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Salt Lake Engineering Works (1902-1931)

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Salt Lake Engineering Works (1902-1931)

(Office located at 425 South Sixth (700) West, shops and foundry taking up the entire northeast quarter of the block; Block 226; Sanborn 1911 Sheet 144)

(Portions of the plant are still in place today, on the south side of the west end of the 400 South Viaduct, and are occupied in part by FFKR Architects. Other parts of the site are occupied by Modern West, an upscale art gallery; Saltgrass Printmakers, and King's Peak coffee shop.)

October 8, 1902
"A concern of vast importance to the industrial business of this city made its first appearance in Salt Lake yesterday by the filing of articles of incorporation of the Salt Lake Engineering company, with some of the most prominent financiers in the west among the directors and promoters. The new concern will begin operations in this city as soon as possible and will add largely to the manufacturing importance of Salt Lake. It proposes to transact a general iron foundry business and will manufacture and erect all kinds of structural irons. Charles G. Ferril, who controls a similar concern in Butte, is secretary and treasurer of the company which will operate in this city. Associated with him in the enterprise are W. S. McCormick, D. McVichie, Reuben May and William Read." (Salt Lake Herald, October 8, 1902)

(Construction started in November 1902)

January 19, 1903
"C. J. Ferrill and R. May of the Salt Lake Engineering company, and their families, have now removed to this city from Butte, and the work of construction at the new foundry and machine works will be hurried forward livelier than ever. These two shops are nearly finished." (Deseret News, January 19, 1903)

February 21, 1903
"The Salt Lake Engineering works is a new enterprise in Salt Lake City. It is a combination of Butte people, and will be ready for active work within the next thirty days. The company is now building extensive works at Fourth South and Sixth West streets, which will embrace foundry, iron works, and machine shops, and it is stated that this will be the largest establishment of this character between Denver and the Pacific coast. The officers of the association are: William Read, president and manager; R. May, vice president and superintendent; C. J. Ferrell, secretary and treasurer. The company has opened a city office at rooms 416-417 Dooly block." (Salt Lake City Truth, February 21, 1903)

(William Read, Reuben May, and Charles Ferrell had previously owned and operated the Silver Bow Foundry & Machine company in Butte, Montana; incorporated in May 1899; closed and moved to Salt Lake City to expand their market; no references after November 1902.)

August 15, 1903
"Secretary Ferrell, of the Salt Lake Engineering Works, announces that his company has closed a contract with the Rio Grande system to furnish all its railroad castings. The company is enlarging and equipping its foundry and machine shops for turning out all general machinery and railroad work similar to that from other shops in the east doing the same class of work." (Salt Lake Mining Review, August 15, 1903)

(The Salt Lake Engineering company very soon became the regular supplier of equipment and machines for mines, mills and smelters across the region of Utah, Idaho, Montana and Nevada, gaining contracts for large machinery to get these important companies into operation, and to keep them running smoothly.)

May 15, 1905
"The announcement has been made that Colonel E. A. Wall, of Salt Lake, has purchased a heavy interest in the establishment and business of the Salt Lake Engineering Works. The Salt Lake Engineering Works has one of the largest foundries, and the best equipped, to be found in this intermountain region, one of its specialties being the manufacture of all kinds of mining, machinery and structural iron work. First-class and experienced men are behind the enterprise, and the addition of Colonel Wall’s name to the personnel of the company will give it more local color and a great deal of strength." (Salt Lake Mining Review, May 15, 1905)

(Enos Wall acquired his control of Salt Lake Engineering Works by purchasing the stock previously held by Charles G. Ferrell, who then moved to Berkley, California. After eight years, Ferrell moved to Los Angeles, where after World War I he founded the Ferrell Brass Foundry, which he still owned in 1932. - Butte Daily Post, July 28, 1932, reporting on a visit to Butte by Charles Ferrell renewing old friendships.)

March 15, 1906
Salt Lake Engineering company added a new machine shop measuring 190 feet by 65 feet. (Salt lake Mining Review, March 15, 1906)

(The 190 feet by 65 feet steel building had been located at the Salt Lake Copper Works on northwest Salt Lake County, shut down since 1899, and Enos Wall had purchased the steel building for use at his Salt Lake Engineering works where it was to be re-erected. - Deseret News, March 16, 1906)

March 30, 1906
The Salt Lake Engineering Works was among the eight foundries being targeted by the Iron Moulders' union in a strike to improve working conditions and increase wages. (Salt Lake Telegram, March 30, 1906)

• Oregon Short Line Railroad
• Davis, Howe & Co.
• Silver Brothers Iron Works
• H. A. Silver Foundry and Machine Shop
• Salt Lake Engineering Works
• Warm Springs Foundry company
• Utah Foundry and Machine company
• Western Foundry and Stove Repair Works

May 26, 1906
"Salt Lake Engineering Works. - The above named firm was organized in 1902, and is officered by Wm. Read, president and manager; E. A. Wall, vice president and treasurer; R. May, secretary and superintendent. The main office and works are situated at Fourth South and Sixth West streets, the buildings and yards covering two acres. Their shops are equipped with the most up to date machinery and tools, but shortly will erect a new two-story addition 65 feet wide and 190 feet long. About seventy-five experienced people are in their employ. They are manufacturers of mining, milling and smelting machinery and have a large trade in all parts of Utah, Idaho, Wyoming and Nevada." (Salt Lake City Truth, May 26, 1906)

(Enos Wall was using the facilities of the Salt Lake Engineering Works to manufacture his own designs of crushing rolls and concentrating tables he had been developing to process the low-grade copper ore in Bingham Canyon. He was attempting to prove his designs were better than those of Jacking and Gemmel of Utah Copper.)

May 10, 1907
"The largest piece of machinery ever made in Utah in one casting was the big wheel moulded for the Honerine at Stockton. The wheel weighs 15,000 pounds; is 10 feet in diameter, has a 25-inch face and is in one piece. The wheel was made by the Salt Lake Engineering company and its manufacture is proof that mining companies do not need to send East any longer for heavy machinery." (Deseret News, May 10, 1907; Salt Lake Tribune, May 10, 1907)

(The 175-horsepower Corliss engine at the Honerine mill had "run away" and had destroyed the previous wheel. The broken pieces were brought from Stockton into Salt Lake City, and a new pattern and mold was made. The superintendent of the Honerine had been told by local mining experts that his only solution was to send the broken wheel East, and that no foundry in the West could make a new one. - Salt Lake Herald, May 10, 1907)

(Article with photo in the May 30, 1907 issue of the Salt Lake Mining Review.)

(The distinction should be made here that this massive casting was just that, a casting made by melting scrap iron and steel in an open hearth furnace and pouring it into a mold. Not an easy task in itself. The first steel manufactured in Utah was by the Silver Brothers in 1911 when they made steel from its components of pig iron, coke and various amounts of scrap iron and steel, together with the additives needed to make a proper steel product. This was the first use in the West of what was known as a "side-blown converter." The Rosenblatt's American Foundry & Machine company did not install its electric casting furnace until December 1916.)

(Read more about the first steel in Utah)

April 20, 1909
Reuben May and Enos Wall announced plans to build, within 90 days, a foundry to produce steel castings. May and Wall were owners of the Salt Lake Engineering company. The company was to occupy an existing steel building on ground owned by the Salt Lake Engineering company south of the D&RG shops. In his announcement, Wall stated that steel would not be manufactured, and that steel castings were to be made from scrap steel and iron, and pig iron, the latter of which is readily available in bulk. The only competing company west of Salt Lake City was in Portland, Oregon, and east of Salt Lake City in Pueblo, Colorado, in St. Louis, and several in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Deseret News, April 20, 1909)

(In June 1910, "A. R. Lundin, of Salt Lake, has been appointed superintendent of the foundry department of the Silver Brothers Iron Works Co." -- Salt Lake Mining Review, June 30, 1910)

(Lundin in 1912 left the Silver Brothers company to start the Lundin & May Foundry, in partnership with Reuben May, formerly with the Salt Lake Engineering Works.)

September 30, 1911
"The Salt Lake Engineering Works has an order from the Ohio Copper company for twenty Wall rolls for the Ohio Copper mill at Bingham." (Salt Lake Mining Review, September 30, 1911)

January 30, 1912
"The Salt Lake Engineering Works, its has been announced, has closed its plant to custom work, and will hereafter devote its entire time to the manufacture of Wall rolls, crushers and jigs." (Salt Lake Mining Review, January 30, 1912)

August 24, 1912
"The Salt Lake Engineering company filed a lawsuit in district court against Reuben May and J. H. Smith, asking for property, funds and money alleged to belong to the company and which it is claimed is being held by the defendants." (Salt Lake Telegram, August 24, 1912)

August 25, 1912
"Charging misapplication of funds to the extent of more than $26,000, the Salt Lake Engineering works filed suit against Reuben May, manager, and J. A. Smith, bookkeeper, asking an accounting of the funds of the company during the incumbency of these men as officers." (Salt Lake Herald, August 25, 1912)

August 25, 1912
From the Salt Lake Tribune, August 25, 1912.

(The exclusive contract with Enos Wall and the business of only manufacturing his designs apparently caused a severe reduction of revenue for the company, and in late September 1912, the Salt Lake Engineering Works began advertising for the first time in its history. The advertisements continued daily for 30 days, in two of the Salt Lake City newspapers, likely in an attempt to un-do the announcement of being exclusive to Wall's designs.)

September 26, 1912
Advertisement from the Salt Lake Herald, September 26, 1912.

(During September and October 1912, there was a lawsuit by the Salt Lake Engineering Works against the Ohio Copper company to collect the $36,000 owed for furnishing the Wall-designed machinery for the Ohio Copper mill. The case remained unresolved through 1915 and the bankruptcy of the Ohio Copper company. The Salt Lake Engineering vs. Ohio Copper suit was dismissed in December 1916, with the parties settling out of court.)

January 24, 1914
The original Fourth South viaduct in Salt Lake City was completed and opened for traffic crossing over D&RG's yard tracks in that part of the city. (Salt Lake Tribune, January 24, 1914)

(Salt Lake Engineering Works was on the south side of the 4th South viaduct.)

(The new and current 4th South viaduct opened in Salt Lake City on September 1, 1971. The street was closed in August 1970 and construction of the new viaduct started. Formal dedication was on September 21st. -- Salt Lake Tribune, August 11, 1971; August 31, 1971)

April 24, 1917
"Deeds were filed Monday for the sale of practically a quarter of a city block on the west side to Col. E. A. Wall by the Salt Lake Lumber company. The consideration was $15,000 and the ground is situated at Sixth West and Fourth South street, just south of Pacific avenue, also south of the present location of the Salt Lake Engineering Works, and opposite the Rio Grande shops. The new site will be used for the extension of the shops of the Salt Lake Engineering Works, of which Col. Wall is president, and principal owner. According to Col. Wall, buildings already on the ground will be utilized although new extensions may be erected later." (Deseret News, April 24, 1917)

(Read more about Enos A. Wall)

(Enos A. Wall died in March 1920.)

August 30, 1922
"W. E. Connell, manager of the Salt Lake Engineering Co., announces resumption of operations at the plant, which has been practically closed down for several years past. This plant is one of the largest and best equipped institutions of its kind in the west and is equipped to handle large as well as small jobs in a prompt and efficient manner." (Salt Lake Mining Review, August 30, 1922)

(The last advertisement for Salt Lake Engineering Works in online newspapers was in the Salt Lake Mining Review, June 30, 1923. The advertisements had been restarted in August 1922, and continued through June 1923.)

December 15, 1923
"It is reported here that Los Angeles parties are negotiating for the purchase of the Salt Lake Engineering Works property, belonging to the Colonel Wall estate; also the Wall palatial residence on East South Temple street may go in the deal, which is said to be in the nature of a trade for Los Angeles apartment property. It is said the engineering works ground might be utilized for the construction of homes and apartments for railroad employees, and others, desiring to live close to their places of labor." (Salt Lake Mining Review, December 15, 1923)

October 14, 1931
"The Bogue Supply Company announce the removal of their office, 206 South West Temple, and their plant, 313 South Seventh West, to the building formerly occupied by the Salt Lake Engineering Works, at 412 South Sixth West, Salt Lake City, Utah, October 15, 1931." (Salt Lake Tribune, October 14, 1931)

(The former Salt Lake Engineering Works was taken over by the Bogue Supply company in 1931, and that company was closed in 1998.)

(Bogue Supply Company had started business in March 1910, located at 313 South Seventh (800) West).)

From the Salt Lake Tribune, November 9, 2002.

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