Tintic, Grand Central Mine
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This page was last updated on September 25, 2025.
Overview
(The focus of this page is the surface workings of the Grand Central mine, as visible in photographs, as well as a general description of the mine, with minimal coverage of the geology and financial returns. Also to establish a timeline using sources not previously readily available. An additional focus is on the use of the mine's aerial tramway.)
By 1899 the Tintic district was the leading mining center of the State of Utah in value of output, which was over $5 million. This figure was an increase from the 1898 figure of $4 million. The Grand Central was listed in both years as one of the leading producers. By 1898, the Grand Central was being worked to a depth of 850 feet.
The ores of the Grand Central mine carry mainly copper, gold, and silver; lead is present at many places. The Grand Central was among the Tintic mines that yielded most of the gold in the district. The other mines included the Centennial-Eureka, Mammoth, Victoria, Eagle and Blue Bell, Gold Chain (Ajax), Opohongo, North Star, and Iron Blossom No. 1.
The Grand Central mine is on the steep southeast slopes of Eureka Peak. The altitude of the collar of the main shaft was 7,149 feet. The Grand Central mine, with its shaft collar at 7,149 feet elevation, was (after the Mammoth) the highest of the highest producing mines. The others were the Gemini (6,467 feet), Eureka Hill (6,476 feet), Eagle & Blue Bell (6,818 feet), Centennial-Eureka (6,887 feet), Opex (6,961 feet). The shaft collar of the the Victoria was at 6,998 feet. The Mammoth was at 7,052 feet.
The mining property of the Grand Central mine lay with the Victoria on the northeast, the Eagle & Blue Bell on the north, the Centennial-Eureka on the northwest, the Emerald on the southwest and the Mammoth on the east. The shaft of the Grand Central mine was 3/4-mile south of the Victoria mine shaft. By 1919, the tunnels of the Grand Central mine on connected on three levels with the tunnels of the Victoria mine. The Grand Central's 1100-Level tunnel connected with the Victoria's 900-Level tunnel.
Notes taken from "Faith, Hope, & Prosperity: The Tintic Mining District," by Philip F. Notarianni, published in 1982.
Activity in the 1894-99 period burgeoned in all parts of Tintic. In July 1894 the Grand Central Mining Company had begun active operation toward developing its property near the Mammoth. Hoisting equipment was purchased from the Centennial-Eureka, and water obtained. Officers were: C. E. Loose, manager; J. R. Twelves, secretary-treasurer; and directors L. Holbrook, Reed Smoot, C. E. Loose, David Evans, and Abraham H. Cannon. (Salt Lake Tribune, January 1, 1896, pp. 23-27; January 1, 1896, p. 21)
Most of Tintic's towering gallows frames were constructed from massive wooden timbers; however, in 1897 or 1898 the Grand Central added a magnificent gleaming steel headframe to its new surface plant. A three-compartment shaft, down 700 feet, was serviced by a new hoisting engine and two cylinders with three auxiliary cylinders for operating the reverses, clutches, and brakes designed to reach a depth of 2000 feet . All this machinery was enclosed in a building constructed entirely of steel, including the framework . Such an operation was considered a novelty in its time. The engine and compressor room measured 56 by 60 feet and boiler house 40 by 45 feet with a wood working building. Total cost of the plant was $40,000. (Salt Lake Tribune, January 1, 1899, p. 17.)
In May 1896, the New East Tintic Railway built a spur to serve the Grand Central, a total distance of about five miles that also served the Mammoth mill, Sioux mill, the Ajax mine, then the Sioux mine. In December 1900, an additional spur was built across the mouth of Mammoth Hollow to reach the lower terminal of the Grand Central mine's aerial tramway. The tramway had been built in 1899.
Also in 1899 litigation commenced that would linger for years; namely, a law suit over ore bodies between the Mammoth and Grand Central companies.
The Grand Central, purchased by the Chief in 1922, remained within Mammoth City limits, following litigation by the Chief Consolidated mining company and the D&RGW railroad to limit the expansion of the boundaries of Mammoth City.
Excerpted from the obituary of Charles Edwin (C. E.) Loose, "In 1885, he returned to Utah and has since been one of the prominent mine owners and operators of this state. As the years passed by his investments became more extensive, being one of the heavy stockholders and manager of the Grand Central and Gold Chain Mining companies, of this district, as well as owning large interests in other companies. He has likewise extended his efforts into banking circles, having been vice-president of the Provo Commercial and Savings Bank, of which Senator Reed Smoot is the president. Through his tenacity and almost wholly through his individual effort, he developed the Sioux, Utah Consolidated, Iron King and the old Ajax mining company until it was purchased by the Tintic Standard, in which he was a large shareholder at the time of his death." (Eureka Reporter, January 31, 1929)
Timeline
February 8, 1895
"A. Burch this week finished the patent survey of the Grand Central, Christopher Columbus and Snow Bird claims, which were recently purchased by C. E. Loose. Development work will commence at once." (The Tintic Miner, February 8, 1895)
February 10, 1895
Work began on developing the Grand Central property. The property had been surveyed for the purposes of applying for a federal mineral land patent. (Salt Lake Herald, February 10, 1895; Lehi Banner, February 14, 1895)
May 11, 1895
"C. E. Loose has this week resumed work upon the Grand Central group. Grant Snyder has been building a road to the mine this week and getting ready to haul a carload of lumber to the ground." (Salt Lake Herald, May 11, 1895)
June 22, 1895
"Work has recommenced on the Grand Central group. The double compartment shaft with manway is now down forty feet and two shifts are putting it down with the greatest possible rapidity. The owners propose to make a mine of this property in short order." (Salt Lake Herald, June 22, 1895)
July 6, 1895
The Grand Central Mining Company has filed its articles of incorporation with the Utah county clerk. The organizers are C. E. Loose (32,000 shares), Abram H. Cannon (28,000 shares), L. Holbrook (15,000 shares; president), David Evans (10,000 shares), Reed Smoot (5,000 shares; vice-president), A. Burch (5,000 shares), B. B. Clark (2,000 shares), A. A. King (2,000 shares), John R. Twelves (1,000 shares; secretary-treasurer). General office in Provo, Utah. Property includes the following claims: Christopher Columbus, Snow Bird, and Grand Central, with options on Silveropolis, King William, and Wedgwood. 250,000 shares. (Provo Daily Enquirer, July 6, 1895)
(A. H. Cannon was also a principal of the Bullion-Beck mine, on the north side of Eureka.).
(The Grand Central was unusual among startup mining companies. The company had the immediate confidence in finding a paying ore vein that they were installing a large steam hoist, and a three-compartment initial shaft, which would provide for two ore skips, with a man-skip between them.)
July 11, 1895
The Grand Central company purchased a steam hoist from the Centennial-Eureka company, which would be installed right away. The company embraced 75 acres. (Salt Lake Tribune, July 11, 1895)
July 12, 1895
The Grand Central company began mining operations. (Eureka Reporter, January 13, 1922, on the occasion of the Chief Consolidated company taking control of the Grand Central company.)
October 3, 1895
"The Grand Central Shaft. -- The new hoist being erected by C. E. Loose on the Grand Central shaft in Mammoth is now nearing completion. The shaft is now down to a depth of over 200 feet, and it is expected that the hoist will be in operation by the middle of the month." (Salt Lake Tribune, October 3, 1895)
January 1, 1896
The Grand Central, having started just six months ago, has successfully installed a 75-horsepower steam hoist, has completed its three-compartment shaft down to 225 feet, and has completed 500 feet of cross-cutting from that 225-foot level. (Salt Lake Tribune, January 1, 1896)
January 8, 1896
"The Grand Central, managed by C. E. Loose, is also very active just now, and Mr. Donahue says that more work is being done there than on the Mercur. The double compartment shaft is now down 300 feet. A fine hoist and air compressor has been put in, and it is the intention to sink 600 feet before stopping." (Salt Lake Herald, January 8, 1896)
(The steam hoist was the same hoist that had been replaced by the Centennial-Eureka company in 1892, when it completed its new hoist house and hoist frame.)
November 25, 1896
In late November 1896, the Grand Central struck ore in a drift from the 200-foot level. The company had sunk its main shaft down to the 700-foot level, and had spent $102,000 doing so. The ore was struck on the 200-level drift, at a distance of 1300 feet from the main shaft. (Salt Lake Herald, November 24, 1896; Provo Daily Enquirer, November 28, 1896)
December 2, 1896
"David Keith of the Silver King, at Park City, and Herman Bamberger were looking over the Grand Central last week." (Provo Daily Enquirer, December 2, 1896)
December 3, 1896
The ore coming from the Grand Central mine during its development work was low-grade milling ore. As soon as the high-grade shipping ore was struck, the New East Tintic railroad "will be extended to the property. It will be necessary to build about one mile of track in order to attain sufficient altitude to enable the road to be built on a 6 per cent grade." (Deseret News, December 3, 1896)
(The New East Tintic railroad had only just been completed between Mammoth station and the Mammoth mine in September, a distance of 1.99 miles. There is no indication that this spur was ever completed. Instead, an aerial tramway was later built and a spur of the Oregon Short Line railroad was built to serve the tramway's lower terminal.))
(Read more about the New East Tintic Railway)
January 10, 1897
The Grand Central struck a body of ore after driving a drift from the 700-Level, 590 feet from the station in the main shaft. The body of ore was an extension of the "gold zone" of the adjacent Mammoth mine. The strike proved the extent of the Mammoth gold zone, and increased the value of the Grand Central property. (Salt Lake Tribune, January 10, 1897)
(There was no mention if the boundary line between Grand Central property and Mammoth property was crossed. But the Mammoth had its boundaries re-surveyed.)
(After just two years of development work, starting at the surface on raw ground, and after spending $115,000 [about $3.7 million in 2025 dollars], the congratulations poured in to the mine's owners, making note of the persistence in light of the uncountable negative comments over the past two years. The organizers apparently knew what they were looking for, and based on the wealth of the surrounding properties, they found it after just two years.)
June 4, 1897
The Grand Central shipped its first ore from the mine to Salt Lake City. The ore had come from the face of the strike on the 700-Level. The shipment was in the form of 20 tons of sacked ore. The ore was pure gold bearing with no silver content, and would likely sell for $300 per ton [about $6000, or about $200,000 in 2025 dollars]. The high value of the ore was indicated by the fact it was sacked, instead of simply dumped into a open-top car. An ore sack was an added expense reserved only for the highest-value ore, because ore sacks cost 60 cents each [about $19 in 2025 dollars], and could be used only once. (Deseret News, June 4, 1897; Salt Lake Herald, June 4, 1897)
September 9, 1897
David Keith purchased 10,000 shares of the Grand Central "several months ago," and "yesterday," Thomas Kearns purchased 50,000 shares for nearly as many dollars. (Salt Lake Tribune, September 10, 1897)
(Keith and Kearns were already well established with their successful Silver King mine in Park City, which they had began developing in 1890, and had incorporated in 1892. The sale of such a large block of shares, 60,000 shares of the original 250,000 shares, to Keith and Kearns was seen throughout the Utah mining community as a valuable endorsement of the future of the Grand Central mine.)
(The Grand Central mine shipped 50 tons of ore during the first week of January 1898. -- Salt Lake Herald, January 8, 1898)
June 7, 1898
"Grand Central Shipments. -- With perfect weather and an open road no matter how angular between the ore bins and the railroad, the Grand Central has started out this month to make a new record for itself. During the past six days in June it has produced eighteen carloads of ore, or three cars a day, at which average the tonnage for the month will not be less than 2200 tons, with a possibility of its reaching 2500 tons for the month. Manager C. E. Loose, whose splendid work is being followed by such magnificent results, spent a few hours in the city yesterday, leaving for Provo last night, where he will take part in the directors meeting and the posting of the first dividend of 12-1/2 cents a share today." (Salt Lake Tribune, June 7, 1898)
October 5, 1898
At the Grand Central company's annual meeting, "During the meeting the project of erecting a tramway from the mine down to the wagon road to facilitate the transportation of ores and securing supplies at the mine was discussed, and Secretary Twelves advises us that the improvement will probably be made. Orders have been placed with L. C. Trent at Salt Lake for a new engine, boiler and all accessories necessary to sink the shaft on the property to a depth of 2000 feet. The new plant will be placed in postilion in a very short time." (Utah County Democrat, October 5, 1898)
March 25, 1899
"The Oregon Short Line has determined on doing considerable work at Eureka. During the late visit of [OSL] President Cornish to the camp it was decided to increase the side trackage and to build a spur to connect with the aerial tramway that is being constructed by Grand Central people from their mine to the railroad." (Deseret News, March 25, 1899)
June 30, 1899
"With the completion of the big steel shaft house and the installation of the new hoist which has a lifting capacity of 250-H.P., the Grand Central is now equipped for the thorough development of the gigantic ore bodies that as yet have been but scratched on top, and that the main shaft, which is but 700 feet deep, will be driven to the 1000 level. The plant, which includes a 10-drill compressor and an electric lighting and signal system, is up-to-date in every respect, and contains many little economical devices that will reduce the operating expenses. It is understood the management has not abandoned the aerial tram for the transportation of its ore to the railroad track at Mammoth; the estimated cost would about equal the amount paid each year for hauling by wagon, and the operating expenses would be but a small item." (Salt Lake Mining Review, June 30, 1899)
July 3, 1899
The Grand Central was the leading producing mine for shipments from the Tintic district during the second quarter of 1899, April to June. Of the total of 1,190 cars shipped during the quarter [about 100 cars per week], the Grand Central was the leader with 211 cars. The Bullion-Beck was second with 197 cars, then the Dragon Iron mine with 176 cars, and the Centennial-Eureka with 123 cars. At 25 tons per car, the second quarter production amounted to 29,900 tons. (Salt Lake Tribune, July 3, 1899)
(The above numbers for the previous quarter indicate that the Grand Central was shipping almost two cars every day, or about 44 tons. Wagons of the period held about five tons each, meaning that the wagon road between the mine and the loading station at Mammoth station was seeing nine or ten wagons each day, except Sunday.)
July 5, 1899
"The sinking of the shaft, the bottom of which has been hitherto at a depth of 700 feet from the surface, was begun again on Sunday last [July 2nd] and will now be pushed to a depth of 900. From that level he [Supt. Patrick Donnelly] will crosscut to the vein, and connect with the winze previously dropped from the 700 level. The output of the bonanza is now averaging about seventy-five tons, or at the rate of three carloads daily, and the tonnage for July promises a new record." (Salt Lake Tribune, July 5, 1899)
September 7, 1899
A connection was made between the Grand Central mine, and the Mammoth mine for the purposes of ventilation. The connection was made through a new drift from the Grand Central, into a two-year-old drift in the Mammoth. (Salt Lake Herald, September 7, 1899)
March 6, 1902
The Grand Central Mining Company of Utah was reorganized as the Grand Central Mining Company of Colorado. The officers of the company were unchanged. The purpose was to take advantage of the mining laws of Colorado, instead of the mining laws of Utah. The result was that the apex case between the Grand Central company and the Mammoth company became a federal case instead of a state case. (Deseret News, March 6, 1902)
(Research suggests that the reason for the change was that under Colorado law, a resident Colorado corporation, holding a mining claim had different rights than a non-resident corporation. Utah law did not make a distinction of resident vs. non-resident. The apex case then became a federal case to decide the apex rights of a Colorado corporation vs. a Utah corporation. Also to force the apex case into the federal court.)
July 16, 1902
The following comes from the July 17, 1902 issue of the Salt Lake Herald.
Grand Central Ores. -- The Marketing of Second-class Began on Tuesday. -- Mammoth. July 16. -- The initial shipment of low-grade ore from the Grand Central mine, consisting of five carloads, was sent out yesterday, together with two carloads of copper-silver ore. Five more cars are loaded ready for shipment, and Mr. Loose, who was at the mine yesterday, says the teams will be able to handle about seventy to eighty tons a day. A viaduct is being constructed at the railway track to enable the wagons to dump directly into open cars, which will facilitate unloading.
An agreement has not yet been reached between the railway company and the mining company concerning the terms for the extension of the New East Tintic railway to the Grand Central bins. It appears that the construction has been ordered from the New York office of the Short Line, and that the only delay is caused by the insistence of a five-year contract by the local head of the traffic department, which the Grand Central management refuses to sign. Under the present pooling arrangement from Tintic points, which exists between the Rio Grande and Short Line roads, shipments are divided between the roads, but there are indications that the strife for transcontinental business may disrupt the pool, hence the insistence of the Short Line for a five-year contract.
It is reported semi-officially that the Grand Central will build an aerial tramway to Mammoth station rather than sign the contract. The proposed extension of the ore road from its present terminus at the Mammoth mine is but a short distance, but will be a stiff piece of work, as roadbed must be cut from a ridge of limestone the entire distance.
July 2, 1916
The Sioux Consolidated, Grand Central and Gold Chain mines are all owned by the same interests, C. E. Loose of Provo, and associates. (Salt Lake Herald, July 2, 1916)
(C. E. Loose sold his interest in the Sioux Consolidated to Jesse Knight in March 1919, and sold his interest in the Grand Central to the Chief Consolidated company in 1921. He apparently retained control of the Gold Chain mine until his death in 1929. In 1931 control of the Gold Chain passed to the Mammoth Mining company, which then leased the Gold Chain to itself in 1932.)
December 31, 1916
The following comes from the December 31, 1916 issue of the Salt Lake Tribune.
Grand Central Mining Company. -- The old reliable Grand Central Mining company has had a prosperous year and shows a dividend of $40,000, being an increase of $7500 over the previous year. The total dividends to date have been $1,665,000. The ore shipments have been 522 cars, an excess of 333 cars over the shipments last year.
The Grand Central Mining company was incorporated in 1902 under the laws of Colorado. The property is located in the Tintic mining district, one mile from the railroad, and consists of fifteen patented mining claims. Increased activity at the mine has resulted in an immense amount of development work and the opening up of brighter prospects for the future than have been seen for many years.
On the 2200-foot level important developments have taken place, showing an improved quality of ore. The shipping product at this-level carries from 6 to 7 per cent copper and the deposit is of liberal dimensions.
Early in the year the force at the mine was increased, and by July the production had risen to 100 tons per day. From this gratifying result it was believed by Colonel Loose and his associates that improved mining facilities would greatly enhance the production and profits. The mine has now been electrically equipped in every department and is prepared for a new era of production. The management is confident that the coming year will show an increased output of ore. After facing several years of severe reversals the mine is now entering its former class and may duplicate its past high dividend record.
Regarding the heavy shipments from the Grand Central, W. D. Loose, assistant manager, says the mine has such a large amount of ore blocked out that larger shipments would be possible without greatly increasing the working force. The company has a force of about seventy-five men, but a third are doing top work, handling the machinery, the tramway, clerical work, assaying, etc. The force underground is by no means a large one.
Just when the Grand Central was sending out ore at a lively clip there came an order from the smelter that the tonnage must be held down to 100 tons a day, and this has necessitated a reduction in the working force. The mine had seventy-five men at work and about one-third were laid off. To reduce operating expenses all the men retained were placed on the day shift.
Mr. Loose says shipments are being taken from various levels from the 600 to the 2000. The latter level is just above the water and some years ago considerable work was done below the 2300 in this mine.
Great credit for the successful working and management of the mine is due to Colonel C. E. Loose of Provo, general manager of the company, whose strong belief in the property has been sufficient to pull the mine through every crisis.
January 15, 1918
"The Grand Central Mining Company, with holdings at Mammoth, and under the general management of Col. C. E. Loose of Provo. The property had a highly prosperous year, despite [smelter] embargoes and other disturbing elements, and ended the year with a great amount of development work accomplished and an immense tonnage of ore blocked out. Its production totaled 474 carloads. Much of the heavy output came from a new orebody, first encountered on the 2,100 level, which is said to have developed into one of the most important deposits ever opened in the mine. It has been followed from the 2,100 to the 2,000 level. The ore is of a medium grade and the body is said to be immense and to be making out into an entirely new portion of the company's estate. The Grand Central is under the superintendency of W. D. Loose." (Salt Lake Mining Review, January 15, 1918)
December 14, 1918
A list of the valuation of the mining claims held by the Grand Central Mining company showed a total of 16 claims, and a total of 105 acres. Nine of the claims were 5 acres or smaller in size. The largest were the combined Grand Central-Snowbird-Christophor Columbus at 19 acres, then the Mount Hope at 17 acres and the Consort at 12 acres. The King William was next, at 10 acres. (Deseret News, December 14, 1918)
November 18, 1921
C. E. Loose sold an option to his controlling interest in the Grand Central Mining company to Paul Hillsdale, a Salt Lake City mining engineer who was also son-in-law to Walter Fitch, Sr., president of the Chief Consolidated Mining company. Fitch stated that the option was a future consideration for his company to control more Tintic ore reserves for future production. Although once a good producer in the past, the Grand Central mine was in the hands of low-production leasers. (Salt Lake Tribune, November 18, 1921)
January 12, 1922
The Chief Consolidated Mining company exercised the option held by Paul Hillsdale for the purchase of "more than fifty per cent of the outstanding stock" of the Grand Central Mining company. Hillsdale held a lease of the entire property and released the property to leasers, "more than a hundred men are at work while the property is shipping at the rate of about two carloads, or 100 tons, daily." During the period of the option, the Chief Consolidated company investigated the property and determined that with additional expenditures for development, the Grand Central could begin shipping considerable tonnage. They would add more crosscuts and drifts, and begin deeper mining. The Grand Central workings would be connected with the Chief Consolidated's No. 2 shaft. A new compressor was being installed, and electric power had been extended over the mountain from the Chief Consolidated's transformer at its No. 1 shaft. The Grand Central's aerial tramway would remain in service because it had the capacity needed for present and future production. The leases for the leasers working the Grand Central property would be changed to match those of the Chief Consolidated company, which had proven to be very successful for both the company and the leasers. (Eureka Reporter, January 13, 1922, "yesterday")
February 11, 1922
"Eureka. Feb. 11. -- The Grand Central mine continues to send out ore up to the capacity of its tramway, which is approximately 150 tons a day. Ore has been sent out at this rate for more than a week, and there seems to be no lessening of the amount ready for shipment underground." "If this increase in production [from leasers] materializes, it will be necessary to run the hoist and aerial tramway two shifts a day, which would approximately double the present tonnage of the mine." (Salt Lake Tribune, February 12, 1922)
February 17, 1922
An option for the purchase of the control of the shares of the Grand Central Mining company was secured by Paul Hillsdale and offered to the Chief Consolidated company on November 3, 1921. After a thorough examination of the property the directors of the Chief Consolidated company approved the exercise of the option on January 7, 1922 and payment was made. The Chief Consolidated's management concluded that the application of the methods of mining now in practice at the Chief Consolidated mine would make the Grand Central mine a profitable operation. Mr. Hillsdale was given the position of superintendent of the Grand Central property. (Eureka Reporter, February 17, 1922)
May 28, 1922
The Chief Consolidated company notified the stockholders of the Grand Central company that when they took possession, they found that the mechanical equipment at the surface and underground was old and obsolete, and required replacement. They advanced $53,000 to the Grand Central company to upgrade and modernize the equipment. An additional $83,000 in improvements were needed to the hoist and electrical system, an additional compressor, improvements to other equipment and shaft repairs, all of which would bring the Grand Central property up to Chief Consolidated company's standard. An additional $80,000 would be needed to install pumping equipment when development work reaches the water level, and $100,000 will be needed to fund the planned intensive development work. The stock of the Grand Central company was non-assessible, and rather than reorganizing the Grand Central company to make the stock accessible to pay for improvements, the Chief Consolidated company could either make a loan to the Grand Central company, increasing the company's indebtedness, or offer to purchase the minority shares at the same price they paid for the stock they obtained (60 cents per share), or exchange one share of Chief Consolidated company for ten shares of the Grand Central company. The minority stockholders would have until June 30th to make their decision. (Salt Lake Tribune, May 28, 1922)
(The stock of the Grand Central Mining company was fully purchased by the Chief Consolidated Mining company in June 1922.)
October 24, 1922
"In order to simplify office work, the Grand Central Mining company will dissolved and the shipments of this property considered part of the present [Chief Consolidated] corporation. All of the stock of the Grand Central Mining company bas now been acquired by the Chief Consolidated Mining company." (Salt Lake Tribune, October 24, 1922)
Aerial Tramway (1902 - 1924)
Grand Central Mine Tramway: Tintic, Utah = 7,920 feet
- Bleichert patent design
- Tintic, above Mammoth
- mine opened in 1895; aerial tramway into operation in mid November 1902
- 1-1/2 miles in length
- First reported as being of the Leschen design; later corrected as being of the Bleichert design
- Replaced in 1924 by another aerial tramway operating over the mountain from the Grand Central mine on the Mammoth side, to the Chief Consolidated mill on the Eureka side.
July 16, 1902
An aerial tramway for the Grand Central mine was mentioned as a solution to the mine signing a five-year exclusive contract with Oregon Short Line to move its ore over the New East Tintic railroad, by way of an extension of the railroad's line from the Mammoth mine. An aerial tramway direct from the mine to the Mammoth station would give the mine access to the Rio Grande tracks, and therefore competitive rates. (Salt Lake Herald, July 17, 1902)
July 25, 1902
The following comes from the July 25, 1902 issue of the Salt Lake Herald.
Mammoth, July 24. -- It is reported here that the negotiations between the Grand Central Mining company and the Oregon Short Line railway for the extension of the New East Tintic railway from the Mammoth mine to the Grand Central ore bins have failed, and that the mining company will at once begin the construction of an aerial tramway similar to the one in use at the Centennial-Eureka mine, on the other side of the mountain. In confirmation of the report, certain work has already been done at the mine. The site for the ore house and the tracks that will connect it with the shaft have been changed to the side of the canyon opposite to where the railway would approach. The tram will be approximately half a mile long, and will cost, together with the ore house, probably $15,000.
The contention between the railway management and the mining company was over a five-year contract for hauling the mine's output, and which the Grand Central Mining company firmly refused to sign. The railway company's insistence on the contract is taken to mean that the close of this year will witness a discontinuation of the pooling agreement that has existed between the Short Line and Rio Grande railways ever since the latter road entered the district, and which has resulted in an exorbitant tariff on both in and out freight. By the terms of the agreement, which is renewed on the first of January of each year, the ore output is divided between the two roads; there is no cutting of rates, every shipper paying $2.50 per ton.
It is believed that the Short Line's California line, which runs within a mile of the three railway points of the district, will be ready for operation between here and Salt Lake early next year, and that in consequence of the competition for through traffic that will ensue, will disrupt the present traffic arrangements that at present have such a bad effect on Tintic shippers.
August 1, 1902
The Grand Central Mining company announced informally that the company would build an aerial tramway. The projected cost was reported as $20,000, with the tramway being one mile long. It would be equipped to handle 3,000 tons per month. The aerial tramway would lower the mining company's transportation costs, and the decision was made after a contract was signed with the Bingham Consolidated smelter in Midvale to process not less than 60,000 tons of Grand Central low-grade ore at from $10 to $15 per ton. The low-grade ore was already on the mining company's waste dump from the previous operations that saw the low-grade ore as having no value compared to the high-grade ore being shipped by wagon to the rail station, with wagons and teams being more expensive, but worth the extra cost due to the ore's high value. (Salt lake Tribune, August 1, 1902)
October 22, 1902
The aerial tramway of the Grand Central Mining company was set to begin operations "next week." The tramway covered a distance of 8,000 feet between the ore bins of the company at the mine, and the loading station in the railway yards. The tramway would double the output of the mine. (Salt Lake Tribune, October 22, 1902)
November 14, 1902
The Grand Central Mining company's aerial tramway went into operation. (Salt Lake Tribune, November 13, 1902, "tomorrow")
November 16, 1902
The Grand Central ore bins were connected to the Grand Central mine high up on the north slope of Mammoth Hollow by an aerial tramway. The Grand Central aerial tram went into "commission" the following day, November 17. (Salt Lake Tribune, November 16, 1902)
November 20, 1902
Ore from the Grand Central mine began moving by way of the aerial tramway. The manager notified the smelter by telephone that 150 tons would very soon be moving to the smelter, with 200 more tons to follow shortly, after the slack in the cables had been adjusted. The earnings for the low-grade ore on the dump were more that anticipated from earlier assays. But shipment of second-class low-grade ore from the dump was put on hold in favor of shipping class-one smelting high-grade direct ore directly from the mine, to recover the cost of the aerial tramway. (Salt Lake Tribune, November 21, 1902, "yesterday")
(The stock of the Grand Central Mining company was fully purchased by the Chief Consolidated Mining company in June 1922.)
October 10, 1924
"A new aerial tramway between the Chief Consolidated's new mill and the Grand Central, on the Mammoth side of the mountain, is contemplated in the near future." "The tramway was secured from a company at Green River, and a force of men has been dispatched from the Chief Consolidated to dismantle the tramway on its present site and ship it to Eureka." "At present the ore from the Grand Central is delivered to the railroad at Mammoth by tramway. The new tramway will deliver it direct to the mill, thereby reducing cost." (Salt Lake Tribune, October 10, 1924)
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