims, while sparring for others, with many assurances of success. Having purchased the holdings of Pago Brothers on the main iron-bearing zone, Mr. Ladd is now negotiating with Col. S. B. Milner of Salt Lake and Richard Dear of Minnesota for the purchase of no less than twenty-two locations owned by them, but upon what terms he positively declines to discuss. One of the owners estimated that the figure was as big as $1,000,000, but this Mr. Ladd refuses to either confirm or deny.
In addition to the Colorado Fuel and Iron company, the Leiter syndicate of Chicago has its representative upon the ground, and, with the Hemingway process for the manufacture of coke, will very likely establish a plant there the present year. Mr. Leiter, who was recently in the State, confessed that the outlook in Iron county was a most tempting one and that he would at an early day continue experiments upon the coal, with the Hemingway furnace.
That a line of railway will be extended into the region is most likely at this time. This assured, there can be no doubt concerning a market for the iron, if, with abundant fuel upon the ground, plants of adequate capacity are not brought to it. The Tribune can say upon the authority of at least two gentlemen prominently engaged in the manufacture of iron that the deposit of Iron county will be put to use the present year. Should the lines of railway now hovering about that field not be put into it, an independent line, said one of these gentlemen, will be constructed by independent projectors. Iron county is going to boom in 1900. In view of recent developments and increasing interest in this empire of iron, The Tribune has secured from Mr. Charles S. Wilkinson the following historical and descriptive article upon the country:
The Great Iron Deposits
General View of Them and Their Immensity—The Locations.
Comparatively little is known by the general public of the discovery and ancient workings of the immense iron and coal deposits of Iron county, which are just now attracting the attention of so many mining men and capitalists, not only within the borders of our own Nation, but also of Europeans. That it exists here in almost limitless quantities and rich in quality is well understood, but why it has never been utilized to any material extent or how its discovery came about is a subject on which little has been written, and it is to the purpose of enlightening those interested in its early history that this chapter is dedicated.
The Discovery
From the best accounts obtainable, iron ore was probably first discovered in Iron county in the year 1849 by a company of explorers under the leadership of George A. Smith. On the morning of November 14th of that year he started out to explore what was then called the Little Muddy, on account of the muddy condition of the water, but what is now Coal creek. Leaving Parowan, which place the settlers had only reached the day previous, they made their way across the low hills toward the southwest. With the exception of Smith, who rode in his carriage, the company were on horseback. The first night out they camped at the Cottonwoods, which are about four miles northwest of the present site of Cedar City. At Summit they were met by Gen. Jefferson Hunt of the California militia, John Berry and others, just in from California, all of whom joined the exploring expedition and accompanied them to Iron springs, where they arrived the following day about noon. At Iron springs they met a party of twenty-five Indians, with the noted chief, Potepemeat, at their head. A big pow-pow was held and all took dinner together, after which the exploring party returned to their camping ground of the night previous. It was while camped at the Iron springs for dinner that George Wood and others of the party picked up samples of iron ore from what is now the Great Western, owned by the Walker Brothers of Salt Lake, and carried them back with them to Parowan.
It was the object of the company in starting out to determine which of the two valleys—Parowan or Cedar—was preferable as a location for the proposed settlement, and while in camp at the Cottonwoods a decision was reached in favor of the former. Comparatively little importance was attached to the iron specimens at that time. The emigrants settled in the Parowan valley, a county was organized and Gen. Jefferson Hunt was elected to represent it in the Territorial Legislature. He was duly recognized and took his seat in the winter of 1851.
The finding of the iron was reported to President Young, and in October of 1851 an expedition was fitted out to settle on Coal creek or the Little Muddy and commence the manufacture of iron. At Parowan a number of residents who had had experience in the old world in the working of iron joined the expedition and came, with their families, to this valley, settling on the north side of the creek, where they built a fort for protection against the Indians. This consumed the winter of 1851-1852, but the following summer a company was organized and preparations for the manufacture of iron commenced. The following were members of the original company: Richard Harrison, George Wood, Jonathan Pugmire, Thomas Cartwright, Joseph Bateman, Joseph Walker, Henry Lunt, Joseph Chatterley, Benjamin Hults, Thomas Bladen and James Haslam.
Of a large pine tree a water wheel was constructed and two blowing cylinders, the machinery being propelled by water power. A small experimental furnace was constructed of adobes, lined with fire clay and white "wash-sand" from the creek. The iron was hauled ten miles, from the Great Western iron mine, at Iron springs, and after being calcined was put to a test in the diminutive furnace. The result was most gratifying. A quality of iron was produced which experts pronounced superior to the Eastern product. Thirteen small pigs were smelted out, averaging about thirty pounds each, from which a number of castings were made, among them being dog-irons for a fire place. These were taken to Salt Lake City and exhibited on the stand at the next semi-annual conference of the Mormon church.
The furnace being of adobes of course did not last long, and a larger concern now coming upon the scene the smaller company was absorbed into it. The principal promoters of the latter company are Erastus Snow, Franklin D. Richards and Messrs. Arthur and Tennant. The new company was incorporated under the name of
The Deseret Iron Company
Erastus Snow acting as president. This latter project was conceived in Wales by Mormon missionaries, some of whose converts were experienced iron-workers. About one hundred people emigrated from Provo and other points to assist them, and about 1853-4 a boom was on. Furnaces were constructed at a cost of $3000, and for the second time the manufacture of iron was commenced in Iron county, this time in 1854. The furnaces were of a substantial character, the late High Miller having charge of the architectural work, and everything appeared propitious for the enterprise. But the very apex of the boom was again doomed to disappointment. Inexperienced persons were placed at the head of the project, who did not understand treating the ores, and the product was so hard as to be almost useless. Having no chemical analyst, they were unable to detect the defect. Some say that the difficulty resulted from the use of coal; two suggested sulfur in the ore; but what in reality was copper ore; others that the blast was not strong enough; while yet others claim that the right kind of iron ore was not used. Whatever was the mistake, however, the project proved a failure, and was finally abandoned entirely. The last attempt of this company to make iron was in 1858.
Great Western Iron Company
After a suspense of some four years it was again decided to erect a plant for the manufacture of iron, and accordingly about 1870 the Great Western Iron company was organized. By this time the superiority of the Iron City slag had been demonstrated, and the plant was erected at that place. Among the heavier contributors to the enterprise were John Steel, Dr. Young, Nicholas Groesbeck, James Williamson, Umstead Rencher, and Thomas Taylor, The expense of building up the town, erecting smelters, shops, etc., and supplying the needed machinery consumed great sums of money. Previous attempts to smelt iron a mixture of coke and charcoal had been used, but this time charcoal was exclusively employed. Substantial charcoal kilns were erected, which are still standing, as also are a number of the other buildings.
The company made many hundreds of tons of excellent iron, much of which is still on the ground. On project of Thomas Taylor, the present owner, castings were made for the quartz mills at Pioche, Silver Reef, and Bullionville, and quantities of pig was shipped all the way to Salt Lake City by team. Some it was used in Jordan Steam Mill Co., the Salt Lake foundry, under the management of Thomas Pierpont, and by William J. Silver, all of whom pronounced the product equal to any. They manufactured the finest kinds of castings, plates with filigree work, etc., which required the very best of iron. It was in fact declared to be better than the Pittsburg product.
But with all the success attained by the latter company in the merit of their output, the project proved a financial failure on account of being so far removed from the railroad. The nearest terminus then being at Salt Lake City. The company became heavily involved. Thomas Taylor of Salt Lake City, who had credited them to the amount of $10,000 worth of merchandise from his store, being the principal creditor. The company confessed judgment to Mr. Taylor, who thus came into possession of the entire property, which at that time consisted of a patented quarter section of land with the buildings upon it, the iron in the slag, rights of water, and some thirty iron claims, with no government title to any of them. The property was a white elephant upon his hands, and he offered to sell at one-half the cost to him, but was unable to do so, and was consequently obliged to make the best of this bargain.
By a careful analysis of the various ore deposits he succeeded in securing title to most of the claims, which he proceeded to patent. He also acquired real estate in the surrounding country.
At the time Mr. Taylor came into possession of his iron properties he was financially able to have carried on the manufacture of iron on quite an extensive scale, but he was so constantly harassed by people who were trying to jump his properties, that him that he was compelled to waste the bulk of his fortune in litigation. Mr. Taylor came into possession of the property in 1877, twenty-two years ago, and has since labored incessantly to place it on a paying basis. He has sought to convince capital of the excellence of the opportunity it offered for a safe investment; he has repeatedly spent thousands in engaging capitalists to take up the project, offering to turn in his holdings for stock in the company that would run the plant; he made a trip to Europe for the purpose of raising capital to further his projects. But just at the time of the breaking out of the Spanish-American war, the English capital, professing to be doubtful as to its outcome, refused to invest money in American territory until the war was settled. Mr. Taylor was obliged to return home with his project, but to return when the war was ended, and his project would receive consideration at his hands again. Thus has dragged on until it now seems reasonable that a sale of his properties is about to be accomplished.
The Blowout
(The "cut" referred to is a simple line drawing, not a photograph.)
The cut shown on this page gives the apex of the Blowout mine owned by Mr. Taylor, which holds undisputed title to being the best iron deposit in the country. It is 1500 feet in length by 200 feet in width and rises from the level of the earth 150 feet at the apex, a solid mass of iron, almost pure. On the top of the ore may be seen Mr. Taylor and Don Maguire, while on the side is shown William Taylor, son of the proprietor. The pine tree in the left of the cut is growing in the solid iron ore. The photo was taken for the World's Columbian Exposition, where it was exhibited as a sample of ore from the same mine, which were awarded first prize. Specimens of the ore from the Blowout mine assayed as high as 74 per cent metallic iron.
Besides the wonderful Blowout, Mr. Taylor has a considerable number of other very valuable iron properties, embracing the best and primary locations that the district affords. Within them are included magnetite, hematite and all the other varieties known to the world.
Vast Fields Of Coal
It would be an utter impossibility to give a correct idea of the extent and importance of the iron deposits of Iron county without making reference to the vast fields of coal, so nearly are the two connected and naturally allied in the industrial pursuits of the world. While on the western side of the valley the mighty mountains of iron rear their heads, on the east side are mountains bearing their dusky brother, none the less gigantic for being less revealed.
These coal fields of Iron county, which have been so materially enhanced in value by the discovery of the Hemmingway process of coking, will probably never be exhausted. They have been traced back as far as the Colorado river and it is a popular theory that they extend clear across the country and out into the valley, but whether or not this theory be true, there is enough coal in the hills east of town to supply all the smelters that can ever be built tributary to the mines for centuries to come.
Discovery Of Coal
Coal was first discovered in Iron county in 1851 by Peter Shirts and Henry Lyman, who were on their way with a company of emigrants to settle in Salt Lake valley or iron land. When crossing Coal creek, some distance west of the present site of Cedar City, they picked up several pieces of coal, which fact then christened the stream Coal creek and it has ever since been known by this name.
Still it was not until the following year that a real vein of coal was found. In 1852 Washburn Chipman, with Bishop David and Peter Shirts were crossing the mountains east of Cedar City, when they came upon a vein of coal exposed to view and filled a small sack, which they carried on their saddles to Parowan and burned. This was taken from what is now the Bluff mine, which consequently possesses the distinction of being the first mine discovered in the county.
This was the signal for considerable prospecting for coal and several other veins were discovered, but it was not until 1880 that the first coal filing was made. This was on the Wood & Taylor mine, which is now patented and is recognized as one of the best. The coal from this mine is said to very nearly equal the Old Standard coal of England. It is remarkable for its heat-producing qualities, and under the Hemmingway process will doubtless make a very superior coke.
Once the ice was broken many claims were filed on. Some few have been patented, some have been held by repeated filings by various members of the families concerned, while many have been dropped entirely and have been taken by others, or still remain vacant. Each threatened boom has been the signal to jump claims with the expectation that the land was about to become suddenly valuable, until one by one the majority have sacrificed their right to purchase.
Among the more prominent coal-producing mines might be mentioned the Jones & Bullock mine from which was taken the coal pitched and burned upon in Chicago; the Bluff mine from which considerable coal is taken annually; the Taylor mine, one of the heaviest producers, and the Wood & Taylor. Two or three mines are also being worked in the vicinity of Kanarra. What with the new filings recently made and previous filings not yet expired, the greater portion of two townships is taken.
Precious Metals
It seems to be the theory of many geologists and experts that the iron deposits of Iron county are, as they have been termed, mere iron blossom—i.e., the capping to fabulously rich treasure vaults of the precious metals; but however this may be it is a fact that immense deals of deep exploration work have been made in that vicinity. As much as thirty years ago claims in that vicinity were worked for the precious metals.
The Old Blair Mine
situated some seven miles north of Iron City, was extensively worked about the time that the Old Iron company was in operation, by Seth N. Blair. Thousands of dollars was expended in developing the property, which carried both silver and copper, and shipments were made to Salt Lake by team. Later the property was worked quite extensively by a son of the former proprietor, who not being a practical mining man he did a great amount of "dead" work and finally was forced to give up the mine. Failing with the assessment work, the property was taken in by a company of Iron county people, who are doing their assessment work and developing the property. Extensions have been taken until the boundaries encompass some nine or ten claims. The vein, which is beautiful gray quartz, crops from the surface in half a dozen places from 100 feet to 20 feet in width and assays have been obtained that run up into the hundreds of ounces in silver, 1 per cent copper and a trace of gold.
The Stateline company at Pinto also have a promising prospect in the same district, which they are working for silver and gold, and from which they have obtained flattering assays. Copper ore has been shipped from the mouth of Coal creek channel, near City, by way of team, and then at a profit; but thus far it has been found only in pockets, although it is generally believed that there is a good body somewhere. Assays have been made showing as high as 10 per cent copper.
Every prospector is anxiously watching the situation here, and once it becomes certain that the railroad is building this way, there will be a great influx in our population. With railroad communication established with the outside world, Iron county will be the most prosperous in southern Utah.
In looking over the history, it seems strange that the now much-sought-after iron and coal was allowed to lie so long unworked during the early settlement of Utah. It was not until between '70 and '72 that the first iron claim was located by Seth N. Blair, the claim taken being the Great Western, and it was taken up under the old law as agricultural land. But this is only another example of the shortsightedness of mortals. The God who rules the universe shapes the destinies of men.
Iron Mountain -- The story continues with a general history of iron ore mining in Utah, and the railroads that served it.
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