Tintic, Martha Washington Mine
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This page was last updated on December 5, 2025.
Overview
(The focus of this page is the surface workings of the Martha Washington 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.)
The Martha Washington mining claim and mine were at the head of Dragon Hollow, east of Silver City. The claim lay east of and parallel to the Nom De Plume, the King James and Black Dragon claims, and adjacacent to the south end of the Silver Coin.
All of these claims at the head of Dragon Hollow became assembled as a group by L. E. Riter, Sr., and his son L. E. Riter, Jr., and became part of their Dragon Consolidated company, which in-turn became part of Jesse Knight's Dragon Consolidated company.
December 25, 1891
"Martha Washington. - But two shipments have been made during the year from this property, but a good deal of work of different kinds has been done by the owners - George W. Shell and J. H. McCooey. There were 54,400 pounds [27.2 tons] of ore shipped." (Salt Lake Herald, December 25, 1891)
1898
"Martha Washington Mine. - This mine is northeast of the Sunbeam, and the vein on which it has been located has been followed to a depth of 350 feet. It is traceable, though not continuously, for a distance of nearly 3,000 feet. The southern end is called the Triumph. The Martha Washington shaft is located near the northern end. (USGS, 19th Annual Report, 1897-1898, Tintic District)
The Martha Washington mine was noted in 1919 as being one of the earliest producing mines in the Tintic district:
In December 1869, West Tintic first attracted attention, and the Sunbeam mine was located, later becoming the first important producer, along with the Scotia; then the Eureka Hill, Mammoth, Shoebrldge, Martha Washington, Black Dragon, Black Eagle, and Swansea, all operated between 1870 and 1876. In 1873 the Mammoth-Copperopolis (Ajax) and the Crismon-Mammoth mines were the principal producers of copper in Utah. (USGS, Professional Paper 107, 1919)
April 27, 1898
From the Salt Lake Herald, April 27, 1898
Martha Washington Hoist. - The board of directors of the Martha Washington Mining company held a meeting Monday afternoon and decided upon the erection of a steam hoist on its Silver City mine, and L. E. Riter and Will Hatfield were appointed as a committee to attend to the purchase and installation of the new plant, which is to be a duplication of the South Swansea hoist, with a capacity for sinking to a depth of 1,000 feet, the works to be in operation within 30 days.
The Martha Washington, from all accounts, is the making of a heavy and regular producer of high grade ore, and work in its development is being steadily and vigorously pushed, operations at present being confined to an extension of the drift on the 350 level, which is being pushed north into the hill towards the Silver Coin, the body of high grade mineral growing larger as work progresses.
A carload of high grade ore from this mine is now at the sampler.
From "Gold and Silver Treasure Vaults of Tintic District, Utah" published by Rio Grande Western Railway, [no date, circa 1899].
The June Rose and Martha Washington, owned by J. H. McCooey and Schell heirs, of Salt Lake, produced as early as 1871. It produced several thousand tons of ore, frequently of very high grade and usually over $100 per ton. It is now under lease and bond. The development is by a 100-foot shaft and drift. A whim is used.
The Silver Coin, north of the Martha Washington, on the same vein, is owned by L. E. Riter and Isaac Wolfe, of Salt Lake, and has a shaft and considerable development. The ore is free milling and of good grade. A large amount has been shipped. It is still shipping.
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