Tintic, Ajax Mine and Mill
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The Ajax Mine
(The focus of this information is to establish a timeline using sources not previously readily available, from the opening of the mine in 1871, to the completion of the Sioux-Ajax Tunnel in 1896, which in-turn loaded ore into rail cars of the New East Tintic Railway.)
The Ajax mine in Mammoth Hollow was first developed as the Copperopolis mine, and was operated by the Mammoth Copperopolis of Utah, a company organized in England in 1872.
The Ajax Mining Company had its beginnings as part of the original mining claim "located" in 1870 as the Mammoth Lode by Major M. D. Harmon, with the Mammoth Lode was the first patent in the district, filed in September 1870.
By September 1871 the property had been sold to Noah Armstrong, and was sold by him to an English syndicate headed by Lord Claud Hamilton. Extensive operations were commenced under the name of the Copperopolis Mining company, the same name being given to the mine.
A 15-stamp mill was built at Roseville, five miles southeast of Diamond, and later a copper smelter with two stacks. The English company sent out Samuel W. Valentine from Boston as manager, who proceeded to spend $160,000 of the stockholders' money, including $60,000 for a road that was mostly not completed.
In early 1874, the workers took possession of the mine for back wages. Wells Fargo & Co., attached the mine for $13,000 owed. During 24 years of litigation, 1883 to 1897, the mine was worked without any apparent plan or purpose, but mostly remained idle. The mine was reorganized in 1877 as the British Tintic Mining company, but was unsuccessful other than leasing portions of the mine to local operators. The mine was reorganized again as the American Eagle Mining company, which sold the mine to the Salt Lake Copper Manufacturing company. After defaulting on its payments. The mine was reorganized again as the Ajax Mining company. (Salt Lake Tribune, July 6, 1895; November 16, 1897)
Description By Others
The following description comes from the December 17, 1895 issue of the Salt Lake Herald.
H. M. Ryan, one of the stockholders and directors of the Ajax property, near the Mammoth, in the Tintic district, has the following to say regarding this valuable property:
The Ajax is composed of three claims, embracing what was formerly known as the Champlain mine and Fraction and the old Copperopolis. The deepest workings in the Ajax is by means of a 482-foot shaft. When the shaft has been driven fifty-five feet more the company will then drift about 150 feet, which will bring them directly under the old workings of the mine. When this is done and a small amount of development work performed at the face of the drift, which will be necessary to make room for a reasonable working force, the Ajax will surprise those who are not well informed concerning this property, for it will then become one of the largest shippers of high grade ore in Utah.
More than a million dollars have been paid to those who formerly operated this property, from the proceeds of the mine. This was before the consolidation of the Champlain and Fraction and the Copperopolis, which consolidation was brought about by the late legal contest, and at a cost of many thousands of dollars. The large bodies of ore which paid this immense sum was taken from the mine at a depth not exceeding 350 feet. The Mammoth, adjoining, is developed for a depth of 1,400 feet, finding its largest ore bodies at that level. The development of the Mammoth proves that the Ajax will not lack for ore while driving the next 918 feet. From data secured and conservatively figured, and taken in comparison with the Mammoth and the former production of the Ajax, and the present condition of the Ajax, we are satisfied that Ajax stock is well worth $3 a share. Since the consolidation the expenditures on the property have been in the neighborhood of $50.000, nearly all of which has been taken from the mine; yet the management did not aim to ship ore except when convenient to do so while developing the property. We estimate that we have in and about the mine about 75,000 tons of second-class ore, averaging $10.50 in gold to the ton, and carrying copper and silver to the value of $5. However, the gold is not found in quantities worth mentioning in the ores that carry values in copper, the silver and copper ores being found in one portion of the mine, and the gold and silver in the other. Negotiations are pending at present between the directors of the Ajax mine and Mr. Robinson of the Sioux Consolidated mill for the sale of the Ajax second-class ores. We have every reason to believe that the negotiations will be successful upon the return of Mr. Robinson from the east, in which event the Ajax company will be the recipient of a large sum of money, and the treasury will be in such a condition that the hearts of the stockholders will be made glad.
The following description comes from "A Hand Book on the Mines, Miners, and Minerals of Utah," by Harry W. B. Kantner, published in 1896
The Ajax.
Under many names and possessed by contending corporations, the Ajax, formerly the well-known Copperopolis, seems to have taken a new and permanent lease of life. For years it had been a bone of legal contention, first controlled by one and then by another interest, each, when in possession, taking out the ores and yet doing as little development work as possible. The upshot of it all was that the value of the mine was almost destroyed, and as its interests seemed also to conflict with those of the Champlain, the owners of the latter bought out the adverse claimants for something like $50,000 and took hold of the property and began work.
Up to this time not to exceed 200 feet had been gained in depth in all the works undertaken, and as the ore bodies gave out because no development work was done, it is not surprising that this mine, like so many other good but abused properties, should have been deemed well-nigh worthless. Since the property fell into the hands of the Ajax Company, of which Mr. Frank Knox, the well-known banker, is the president, over 300 feet in depth of working has been gained and the mine is today recognized as one of the most promising in the state. The high range of ores, as resulting from actual shipments, show 4 oz. of gold, 40 per cent copper, and 12 to 30 oz. silver. These are the maximum figures for car load shipments. The Ajax, of all the mines in the district, seems to show the greatest percentage of lead.
Arrangements are making for a run on the low grade ores in the Farrell mill in the district, and it is more than likely that it will, within a year, have a new and modern mill of its own for the reduction of such ores as will not bear the cost of transportation.
The company is capitalized for 300,000 shares of a par value of $10 each. Frank Knox is president and treasurer; S. Mclntyre, vice-president; Isaac Jennings, secretary; R. G. Smith, assistant-secretary. These gentlemen, with the exception of Mr. Smith, and with the addition of Mr. H. M. Ryan, W. H. King, Geo. A. Lowe, and W. G. Nebeker are the Ajax directors.
The following description comes from "The Towns of Tintic" by Beth Kay Harris, published in 1961.
The Ajax Mine was also located in the seventies [1870s]. In stoping out the ores from this mine, men picked handfuls of golden nuggets from the walls of the drifts where they clung in giant nests.
The Ajax became part of the Gold Chain group, and from the time it was located paid out in ore as rich as the Mammoth. This mine was also owned in England and became part of the Mammoth-Copperopolis holdings. The ore of the Ajax was sent to Swansea, Wales, for treatment.
The company constructed a mill in Tintic six miles from the mine to treat the ores and placed a man named Ballantine in charge as superintendent. Ballantine had a wagon road constructed from the mine to the mill. The route, lying across level country as it did, required no grading. For this six-mile road, he charged the London owners thirty thousand dollars. Such extravagances under this mine superintendent were common, and great sums were swallowed up as "expense."
The Ajax was a rich gold producer but the English owners were receiving small returns. After two years of constant assessment, they grew discouraged, and one day the mine did not meet her payroll. It was seized by employees on labor liens, then Wells Fargo and Company also entered a claim for unpaid bills for over thirteen thousand dollars which were due them. The mine passed into the hands of new owners who discharged this superintendent and organized the Eagle Mining Company. The mine then began to show an immediate profit.
Before Ajax
Mammoth Copperopolis Mine (1871-1875)
November 1871
The Mammoth Lode was being worked by Mr. Chrissman on the north and Mr. Armstrong on the south. The Armstrong tunnel was known as the Copperopolis of Utah. (Salt Lake Daily Review, November 1, 1871)
(This location for the Copperopolis matches the 1899 map of Tintic showing the mining claims, being southeast of the main Mammoth claims.)
November 1, 1871
"There is on this dump [at Mr. Armstrong's mine] a large quantity of ore, all ready for shipment, a great deal of which is black oxide of copper. There is also a fine tunnel under way to this mine, which, when finished, will greatly facilitate the extraction of ore. This mine is known as the Copperopolis of Utah, and though it carries silver in no mean quantity, it is only worked for its copper production." (Salt Lake Daily Review, November 1, 1871)
January 12, 1872
[From the London Mining Journal] The Mammoth Copperopolis of Utah, Limited, was incorporated in London. "This company is formed for the purpose of acquiring a freehold mining property known as the Armstrong claim on the Mammoth vein, and locally called the Copperopolis of Utah." "With three men at work in the mine, 600 tons of ore have been extracted within the last four months, which yielded $112 per ton in New York, the total expenses being $64.25 per ton, leaving a net profit of $47.75 per ton by the present expensive and inefficient means of working." A five ton sample of ore was taken from the mine and shipped direct to Swansea in England, where it yielded $142, $16.40 more than the New York price. The sale contact was finalized on November 30, 1871, with the reported price being $683,000. (Salt Lake Daily Review, January 12, 1872)
August 3, 1872
Ten tons of ore was being shipped daily from the Mammoth Copperopolis mine to Swansea in England. The same company in England owns the Saturn smelting works at Sandy, and the Saturn mine at Bingham. Deseret News, August 3, 1872)
January 11, 1873
"Midway between Eureka and Silver City, the Mammoth and the Mammoth Copperopolis are situated, and the latter is owned by an English company. This mine is at the present, time the leading one of the district. The preparations in the shape of buildings and accommodations for an extensive mining business are on a grand scale. The ores from it yield a large percentage of copper, silver and gold and the returns of shipments to Swansea have averaged in some instances from $200 to $300 per ton." (Salt Lake Weekly Tribune, January 11, 1873)
January 25, 1873
"The Mammoth Copperopolis -- Is working forty-five men and continually shipping large quantities of ore to Europe. Mr. Crouch is Superintendent, John Crosaett chief clerk and Capt. McNamara foreman of this monster company." (Salt Lake Weekly Tribune, January 25, 1873)
March 15, 1873
"There is no Copperopolis mine - but a Mammoth Copperopolis, and Crismon's Mammoth. These mines are raising almost fabulous quantities of ore, rich in gold, silver and copper. The latter is now on the English market, and experts say that it is well worth the $600,000 the company ask for it." (Salt Lake Weekly Tribune, March 15, 1873)
April 12, 1873
With the growing number of smelters in the Salt Lake Valley, including the Saturn smelting works at Sandy, the ore from the Mammoth Copperopolis mine was shipping ten tons daily to market in Salt Lake City, instead of Swansea in England. (Salt Lake Weekly Tribune, April 12, 1873)
("Located six miles from the mine, the Copperopolis Smelter made black copper from the ores of the mine by the same name. With two furnaces, this smelter handled twelve tons of ore each twenty-four hours. It shipped black copper, silver, and gold bullion. Many of the men who worked in this smelter became leaded. They then worked their twelve hour shifts wearing sponges over their mouths for protection." -- "The Towns of Tintic" by Beth Kay Harris)
August 9, 1873
"Mammoth Copperopolis Mill. -- The resident officers of this enterprising company are Samuel Valentine, Chief Manager of all the business connected with the company in Utah; Thomas Couch, Superintendent of the Mine; P. N. Compton, Secretary and Treasurer; and Mr. Roddin, ex-offico Superintendent of the Mill. The company is doing business on a large scale, employing a great number of men at their mill and mine." (Salt Lake Weekly Tribune, August 9, 1873)
September 6, 1873
"The Mammoth Copperopolis was shipping about ten tons of copper ore daily. P. N. Compton, Esq., the company’s resident Secretary, went during the month to reside at the mine." "The Mammoth Copperopolis company were building a mill, six miles from Silver City, and two miles from Tanner's Ranch. The mine was looking well and promised a full continuance of yield. A force of sixty men was employed." (Utah Mining Gazette, September 6, 1873)
September 13, 1873
The Mammoth Copperopolis mill began operations, and the smelter ("furnaces") were close to starting. (Utah Mining Gazette, September 13, 1873)
(Construction of the Mammoth Copperopolis mill was "commenced" during mid-April 1873. -- Salt Lake Weekly Tribune, April 19, 1873)
October 11, 1873
"The Mammoth Copperopolis Company are turning out and shipping from a ton and a half to two tons per day of copper matte [from the smelter], averaging eighty per cent, of copper. The furnaces are pronounced a decided success, and are under the immediate supervision of Mr. Williams of Lake Superior." (Utah Mining Gazette, October 11, 1873)
(There were some periods of shut down due to lack of water, until an additional springs were purchased.)
January 10, 1874
"The Mammoth Copperopolis, and Crismon Mammoth, are still yielding ore in large quantities; it is remarkable how this mine 'holds her own,' and lucky are the stockholders of both companies." (Utah Mining Gazette, January 10, 1874)
January 16, 1874
"Mammoth Copperopolis. -- The men working in the celebrated Mammoth Copperopolis mine in the Tintic mining district are said to have attached the mine for back wages. A car load of bullion belonging to said company, is also said to have been attached at Ogden a few days ago, at the suit of some of its creditors." (Deseret News, January 16, 1874)
January 12, 1874
"Two attachment suits were brought on Monday [January 12], by attorneys Strickland & Ashbrook, in favor of Messrs. P. Crandall and Wm. Baxter, against the Mammoth Copperopolis Mining Company. The attachments were put on bullion at the Provo depot, the greater part of which was loaded on a car ready to be transported. The railroad company refused to unlock the car for several hours, but finally did so, and the bullion was removed. Yesterday a Mr. Johnston came from Salt Lake, avowedly to take the bullion back with him, but returned without it, thinking it best to secure possession legally. The Mammoth Copperopolis has been securing work done without paying. They will now have to pay for the work done, or the indications are that trouble is upon them." (Salt Lake Tribune, January 16, 1874)
January 13, 1874
"A meeting of the miners employed at the Mammoth Copperopolis was held on Tuesday last [January 13], and it was determined to shut down the mine and not work any more until wages due them were paid, and to hold possession of the mine until settlement was made by the Company." (Daily Ogden Junction, January 15, 1874)
January 21, 1874
"Wells Fargo & Co. have attached the mill and mine belonging to th Copperopolis Mining Company; and M. P. Crandall has sued the same company for $4,000, and today attached a car load of bullion, now at the Depot in this city, belonging to the company." (Deseret News, January 21, 1874, citing the Provo Times of January 12)
February 7, 1874
"The Mammoth Copperopolis Mines are still closed, and all labor is suspended, the Superintendent does not see why the men has not been paid their wages regularly, as there has been shipped over ninety thousand dollars worth of bullion since the work commenced on the mine; the miners are losing confidence at such conduct being practiced by men in high positions, it militates greatly to the injury not only of the mine but to the whole district. A change is necessary and the miners are anxiously looking for it speedily to take place." (Utah Mining Gazette, February 7, 1874, citing the Provo Times)
March 14, 1874
"At an extraordinary meeting of the Mammoth Copperopolis of Utah Company, a resolution was passed in favor of increasing the capital of the undertaking by the creation of 2,000 shares of £10 each." (Provo Daily Times, March 14, 1874)
March 28, 1874
The Mammoth Copperopolis. -- At a special meeting, held recently in London, of the shareholders of the above mine, it was decided to increase the capital by the sum of £20,000 divided into 2,000 shares of £10each. This sum will enable the company to avoid future embarrasments and doubtless develop the mine to a dividend paying condition." (Utah Mining Gazette, March 28, 1874)
May 30, 1874
"The Mammoth Copperopolis has tickled its shareholders with a single dividend of five shillings [about $1.35], paid about eighteen months ago." "At an extraordinary general meeting of the shareholders in the Mammoth Copperopolis mine, recently held in London, a committee was appointed to consult with the directors as to the best method of raising funds to extricate the company from its embarrassments, and to investigate the past conduct of its officers. It was thought at the meeting that £15,000 [about $81,300] would he sufficient to put the affairs of the company in proper shape for business." (Utah Mining Gazette, May 30, 1874)
August 18, 1874
"Ore Sale at Tintic. -- On next Saturday [August 22] a large quantity of ore, mining tools and other property, will be sold at Tintic by the United States Marshal, on an execution from the Third District Court, in favor of Wells Fargo & Co., against the Mammoth Copperopolis silver mining company of Utah, limited." (Salt Lake Tribune, August 18, 1874)
(The sale was postponed, pending a settlement agreement by the parties involved. -- Deseret News, August 24, 1874)
August 22, 1874
The Mammoth Copperopolis mine is rich in copper, carbonates and gold and silver. The Mammoth Copperopolis mine is owned by a London company of the same name, showed a very large vein, and was worked by tunnels, under the superintendence of Thomas Couch. The Copperopolis mill consists of ten stamps, erected for the purpose of working their own ores (not running at present); this company also own two copper smelting furnaces (not running at present.) (Utah Mining Gazette, August 22, 1874)
(Research suggests that in 1874-1875, the inactive mine, mill and smelter properties were leased among several individuals and groups of associates, who were residents of either Silver City, Provo, or Salt Lake City, or combinations of groups.)
(Throughout early 1874, the company shares continued to be quoted and sold on the London stock market. After December 1874, the stock was no longer shown as being quoted on the London market.)
December 3, 1874
Almost a year after attaching the mine for back wages, the suit of the miners vs. the Mammoth Copperopolis Mining company was settled by a judgment in favor of the plaintiffs (the miners) and a payment of back wages.
Provo City, December 2nd, 1874. - The case of M. P. Crandall vs. The Mammoth Copperopolis Mining Co. (limited) was continued by consent. (Utah County Times, December 3, 1874)
December 3rd, 1874. - Judge Strictland for the plaintiffs, in the case of M. P. Crandall vs. Mammoth Copperopolis, stated by consent that the continuance of yesterday was set aside and that the plaintiff would take judgement for the sum of $4,286.47, which was accordingly done. (Utah County Times, December 3, 1874)
(The funds to pay the back wages, and to pay the $13,000 debt to Wells Fargo apparently came from income from selling the increased number of shares put forth in May.)
May 1, 1875
"Why is it that the magnificent Mammoth Copperopolis mine in the Tintic district, is a 'lame duck' on the stock market of London? Let the company's $100,000 mill, useless in connection with smelting ore, as a fifth wheel to a coach, its three expensive offices, at Salt Lake City, at the mill and the mine, in connection with its generally admitted looseness, if not dishonesty of management, answer." (Real Estate and Mining Gazette, May 1, 1875)
(The above is an example of the claims by local observers, of extravagant and faulty mismanagement of the Mammoth Copperopolis and other local Utah mines owned by British absentee investors.)
August 24, 1875
"Extensive preparations are being made to srat up the old Mammoth Copperopolis, under the superintendence of S. Bamberger." (Salt Lake Tribune, August 24, 1875)
September 1, 1875
Bamberger, lesse of the Mammoth Copperopolis, has finally commenced operations." "Mr. Bamberger is busy preparing the furnace and fixing the water pipes conveying water to the same from springs east in the hills about three miles distant." The Mammoth Copperopolis was divided into separate areas for lease to local operators, which would receive one-half of the proceeds. The dumps were leased to E. Rawlins & Co. The "North Hill" was leased to R. Gillespie & Co. The major portion of the mine, and the mill and "furnace" were leased to Simon Bamberger. He thought the water line repairs would be completed by the time the mine began shipping ore. By November, the mine under lease to Bamberger was said to be "doing well," with large bodies of unutilized low grade ore in sight but as yet untouched. (Real Estate and Mining Gazette, September 1, 1875)
November 1, 1875
By November, the Mammoth Copperopolis mine was under lease to Simon Bamberger, and was said to be "doing well," with large bodies of low grade ore in sight but as yet untouched. (Real Estate and Mining Gazette, November 1, 1875)
September 9, 1876
The company by the of Kahn Brothers (Samuel Kahn and Emanual Kahn), plaintiffs, filed suit against Claud Hamilton (commonly known as Lord Hamilton), and John Elliott, trustees of the Mammoth Copperopolis of Utah, Limited, defendants. The defendants were ordered to appear in the Third District Court in Salt Lake City within 40 days of September 6th, 1876. The typical period to appear was 10 days, but was 40 days in this case because the defendants were out of the country. If they failed to appear, the case would be decided by judgment by default. The action was being brouht because the defendants owed $7,894.95 on eight promissory notes given to Thomas E. Clohecy and five other persons, all of whom had assigned the notes to the Kahn Brothers for collection. (Salt Lake Tribune, September 9, 1876)
(Thomas Clohecy had leased the Mammoth Copperopolis mine beginning in Fall 1875.)
(Also in September 1876, two other cases were filed with the Third District Court. One was a man named Woolf, vs. Lord Hamilton and John Elliott as trustees of the Mammoth Copperopolis, for a promissory note in the amount of $2,960. The second case was James E. Matthews vs. Lord Hamilton and John Elliott as trustees of the Mammoth Copperopolis, for another promissory note. The source for this information is the online Salt Lake Tribune newspaper, which is largely illegilble.)
January 19, 1879
By this date, the above court case from September 1876, was heard before the Supreme Court of Utah Territory. There were three cases, all with Lord Claud Hamilton as defendant, "involving the title to the Mammoth Copperopolis." The decision of the lower court was reversed in June 1879. (Salt Lake Tribune, January 19, 1879; Daily Ogden Junction, June 25, 1879)
(By 1878, references to the Copperopolis mine were only that it was being "put into shape" by various leasers.)
April 2, 1879
Simon Bamberger filed suit against Thomas E. Clohecy. (Salt Lake Herald, April 4, 1879) (Research suggests that this suit was concerning revenue from each party's lease and operation of the Mammoth Copperopolis mine, mill and smelter.)
Copperopolis Mine (1875-1883)
March 22, 1883
"The Copperopolis Mine. -- This property, formerly belonging to an English company, now owned by R. N. Baskin, is worked under a long lease by parties resident in Silver City. The ores extricated are similar in character to the Mammoth ore and are sold to the Mammoth Smelting Company. This ore body is about three feet in width with a tendency to improvement in extent as the work of sinking on the vein progresses. The ore carries about 300 ounces per ton, and a fair showing of gold." (Salt Lake Herald, March 22, 1883)
American Eagle Mine (1883-1895)
(The first reference to the American Eagle Mining Company was in April 1884, "The American Eagle mine (once the Mammoth Copperopolis)" -- Salt Lake Herald, April 30, 1884)
May 2, 1883 to June 18, 1895
On May 2, 1883, Claud Hamilton (also known as Lord Hamilton) and John Elliott in England, as plaintiffs, filed suit against John Bastian, John Firth, Arthur Brown and the American Eagle Mining Company, as defendants, to regain ownership of the Copperopolis mine in Juab County, Utah. The specific suit was a claim that the defendants had extracted $20,000 in ore from the mine which they did not own. The defendants claimed they they did indeed own the mine and that it was their right to extract the ore. (Salt Lake Tribune, June 18, 1895)
(On July 6, 1895, Chief Justice Merritt of the First District Court in Provo handed down a judgment in a request of the
June 3, 1884
"Lord Claud Hamilton, brother of the Duke of Abercorn, and formerly M.P. for the county of Tyrone, died yesterday at his residence in Portland-place in his 71st year." (Morning Post, London, June 4, 1884) (His two sons, Claud John Hamilton and George Hamilton, each took the title of Lord Hamilton, and were noted in the Liverpool newspaper that they were traveling to Canada in August 1884. Both were members of Parliament.)
1889 to June 1895
The proceedings lay dormant until 1889 upon the death of Lord Hamilton and the other plaintiffs asked that the suit proceed without him. By 1889, the American Eagle Mining Company had succeeded the defendants, and had made "great improvements" to the property. The case was tried on October 23, 1893, and was decided in favor of the defendants (the mining company). On November 5, 1894, there was a request to set the 1893 judgment aside because at the time John Elliott in England had passed away. The new suit also replaced Hamilton and Elliott with Edward Austin and W. F. Tipping as plaintiffs, and as trustees for the interests of the former Mammoth Copperopolis Mining Company, as well as the affiliated Copperopolis Mining Company and the British Tintic Mining Company. The District Court refused to set aside the 1893 judgment, and in June 1895 the Utah Supreme Court decided that the request to set aside was made too late. (Salt Lake Tribune, June 18, 1895)
April 30, 1884
"Silver City, Juab County, Utah, April 27, 1884. -- The American Eagle mine (once the Mammoth Copperopolis), now owned by parties resident in your city [Salt Lake City], has suspended operations for the present. The cause of this suspension of work on this really fine productive property, is not definitely understood." "The A. E. Mining Co. having leased the Wyoming mill at Homanville for the purpose of working rich ores of a peculiar character, which was being excavated in large quantities from the mine." (Salt Lake Herald, April 30, 1884)
October 5, 1884
"The Mammoth Copperopolis. -- The English company who bought the mine, leased it to another organization known as the British Tintic company. This corporation worked the mine for a time, and then fell into arrears to its laborers, who took hold of the mine under a lien, and have been steadily working it and shipping from it since. It is even said that they formed themselves into a company under the name of the American Eagle, and that it will take some pretty strong proceedings to dispossess them." (Salt Lake Herald, October 5, 1884)
June 15, 1888
The American Eagle Mining Company applied to the U. S. Land Office for a patent on the Copperopolis No. 2 mining claim, 1,092 feet by 554 feet. The patent was granted on October 25, 1892. (The Ensign, Nephi, June 15, 1888; Deseret News, October 25, 1892)
March 14, 1890
The troubles started on March 14, 1890 when Edward Austin and Charles H. Field, as successors and trustees to the previous English owners, began negotiating with American Eagle Mining company to settle their claim of not receiving the shares promised in the new company.
Austin and Field sued the newly organized American Eagle Mining company in Third District Court to be paid $39,632, the value of 8,000 shares in the new company. Austin and Field included the two English companies, Mammoth Copperopolis Mining company and the British Tintic Mining company in their suit. Austin and Field claimed that they were receive, but did not receive, 8,000 shares in the American Eagle company as part of a settlement with the two English companies. The settlement was part of a judgment from the First District Court case in which (on May 2, 1883?) the English companies lost control and ownership of the Copperopolis mine to the group of workers for back wages (and $13,000 owed to Well Fargo). (Salt Lake Herald, June 3, 1894)
September 17, 1892
The American Eagle Mining Company sued Caleb Chamberlain, for trespass and encroachment for taking ore from the wrong side of the boundary line between the Copperopolis claim and the Chamberlain claim. The court issued an junction on August 23, 1893 in favor of the American Eagle company.
(Provo Daily Enquirer, September 17, 1892; August 24, 1893)
November 7, 1893
There was a special stockholders' meeting of the American Eagle Mining Company on November 7, 1893, to ratify or disaffirm the action of the Board of Directors in selling all of the company real estate. (Deseret News, October 6, 1893, with daily notices after that)
(There was a vague reference in February 1895 that the Copperopolis No. 2 mining claim was sold by the American Eagle Mining Company to the Salt Lake City Copper Manufacturing Company, for a reported $12,000. -- Salt Lake Tribune, February 10, 1895)
May 4, 1894
"The American Eagle Mining company and Otto Mears have brought suit in the First District court to restrain V. F. Clays, A. R. Halcomb, James T. Wall and John Sullivan from taking more ore from the Mammoth Mining claim in Tintic and for $2,000 damages for ore already taken out. It is alleged the defendants underground are taking ore from the property of plaintiffs." (Provo Dispatch, May 4, 1894)
(As shown below, the case was settled in October 1894 by the organization of the Ajax Mining Company.)
Ajax Mining Company
October 23, 1894
The articles of incorporation of the Ajax Mining Company were filed with the county clerk "today." (Deseret News, October 23, 1894)
October 23, 1894
The following comes from the October 23, 1894 issue of the Salt Lake Herald.
The trespass and encroachment suit between the Copperopolis and Champlain companies has been settled out of court.
"A new company, under the name of the Ajax Mining company, has been organized and will absorb the two properties. The two properties will be worked through the Copperopolis shaft, and work will commence at once. The suit was to come before the court on October 22nd. but the two parties settled the case.
It was another case of incomplete and inaccurate surveying of boundary lines. The Copperopolis company sued the Champlain company for $2,000 in damages for extracting ore from its side of the claim boundary line. The Champlain company then counter-sued for $200,000, on the same question of the Copperopolis extracting ore from the wrong side of the boundary line.
Under the settlement agreement, the Champlain company takes the Copperopolis company, including the Copperopolis hoisting plant and its interest in the New East Tintic Railway.
The Copperopolis company was owned by the Salt Lake City Copper Manufacturing company, which had extracted "considerable ore now stored at the copper plant."
The incorporators of the Ajax Mining Company Frank Knox (president and treasurer), Henry Shields (vice president), W. L. Snyder (secretary), Henry M. Ryan (board member), J. T. Sullivan (board member), and Peter Burke.
February 15, 1895
The following comes from the February 15, 1895 issue of the Salt Lake Tribune.
Ajax Complications. -- Returns are expected daily from the Supreme Court on the old Copperopolis suit, which may affect very seriously the Ajax Company that is now operating the several properties in the Copperopolis vicinity. Should the Ajax Company be the winners, that is by the Supreme Court refusing to reopen the case against the American Eagle Mining Company, the predecessors of the Ajax in the disputed title to the mines, it is now known that an important suit alleging swindling operations will be brought against present owners by Messrs. Saulsbury, Sullivan and Burke of Tintic. That together with the suit on behalf of Clays et al., now pending, is apt to make the Ajax properties and organization a sort of hot bed of interesting narratives for some time to come.
Both the Copper Plant, the Mammoth Mining Company and the Bullion-Beck Company are more or less involved, in the ramifications of Ajax matters. In the first place, the Copper Plant people knew they were buying a fighting title when they paid Arthur Brown and others representing the American Eagle Mining Company $50,000 or more for the Copperopolis property; and that fact is apt to be ventilated among others in the general stir-up of the sweet by-and-by.
July 3, 1895
"The Mammoth Copperopolis Again. -- Edwin Austin and William Fearon Tipping, trustees, vs. the Ajax Mining company, the American Eagle Mining company, John Bastian, John Firth, Arthur Brown and the Utah Mining company." A new suit, filed in the First District Court in Provo, asking to set aside the 1893 judgment. (Evening Dispatch, Provo, July 3, 1895)
(By February 1896, the American Eagle name for a mine was being used for a mine in Box Elder County, Utah, or in Cache County -- Salt Lake Herald, February 8, 1896; Deseret News, September 3, 1896)
(By November 1897, the Ajax mine was "free from litigation and one of the most valuable properties in existence," having produced over a million dollars in its early years to 1883.)
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