Germania Smelter
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Germania Smelter
(About 4900 South and 150 West streets, south of the railroads' crossing of Little Cottonwood Creek)
Utah became a global hub for metallurgical research. In 1876, Anton Eilers, who had received his technical training in Germany, and at the mining school of Clausthal, also in Germany, came to the Germania smelter in Murray, in charge of metallurgical operations. For the previous seven years he had worked as deputy United States Commissioner of Mining Statistics as assistant to Dr. R. W. Raymond. This work included traveling to all the western mining districts which made him familiar with the natural resources, industries, prospects and people of this entire western country. Mr. Eilers has been called the "father of modern silver lead smelting". He was the first to apply chemistry to metallurgy and to work out the theory of slag formation on an accurate chemical basis.
"At Murray, then known as South Cottonwood, seven miles south of Salt Lake City, on the Utah Southern Railroad, the Germania Separating and Refining Works commenced operations on November 26, 1872. It started as a lead refinery and was the only works of its kind in Utah. In 1873 the Germania plant treated 4,100 tons of lead bullion (1,670 tons coming from Nevada) and produced 560,580 ounces of silver, 6,710 ounces of gold, and refined lead of the best quality. Two years later, blast furnaces and reverberatories were added for smelting ores. The plant gradually grew and continued in operation, under many ownerships, until it was purchased by the American Smelting and Refining Company and dismantled in 1902 after construction of their Murray plant had been completed." (Early History of Lead Smelting in the West, Ax-I-Dent-Ax, Volume Fourteen; Number Five; May 1929)
The technical evolution of Utah's lead smelting industry in the late 1880s and early 1890s was a story of moving from trial-and-error small one- two- and three-stack primitive furnaces spread across the territory, to becoming the largest and most technologically advanced smelting center in the world by the 1920s, centered in the Salt Lake Valley.
The following summary comes from "Crofutt's New Overland Tourist Pacific Guide," published in 1878, page 127.
About seven miles south of Salt Lake City, "we come to Little Cottonwood — the first station. On the left [east] are the Wasatch Smelting Works, and a little beyond the American Smelting Works. Just after crossing the Little Cottonwood Creek, on the right [west], is the big Germania Smelting and Refining Works, with the town of Germania, containing 500 inhabitants. Passing along, on the right, can be seen great piles of silver ore or 'matte' as it is called."
(This location would put the Germania smelter south of the creek crossing, and between the Utah Southern (UP) line and the later D&RGW line, between the creek and today's UTA Murray Central Frontrunner and TRAX station. Today's Vine Street passes directly through the former smelter site, at about 150 West on Vine Street, using the larger Salt Lake County numbering system.)
(A history of Murray, Utah, published in 1992, includes the following about the Wasatch Silver Lead Works, "The smelter was located on the north side of Little Cottonwood Creek with the Germania opposite on the south." - "Between The Cottonwoods, Murray City In Transition," 1992, page 10)
The following comes from the January 1, 1877 issue of the Salt Lake Tribune:
The Germania Smelter is situated on Little Cottonwood creek, about six miles south of Salt Lake City, and on the line of the Utah Southern railroad. It is owned by a foreign corporation, and perhaps is one of the most complete works of the kind on the Pacific coast. It is conducted with skill and energy, and turns out the purest lead bullion produced in Utah.
The machinery about this establishment is of the lead manufacture, and does its work constantly and without stoppages. The engine, which has been in use four years, is a very fine one, of forty horse-power, being of ample capacity to keep up the blasts of both the furnaces, wile the pump, by the timely use of which the works have been saved several times from destruction by fire, is one of the neatest to be found at any of the smelters. It is capable throwing three hundred gallons of water per minute!
During the past year many improvements have been made. A new steam boiler to supply the place of the old one has been put in; new refining works for separating the silver from the base bullion have been constructed and will be in operation in the course of a few months, and other improvements of a minor character have replaced less convenient and substantial things about the place. At present the Germania has both of its water jacket furnaces in full blast. They are in point of safety to the health and lives of those employed about them, unsurpassed by any furnaces at the smelters of Salt Lake county. The fume condensers are almost perfect, so that the poisonous dust arising with the smoke, is caught before it reaches the open air, while the feed doors of the furnaces are so arranged as to make it impossible for fumes to escape into the building and lead the men.
The ores smelted at these works are brought from various parts of the country. besides those produced in Utah mines, which form the basis of the supply, a considerable quantity of high grade ores from Montana and Idaho is used in connection with the low grade lead ores from our own mines, for the purpose of raising the percentages of silver in the bullion turned out above the standard of one hundred and ten ounces to the ton, which gives the bullion a readier sale in the market.
The process of preserving the standard of bullion is done in a manner peculiar to the Germania. When the contents of the several classes of ores have been ascertained by sampling, a given quantity from each lot is spread out on the floor in layers one upon the other, until a pile of fifty or a hundred tons of all the requisite classes is accumulated, and then from this the furnaces are supplied, one pile being used up while another is being built. In this manner the grade of bullion produced is always kept approximately near to the required standard, so that the managers have an idea from day to day what will be produced for a week ahead.
On an average forty men are constantly employed, running two shifts every twenty-four hours. But the works are so perfect about the Germania, that leading is very rare.
During the past year this smelter has produced 1,700 tons of base bullion of the average value of $235 per ton, or a total valuation of $262,500. (Salt Lake Tribune, January 1, 1877)
The following comes from "Department Of The Interior, Statistics And Technology Of The Precious Metals," published in 1885.
Germania Smelting and Refining Company. This is the only refining works in the territory. It was completed in the autumn of 1872 as refining works only. Smelting furnaces were added in the spring of 1874, since which time the works have been running continuously in some department. It is situated on the Utah Southern railroad, 7 miles south of Salt Lake City, and consists of one reverberatory furnace for roasting ore and matte or slagging flue-dust, three shaft smelting furnaces, three softening and refining furnaces This is among the most important metallurgical works of the west. It cost a large sum of money, is complete, well managed, and probably profitable. In the last few years it has divided with the Morgan and the Mingo smelters the greater part of the trade in Utah ores. For a description of the works, necessarily imperfect owing to later changes and improvements, reference may be had to the United States Mining Commissioner's report for 1873, page 261; and for 1875, page 416.
1872
Because of the growing production of the Bingham mines, along with other mines throughout the territory, in 1872 two smelters (the Germania and the Mingo) were built on the Utah Southern at Murray, four miles north of Sandy. (Arrington, Leonard J. "Abundance From The Earth: The beginnings of commercial mining in Utah", Utah Historical Quarterly, Volume 31, Number 3 (Summer 1963), p. 207)
June 15, 1872
"This morning H. B. Hawkins, Esq., of New York, Mons. Henry Selgar, of Paris, and G. Billings, Esq., of New York, dropped in upon us. These gentlemen are here for the purpose of establishing the Germania Smelting and Refining Works, in such location as may be desirable and available. The Works are to operate according to Flack's system, which is reported to be a very economical and excellent one, even for low grade ores, separating the silver from the lead in 24 hours, and leaving a superior quality of the latter article. Flack's system, say the Prospectors of this company, has been in successful operation from four to six years in fourteen large establishments in England and other parts of Europe." (Deseret News, June 15, 1872)
November 26, 1872
"The Germania Separating and Refining Works commenced operations on November 26, 1872. It started as a lead refinery and was the only works of its kind in Utah. In 1873 the Germania plant treated 4,100 tons of lead bullion (1,670 tons coming from Nevada) and produced 560,580 ounces of silver, 6,710 ounces of gold, and refined lead of the best quality."
(Early History of Lead Smelting in the West, Ax-I-Dent-Ax, Volume Fourteen; Number Five; May 1929)
September 13, 1873
"The Germania separating and refining works, had made a number of improvements, and additions to their works. During the month of June, they turned out 85,000 ounces of silver bars, 400 tons of pure lead, and 858 ounces of gold. The company have purchased the exclusive right to Flach's process, for Utah and California, and increased its capital to $600,000. They are going extensively into the manufacture of white lead, in San Francisco." (Utah Mining Gazette, September 13, 1873)
October 16, 1873
"Then comes the product of the Germania separating and refining works, which turns out the pure gold, silver, copper and lead from the base bullion." (Helena Weekly Herald, October 16, 1873)
During 1873, "Mr. Gustave Billing the resident manager, reported that the facility was not completed and the works were not operating up to full capacity. The refining operation was only able to treat 10,000 tons of bullion during that year. All of the lead refined was sent to white-lead works in Chicago, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York." (Charles Hughes, "The Development of the Smelting Industry in the Central Salt Lake Valley Communities of Midvale, Murray, and Sandy Prior to 1900," 1990, page 82)
1874
It was reported in December 1874 that the Germania Works smelter was using coke made from Sanpete coal, which the smelter's superintendent said was equal to that imported from St. Louis. Utah imported over 7,000 tons of coke during 1873. (Engineering and Mining Journal, December 5, 1874, p. 353)
September 1, 1875
"The Germania furnace is running under the able management of Mr. Henry, formerly assayer at the Shoebridge mill. This enterprise is going to be a grand success. The ores being smelted are from the Crismon Mammoth and Shoebridge mines. The ores from the last named mine contain a sufficient quantity of sulphur to mix with the carbonate of copper ores from Mammoth to produce 'regulus.' Formerly the product from this furnace was black or crude copper. This material, owing to the percentage of antimony and arsenic in combination with the copper, was rather a dead article in the copper market, while the present product is always in active demand." (Real Estate and Mining Gazette, September 1, 1875)
("Regulus" was the metallic mass that forms beneath the slag at the bottom of a furnace or smelter during the smelting of ores. It represents an impure intermediate product, known as "coarse metal," which required further oxidation to remove sulfur. It serves to collect valuable metals like gold or copper from the ore while separating them from impurities.)
January 1, 1877
During 1876, the Germania smelter shipped 1,700 tons of base bullion. "The bullion shipped from the territory according to the tonnage report of the Utah Central railroad for the year 1876, amounts to 20,030 tons, while our reports from the smelters show as follows." (Salt Lake Tribune, January 1, 1877)
1877
The smelters of the Territory included the Germania, with three stacks, running. (The Inter-Ocean [Chicago], January 5, 1878)
May 1878
"Germania Works - The Germania has commenced refining again, after a cessation of three or four years they expect to make 400 or 500 tons of lead a month, and to find a market for it in China. The price at which it can be bought in London and taken either by sailing ships or by steamer through the Suez Canal to China, is such as to leave them a fair margin." (Deseret News, May 15, 1878, citing Utah Commercial, for May)
1879
For the year 1879, the Germania Smelting & Refining Works refined 2,301,276 pounds of lead, 344,836 ounces of silver, and 2,202 ounces of gold. (Deseret News, January 7, 1880)
April 16, 1879
"The White Lead Manufactury in San Francisco uses lead ore from Utah and Arizona. It is not improbable that a quite extensive trade may spring up from our lead ore, now perfectly worthless and in the way." (Phoenix Weekly-Herald, April 16, 1879)
1880
At the beginning of 1880, there were ten lead smelters in Utah, including the Germania Smelting & Refining Works at Murray, which shipped 1,150 tons of bullion. (Deseret News, January 7, 1880)
February 8, 1882
"Articles of incorporation of the Germania Lead Works were filed yesterday in the County Clerk's Office. The capital stock is $500,000, divided into 5,000 shares of $100 each. The Directors are F. W. Billing, E. E. Eyre, W. D. O'Sullivan, A. W. Bowman, Jos. G. Eastland, Jos. B. Rosborough, J. G. Kellogg, W. A. Aldrich, Lewis Gerstle. The Company's place of business will be in San Francisco." (San Francisco Call Bulletin, February 8, 1882)
March 4, 1882
"The Germania Smelting and Refining Company of this city has disposed of its works and property to the Germania Lead Works of San Francisco, Cal. The latter will continue the business. - F. W. Billing, Manager." (Salt Lake Herald, March 4, 1882)
(The above notice continued daily through March 12, 1882.)
(The advertisements throughout 1883 to the early 1890s used the "Germania Lead Works" name, as well as the 1887 law suit of Germania Lead Works vs. the Bullion-Beck mine in Eureka, which was dismissed in 1890.)
March 4, 1882
"San Francisco Lead Works. - Notice is published this morning that the Germania Smelting and Refining Company has disposed of its works and property to the Germania Lead Works of San Francisco, and they will continue the work here. This is the company which will build the white lead and lead pipe works here, and which was referred to before. The location of the works will be where the Germania Smelter now is, and the men are here ready to commence work the moment the weather will allow." (Salt Lake Herald, March 4, 1882)
(The dedicated white lead and lead pipe works were completed by February 1883, as shown below.)
"In April, 1882, the Germania built a white-lead refiner which made it possible for the Germania to produce their own white-lead bullion. It was anticipated that this new refiner would have a capacity of nearly 3,000 tons per year to begin with, which would eventually be increased to 5,000 tons. At the end of 1882, the Germania produced 8,213,780 pounds of refined lead, 561,777 pounds of unrefined lead, 388,614 ounces of silver, and 815 ounces of gold. By 1883, the Germania was producing its own white-lead and lead pipe, instead of shipping their refined lead to refiners in the East." (Charles Hughes, "The Development of the Smelting Industry in the Central Salt Lake Valley Communities of Midvale, Murray, and Sandy Prior to 1900," 1990, page 99, citing The Engineering and Mining Journal, February 3, 1883)
August 25, 1882
"The Germania Lead Works shipped seven car loads of lead to the Germania Lead Works, of San Francisco, on Wednesday." (Salt Lake Herald, August 25, 1882)
November 1, 1882
"The Lead Works. — The buildings of the Germania lead works, a few miles south of the city, are nearing completion, and the manufacture of white lead, all kinds of lead piping, and in fact most articles produced from that metal, will probably soon be in full blast. The works will be a substantial benefit to the Territory as they will keep a great deal of means here that is now flowing out." (Deseret News, November 1, 1882)
February 2, 1883
"The Germania white lead works at Salt Lake have been delayed in starting work on account of the intense cold weather." (Omaha Daily Bee, February 2, 1883)
February 6, 1883
From the Salt Lake Herald, February 6, 1883.
The old Germania Smelting and Refining Co. has been lately re-organized and is now known as the Germania Lead Co., for the purpose of smelting and refining gold and silver ores and bullion, and also for the manufacture of white lead, colors, lead pipe, etc., etc.
Yesterday we had the pleasure of visiting the works of this company, located about six miles south of the city. The Germania Smelter has been in operation for a number of years past, but it is not our purpose on this occasion to say much of the smelting and refining department; but a few items in relation to the Whitehead Works can not fail to be interesting to the people of this Territory and even to the entire western part of the United States.
The [Whitelead works] building is a large, substantial one of brick, two stories high, 120x76 feet, and in addition to this is an engine-room 76x40 feet. The machinery is all of the very best that could be obtained and indicates that the company means to engage in the business in earnest, and knows beforehand just what can be done.
The manufacture of white lead is a very simple process, easily described, but of course quite interesting to many. In the first place the lead is reduced to an impalpable powder of a dull grayish hue, by means of a patent process purchased by the company here, and also used by another company in Baltimore.
(There followed a description of the process.)
March 7, 1883
"The newly-started Germania White Lead Works have contracted for all their product for the year, and the capacity is to be doubled. Machinery for grinding the lead in oil arrived yesterday, and will be put to work at once." (San Francisco Examiner, March 7, 1883)
March 10, 1883
"The Germania Lead Works will soon begin the shipment of white lead." (Salt Lake Herald, March 10, 1883)
March 16, 1883
"Home-Made Piping. — We notice several coils of Utah-made lead piping, of various sizes, lying in front of Mr. David James' store, being the first shipment of pipe manufactured at the Germania Lead Works, South Cottonwood, a few miles below this city. We wish the new home industry succeeds." (Deseret News, March 16, 1883)
July 10, 1883
"The Germania White Lead Works, at Salt Lake, are turning out their regular quota of lead, and are making steady shipments. Preparations are going on at the works for manufacturing various colors of paint, and they expect soon to be able to supply the West with excellent colors." (Virginia City, Nev., Daily Territorial-Enterprise, July 10, 1883)
October 25, 1883
"The Germania Lead works ship on an average, one car of white lead and one car of lead pipe per week, the value of which is $3,000, the value being about equally divided between the two kinds of product." (Omaha Daily Bee, October 25, 1883)
"By the end of 1883, the Germania works built a new structure for the purpose of enlarging its manufacturing facilities. No lead products were shipped back to New York, because the plant was using all the lead it refined to manufacture pipe, white-lead, and all the lead used in the manufacture of paint." (Charles Hughes, "The Development of the Smelting Industry in the Central Salt Lake Valley Communities of Midvale, Murray, and Sandy Prior to 1900," 1990, page 99)
September 12, 1884
John Beck was "lessee and part owner" of the Bullion mine in Tintic, which was shipping two carloads (30 tons) of lead and silver ore to the Germania Smelter daily, and that about 60 men were employed at the mine. He was also "half owner" of the Crown Point mine, a continuation of the Bullion lode, "as yet but slightly developed." (Deseret News, September 12, 1884)
April 20, 1885
"The Germania lead works shipped west a car load of red lead last week." (Salt Lake Evening Democrat, April 20, 1885)
March 23, 1887
"The Germania smelting works, which have been shut down for a few days for want of ore, will start up in full blast shortly. Ore is coming in fact now." (Salt Lake Evening Democrat, March 23, 1887)
During 1890, the Germania Lead Works produced 5,6082,800 pounds of refined lead, and 2,198,776 pounds of unrefined lead, along with 257,270 pounds of copper. As comparison, the Mingo Furnace company at Sandy produced 10,075,171 pounds of unrefined lead, no refined lead, and 530,538 pounds of copper; the Ontario Silver Mining company at Park City produced 3,204,578 pounds of unrefined lead, no refined lead and no copper, and the Daly Mining company also at Park City produced 1,417,274 pounds of unrefined lead, no refined lead and no copper. (Deseret News, November 3, 1891)
July 7, 1891
"Lead Pipe Machinery. - Some years ago the Germania Lead Works put in machinery for making lead pipe; and for a time turned out a large amount of excellent pipe. But the demand at that time being quite limited, the machinery went into disuse. A few weeks ago this machinery was purchased by David James, who has spent about $10,000 in fitting up a plant out by the Deseret Woolen Mills in the north part of the city to make lead pipe and do the finishing work on wooden pipe. But it is lead pipe that is the industry which people are most interested in here, since it is using up quite a large amount of refined lead. To supply this city with lead pipe requires an average of 3000 pounds per day, or 45 tons per month. This has, up to only a few weeks ago, been imported from the East. That has all been stopped since our home factory is able to sell for less than it can be imported, and it has already stopped importations to this city. The Germania Lead Works make the refined lead to supply this new factory of pipe, while the factory manufactures on short notice as it is wanted, and thus dealers do not have to carry large stocks of pipe. The sizes made are from 1/4 to 4 inches and of any thickness or weight required, this being done by simply changing dies. The works are only run part of the time, and so far no outside trade has been solicited, but the business will no doubt be extended." (Salt Lake Tribune, July 7, 1891)
November 19, 1891
"The building of the new sampling works at Pallas, near the Germania smelter, is well advanced in construction and the machinery is in town, so that it will not be long now before the great works are in operation." (Salt Lake Tribune, November 19, 1891)
(Read more about ore sampling in Utah)
January 1, 1895
"Germania Lead Works. - This excellent smelting plant continued business as usual the past twelve months. Its product for the year ending December 31, 1894, estimated: 14,258,000 pounds of base bullion (combination lead, silver, gold and copper), 314,626 pounds of copper and 1,333,388 pounds of copper matte, and 202,500 pounds of refined lead. This plant has five stacks and five Bruckner roasters, part of which were in operation nearly the entire year. No changes or improvements of much importance were made during the year." (Salt Lake Tribune, January 1, 1895)
March 9, 1895
"For the purpose of reducing expenses and increasing the capabilities of the plant the Germania Smelting company yesterday decided to make some extensive improvements, being nothing less than the putting in of two new stacks of a greatly increased capacity over those now in use. When the new furnaces are ready for commission it is highly probable that those now in use will be abandoned. They are of the old style but have done admirable service and are now turning out the values to a high degree. These improvements have been talked of for some time past but it was only yesterday that the decision to build the extra stacks was reached. It is anticipated that the actual construction will commence in the very near future." (Salt Lake Herald, March 9, 1895)
October 7, 1895
"With its new roasting plant in full operation, as it is at the present time, the Germania Smelting company is enabled to take care of its ores at a much reduced cost. From the inside it is learned that the actual cost has been reduced by the new plant from about 60 cents per ton for roasting to 28 cents. This explains, in a measure, why the Germania can afford to make such close figures as it has recently. The new roaster is of the Keller patent, and it is the only one in the territory. Keller, the inventor, is the metallurgist at Franklin Farrel’s Montana works, and the new machine is the result of great research on his part, together with the adaptation of ideas advanced by Mr. Farrel personally. It is a continuous furnace, and by means of an ingenious device, the application of the flame can be regulated so that the fire is controlled absolutely on any one of the different platforms which go to make up the roasting capacity of the plant. There are a number of other improvements over the old style embraced in the new machine." (Salt Lake Herald, October 7, 1895)
October 13, 1895
"More Roasters For Germania. - After spending two days in an examination of the company's properties here, President Eyre of the Germania Smelting company, came to the conclusion that the roaster capacity at the smelters was still not heavy enough and more of the machines are to be put in at once. The gentleman left for the West last night, and before his departure he expressed himself as being highly pleased with the showing made at the smelters." (Salt Lake Herald, October 13, 1895)
August 1, 1896
"Five Breuckner roasters, each eight and one-half feet in diameter and twenty-two feet long, have been built for the Germania Lead Works of Salt Lake." (San Francisco Examiner, August 1, 1896)
March 10, 1897
"The Denver Engineering Works, says the Engineering & Mining Journal, are now building a new 200-ton furnace for the Germania Smelting company of Salt Lake." (Salt Lake Herald, March 10, 1897)
June 22, 1897
"It is learned that the Germania Smelting Works has secured the contract for the output of the Gemini and Godiva mines at Eureka." (Salt Lake Herald, June 22, 1897)
(Read more about the Gemini mine in the Tintic district)
(Read more about the Godiva mine in the Tintic District)
November 13, 1897
"The Germania Smelting Co. has contracted with the Salt Lake Pressed Brick Co. for a half million brick, with which to erect another large building to accommodate a number of revolving roasters. Another large stack will also be built and other extensive improvements will be made in the near future." (Murray American Eagle, November 13, 1897)
January 1, 1898
"Germania Lead Works. - During the past year a number of improvements were added to this big smelting and refining works. No. 7 stack was added, a new briquetting plant put in, two new blowers, new boilers, some new engines and five more Bruckner furnaces were added. Then twelve acres of ground was purchased for dumpage and a tunnel cut under the railway track so as to reach the ground on the east side for depositing slag." (Salt Lake Tribune, January 1, 1898)
Also, during 1897, the Germania Lead Works produced 25,089,700 pounds of lead, compared to 19,168,700 pounds during 1896; and 2,442,233 pounds on copper during 1897 compared to 1,327,526 pounds of copper during 1896. (Salt Lake Tribune, January 1, 1898)
March 25, 1898
"Fire At The Germania. Blaze Starts in Furnace Room of the Works. Flames Favored By Wind." From the Salt Lake Tribune, March 26, 1898.
The Germania smelting works, south of the city, were partially burned yesterday by a fire which started about 8:30 a.m. This fire was in the furnace room, that being the most northerly portion of the works. Seven furnaces are located in one building, a wooden structure, over which was iron siding and roofing for protection from fire from the outside. The furnaces were in a row through the center of the building, while between them were a number of elevators extending from the ground to the roof. Fire started in the elevator just north of No. 5 furnace and the housing-in of this elevator aided the blaze in reaching the woodwork of the roof as well as that of the sides of the building and it was not many moments until all the inside from No. 4 furnace northward to the end was on fire.
How the fire originated, no one appears to know. It may have been caused by a tuyere blowing out or by a spark carried by the strong wind blowing from the south. This southern wind was a gale at that time and fanned the flames to such an extent as to make all that end of the building a heated furnace very quickly.
The Germania company has long maintained a fire department supplied with hose, hooks, ladders, etc., and the men are drilled frequently as to their duties in case of a fire. This department did such effective work yesterday as to have the fire under control within twenty to twenty-five minutes after the alarm was sounded. Four or five 2-inch streams under 150 pounds pressure were turned on, and they did most excellent service. Those streams were supplied from a powerful pump which is always in operation, so in case of fire all there is to do is to couple on the hose and turn on the water.
The fire closed down all the seven furnaces, but the first four were not injured, and in a few hours were again in full blast. Nos. 6 and 7 furnaces will require some time to be made ready for work. The space burned covers an area of about thirty feet wide and ninety feet long and thirty-five feet high. The framework, floors, etc., being burned so much will require a new structure entirely, while the blast and water pipes, flues, etc., will have to be replaced by new ones, but it will not take many days to do this, thus making the suspension of the regular flow of bullion of short duration.
There was quick work after the discovery of the fire. The telephone was brought into use at once to inform J. H. Young, superintendent of the Oregon Short Line, and T. R. Jones, manager of the Germania. Mr. Young at once had the switch engines remove all railway cars from the Germania yards and it was done in a remarkably short time. He also had a switch engine in the city yards hitch to a flatcar and held ready for a steamer and hose wagon from No. 2 house. These on request of Mr. Jones were run to the flatcar, loaded and in about forty minutes were at the fire after a run of seven miles. Fortunately they were not needed. Mr. Jones went on this train to the fire.
When a Tribune reporter reached the fire one hour after it started he found Superintendent J. H. Tucker directing the men in getting four of the furnaces ready to put in blast again, while others were put to work removing the debris from the burned portion of the works that reconstruction might begin at once.
It will require uncovering of fans and other machinery under this debris to ascertain the extent of damage done there. The loss by this fire cannot be ascertained at present, but it will be considerable, among the items of which one of the most important will be the loss of time resulting. Mr. Jones declined yesterday afternoon to make any estimate of the loss. It will amount to several thousand dollars. The actual loss is covered by insurance, the company carrying large insurance on the entire plant. This furnace room is a very small portion of the Germania works. The wind blowing from the south acted as a protection to the balance of the works located south of the portion burned. Had the wind been blowing in the opposite direction there would have been much greater loss before the flames could have been subdued.
May 31, 1898
"The Germania Smelting company has let a contract to the Colorado Iron Works company, through its resident agent, A. M. Grant, for a lead smelting furnace of 150 tons daily capacity, being the largest works of this character made. The addition to the smelter is to be delivered and in place within six weeks and when in operation will add greatly to the capacity of the works." (Salt Lake Herald, May 31, 1898)
July 5, 1898
"The Germania Smelting company of this city has just placed an order with the Colorado Iron Works company of Denver, through Captain A. M. Grant, its resident agent, for a lead smelting furnace of a daily capacity of handling about 150 tons of crude ore, and The Herald is informed that the machinery and material will be on hand, so that the work of construction can begin within 30 days, the new plant to be up-to-date and first-class in every respect." (Salt Lake Herald, July 5, 1898)
August 24, 1898
"The Bullion-Beck Mining company, now that it has made its ore contract with the Germania Smelting company, is shipping the ore on the dump at the mine, estimated at about 5,000 tons, in trainload lots." (Salt Lake Herald, August 24, 1898)
January 1, 1899
"Germania Lead Works. - This old plant was operated continuously during the year, with only slight interruptions in the summer when two of the furnaces were disabled and the building so gutted by fire as to require rebuilding, entailing a loss of a few thousand dollars, besides the temporary suspension of bullion production. During the year five new Buckner cylinder roasters were added to the plant, the same being covered by a new iron and steel building; also additional smelting capacity by building one new smelting stack, No. 8, with iron and steel building to cover it." (Salt Lake Tribune, January 1, 1899)
March 3, 1899
From the Salt Lake Herald, March 3, 1899, concerning the organization of the as yet unnamed American Smelting and Refining Company.
Officers will be elected on April 1. It is understood that ex-Governor J. B. Grant of Colorado will be president, and Barton Sewell of Chicago is mentioned for vice president. The deal just closed has been under negotiation for several months.
The names of the firms in the combine follow:
- The Omaha & Grant Smelting company, with works at Omaha, Denver and Durango, Colo.;
- The Consolidated Smelting & Refining company of Kansas City, Mo., with works at Kansas City, Leadville, Colo., and El Paso, Tex.;
- The United States Smelting & Refining company of Chicago, with works at Chicago, Pueblo, Colo., Helena, Mont., and Great Falls, Mont.;
- The Aurora Smelting & Refining company, with works at Aurora, Ill.;
- The Pueblo Smelting & Refining company, with works at Pueblo, Colo.;
- The Philadelphia Smelting & Refining company, with works at Pueblo, Colo.;
- The Globe Smelting & Refining company, with works at Denver, Colo.;
- The Germania Smelting & Refining company, with works at Salt Lake City;
- The Bi-metallic Smelting company, with works at Leadville, Colo.;
- The Pennsylvania Smelting company of Salt Lake City (Mingo smelter);
- The Pennsylvania Lead company of Pittsburg.
May 1, 1899
American Smelting & Refining Company was incorporated on May 1, 1899. The new smelting company's holdings in Utah included the Germania, Pennsylvania, Hanauer, and Ibex smelters. (Salt Lake Mining Review, May 15, 1899)
July 7, 1899
"There was filed for record this afternoon a deed by which the Germania Lead Works company conveys to the American Smelting and Refining company the whole of its smelting works and property, situated in Murray, the consideration being $250,000. The entire amount of land contains within the neighborhood of 40 acres." (Deseret News, July 7, 1899)
July 8, 1899
The Salt Lake Herald inspected the deeds of transfer for the Germania, Pennsylvania and Hanauer smelters sold the the smelter trust (Asarco), and found the following sale prices.
- Germania, $250,000
- Pennsylvania, $300,000
- Hanauer, $200,000
July 27, 1899
"The Germania Lead Works, corporation, has petitioned the Superior Court to be dissolved." (San Francisco Chronicle, July 27, 1899)
July 1902
ASARCO built its new smelter at Murray, with operations starting in July 1902, using a total of eight blast furnaces and having a capacity of 1200 tons per day.
1910
Both the Germania Smelting and Refining company, and the Germania Lead Works are shown as being inactive corporations, on account of not paying their annual corporate license fee to the State of Utah. (Salt Lake Herald, daily, March and April 1910)
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