Tintic, Northern Spy Mine

Index For This Page

This page was last updated on January 3, 2026.

(Return to Mining Index page)

Overview

(The focus of this page is the surface workings of the Northern Spy 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 following comes from Geology and Mining Industry of the Tintic district, Utah, by G. W. Tower and G. O. Smith, USGS 19th Annual Report, 1897-1898.

Northern Spy Mine. -- This mine, which is southwest of the Sioux mine, on the east slope of Mammoth Mountain, establishes the continuity of this ore body from the Carissa on the south to the Sioux on the north. It is worked by a tunnel and two shafts. The tunnel is at the south end and is driven southward in the ore body. The main shaft, which is 700 feet deep, is about midway between the Sioux and the Carissa, while the other shaft is at the north end. Like the tunnel, the shafts are on the ore body.

USGS Professional Paper 107, Tintic Mining District, published in 1919, page 231

Northern Spy And Carisa Mines. -- Developments. -- The Northern Spy and Carisa mines are now worked together by the Carisa Mining Co. The only connection between the two mines, however, is on the 700-foot level. The two properties lie on the east and southeast slopes of Mammoth Peak, the Northern Spy shaft at an altitude of 7,390 feet and the Carisa of 7,530 feet. The Northern Spy shaft is due south of the Humbug and Utah tunnels and 3,700 feet distant from the Utah. Its depth is 900 feet and the drifts are of great aggregate length. Much prospecting work has been undertaken on levels 7, 8, and 9, but no large ore bodies have been found.

The Carisa shaft lies 1,050 feet south-southwest of the Northern Spy shaft. The water stands knee deep in the ninth level, 806 feet below the surface. The long Sioux-Ajax tunnel connects with level 7 of the Northern Spy mine.

Since 1911 little work has been done in these properties. In 1911 prospecting was in progress under the management of Grant Snyder.

The two properties have yielded lead, silver, copper, and gold, but the total production has not been made public. The dividends of the Carisa Co. amount to $60,000, and the last distribution was made in 1906.

Brief ownership review:

January 1, 1879
"The Northern Spy lode was located Jan. 1, 1879, by Mrs. Martha Heath, and the Fisherman lode on Jan. 2, 1S79, by L. M. Heath. Both locations cover identically the same ground, the second being made on account of Heath being advised that a former location did not expire until Jan. 2. The Northern Spy is the north extension of the Carisa and has acquired a well earned reputation as one of Tintic's bonanzas. The Heath family, who owned the property and who did considerable development, went to California in the early 1880s and left a power of attorney with Robert Hall, who sold the property to Alexander Graham. Graham worked the property for several years, shipping the ore to the old mill at Homansville and receiving big returns. Graham afterwards sold to John Beck for $80,000, the latter organizing the Northern Spy Mining company. The company did considerable work and shipped a great deal of ore, but during the past several years all the work has been done by leasers. The Northern Spy is now being worked under a lease by Hyrum Beck and others, and is a regular shipper. It is equipped with a first-class steam hoist and all necessary machinery." (Salt Lake Herald, July 26, 1897)

February 7, 1883
"The Northern Spy Mining company cleaned up between $50,000 and $60,000 in a run extending from October 1, 1882, to January 25, 1883. The cost of mining, milling, etc., amounted to about $27,000. It is easy to calculate the profits on such operations." (Council Bluffs Daily Nonpareil, February 7, 1883)

January 10, 1885
Among the producers of the Tintic district was the "Northern Spy Consolidated, owned by the Tintic Mining and Milling company." (Salt Lake Evening Chronicle, January 10, 1885)

(This was the first and only reference to the Tintic Mining and Milling company, and the Northern Spy company in the same news item.)

November 21, 1889
"The articles of incorporation of the Northern Spy Mining company were filed in the probate court yesterday. The objects of the incorporators are to conduct the business of mining, milling of ores, smelting, leading; buying and selling of mines; buying, working and smelting of ore-bearing precious metals, treatment of and concentration of ores and the products of mines; construction of tramways and the transaction of all other business appertaining to mines and mining. The company owns the Northern Spy mines, No. 102 and the mining claim, 400 feet of the Carisa mine, together with tools and implements, in Juab county; also the Wyoming mill and five acres of land whereon said mill is situated, and appurtenances at Homansville, Utah county; and the Jim Fisk, Jim Blaine, Bon Butler, Alabama and Cordelia Ortoro mines, all situated in Tintic mining district." Officers and directors were: A. E. Hyde, president, 20 percent of shares; John Beck, vice president, 50.9 percent of shares; W. S. McCornick, treasurer, 12.5 percent of shares; N. Treweek, secretary, 12.5 percent of shares; with F. H. Hyde and W. H. Smith as additional directors. (Salt Lake Herald, November 22, 1889)

February 21, 1891
"A. E. Hyde, of Salt Lake, is sojourning in town. Mr. Hyde is general manager of the Bullion, Beck & Champion Mining Company, the Northern Spy Mining Company, the Carisa Mining Company, and the Governor mine of Tintic, Utah, and the Trapper mining Company, at Boulder, this county [Blaine County, Idaho]." (Ketchum Idaho Keystone, February 21, 1891)

December 10, 1893
In a law suit against John Beck, A. E. Hyde, and M. E Cummings for a $2,060 promissory note in which 5,000 shares of the Northern Spy Mining company were collateral, "It is now claimed that the shares are practically worthless." (Salt Lake Herald, December 10, 1893)

June 5, 1894
"Last week one of the leasers of the Northern Spy claims, in the Tintic mining district, made a rich strike in the north workings, and early next week three cars of high grade ore will be received in this city from the property. The rock goes about 60 ounces in silver with a good showing of gold and lead. In the south workings of the mine the indications are that within a very short time another strike will be reported. The Northern Spy Mining company decided some time ago to lease its properties rather than work them, and the results thus far have been extremely satisfactory." (Salt Lake Herald, June 5, 1894)

October 4, 1894
"Being possessed of very great faith in the future of the Northern Spy mine in the Tintic district, the stockholders of the Northern Spy Mining company, the owners of the claim and several of its sister lodes, yesterday paid the amount of the assessment, made some time ago, for the payment of the old debts of the company. On account of the prompt payment, none of the stock was sold by the treasurer, and it will now be possible to retire all of the debts of the company. The Northern Spy is being worked by leasers, who have the right of way up to February 1, after which time the company will assume the development of its own property." (Salt Lake Herald, October 4, 1894)

April 6, 1895
"Just as soon as the roads are open again the Northern Spy leasers will resume shipments to the Hanauer smelter. They have over 100 tons of ore ready to move." (Salt Lake Herald, April 6, 1895)

November 27, 1895
At the annual meeting of stockholders of the Northern Spy Mining company, an new set of officers and trustees was elected: W. S. McCornick, president and treasurer; John Beck, vice president; A. Hanauer, Jr., secretary, with Simon Bamberger, E. B. Critchlow and Hiram Beck as additional trustees. (Salt Lake Tribune, November 27, 1895)

August 9, 1897
"The Alabama lode was located Sept. 13, 1880, by A. J. Hampton. The property adjoins the Northern Spy and the company operating the latter property discovered ore in the Alabama and took out considerable before the owner, Hampton, discovered the fact. An impending lawsuit was settled by the purchase of the Alabama by the Northern Spy Mining company, and that company at present owns the ground." (Salt Lake Herald, August 9, 1897)

December 26, 1897
"The Northern Spy. -- Hyrum Beck has been working this property under a lease during most of the year, and has the mine in excellent condition. The mine is equipped with a steam hoist, and has yielded several carloads of good ore under Mr. Beck's management. The Spy lies at the head of Spy Hollow, between the Carisa and the Sioux, and is the north extension on the former. It was located in January 1879, and a great deal of rich ore was taken from the upper levels, and shipped to the Homansville mill. John Beck bought the Spy about 15 years ago, and organized the Northern Spy Mining company, which developed the property extensively. The company also extracted considerable from the Alabama, and purchased that property to avoid a law suit." (Salt Lake Herald, December 26, 1897)

January 31, 1898
"Jesse Knight, an extensive operator in the Tintic district, is reported to have purchased the properties of the Northern Spy Mining company for $35,000." (New York Herald, January 21, 1898)

May 27, 1898
"A meeting of the directors of the Northern Spy Mining company was held in this city yesterday for the purpose of filling two vacancies on the board, caused by the death of Hyrum Beck and the resignation of Simon Bamberger, the vacancies being filled by the election of J. A. Cunningham and Briant S. Young. The Northern Spy is a noted Tintic producer that is now being worked by lessees." (Salt Lake Herald, May 27, 1898)

April 27, 1899
"With the exception of a few tramp lots, the entire capital stock of the Northern Spy Mining company of Tintic, consisting of 100,000 shares, yesterday passed into the hands of C. E. Loose and Jesse Knight of Provo, the purchasers shelling out nearly $30,000, or 30 cents a share. J. A. Cunningham contributed 67.750 shares, while George Romney and his associates turned over 30,000; these blocks, with miscellaneous dabs, making a total of about 99,000. The property consists of seven claims situated right in the heart of Tintic. They were among the pioneer locations in the district and early became the property of John Beck, who paid the locators no less than $100,000 for them. This sum was, according to the patriarch of the camp, taken from the ground before the option under which the deal was accomplished had matured. The gentlemen now in the mastery will inaugurate an active campaign at once and there are many assurances that Northern Spy will have soon become a most productive proposition." (Salt Lake Tribune, April 27, 1899)

May 23, 1899
The stockholders of the Northern Spy Mining company formally turned over control of the company to Jesse Knight and C. E. Loose. A new set of officers and directors was elected: Reed, Smoot, president; Ed Loose, vice president; J. W. Knight, secretary and treasurer; with Jesse Knight and Lafayette Holbrook as additional directors. (Salt Lake Herald, May 24, 1899, "yesterday")

December 31, 1899
Northern Spy mine sold along with Carisa mine. -- "Carisa Mine. -- This old mine, the records showing it to have been located but a few weeks after the Sunbeam, and owned continuously by the Roberts Bros., rich Wyoming coal miners, was acquired in May by Messrs. Eben Smith of Colorado, H. E. Cary and W. H. Brevoort of New York, the latter gentleman being a large investor in Cripple Creek securities. As soon as the control of the mine passed into the hands of the new owners, the shaft was covered, a new hoist installed, necessary surface buildings supplied, and a contract let to sink the old incline shaft from the depth of 150 feet to the 250 point, which was completed about the middle of the summer. Since then drifting both ways on the vein has been carried on under the direction of Superintendent A. J. Underwood, having accomplished 250 feet of development work. During the year 325 tons of copper ore were marketed from the mine, coming principally from surface workings and leases on the royalty basis. It is related that some of the highest grade copper ore ever mined in Tintic has been found in the Carisa mines, at times also carrying fabulously rich gold values. Most of this ore is believed to have come from the tunnel in which Roberts Bros. are still pursuing profitable labors, connecting the upper workings with the Northern Spy mine, adjoining on the north. Being in keeping with Eben Smith's manner of mining, as exemplified in the Little Johnny at Leadville, and more than a dozen big mines at Leadville and Cripple Creek, to perform things on a large and aggressive basis, it is known that preparations will soon be made to do some deep mining in the Carisa. Looking over the mammoth ore conditions and remarkable undeveloped possibilities, the theory that greater mineral wealth underlies the upper stratas seems plausible. The era of deep mining will mark the prosperity of Tintic, but in the majority of instances it has not yet set in." (Salt Lake Herald, December 31, 1899)

August 30, 1900
"Another mining sale for Tintic was recorded last week by the transfer of the old Northern Spy mine to Eben Smith and H. E. Cary, of Denver, and their associates. The Northern Spy adjoins the Carisa, recently purchased by these gentlemen. The consolidated ground is a proposition of more than ordinary promise, and it is understood that it will be extensively and systematically developed." (Salt Lake Mining Review, August 30, 1900)

March 15, 1901
"H. E. Cary, of the Carisa, one of Tintic's bonanza propositions, is showing his friends splendid specimens of native and oxide of copper ores from the new strike in the Northern Spy mine, owned by the Carisa company, the ore being more than half pure metal. The Carisa shipped thirty-three carloads of ore during the month of February, the output being divided into two classes, one of which averages from 25 to 35 percent copper to the ton. The other averages 6 percent copper, 10 to 20 ounces silver, and from $30 to $40 in gold to the ton." (Salt Lake Mining Review, March 15, 1901)

August 2, 1901
Northern Spy mine sold along with Carisa mine. -- The Carisa was sold to Clarence McCornick & Associates for a reported $650,000. The deal had been pending for several weeks, with proposals and counter-proposals passed back and forth. The purchase included the Carisa; the Northern Spy; the McHatton, the St. George, and the Wolf claims. On one side was the Sioux Utah group, and on the other were the Red Rose, the Boss Tweed, and the Star Consolidated groups. The sellers, Eben Smith and H. E. Carey, had bought the group in December 1899 for a reported $125,000, with $50,000 going for the Northern Spy alone. "This was before a pound of ore was taken out." During the past year, 8,400 tons had been shipped, with an average value of $42.83 per ton [a gross value of about $29,981 per month]. It was reported that Carey and Smith were pocketing $15,000 per month in profits. The main shaft was down 200 feet, and there was still "a vast body of ore yet to be explored." (Salt Lake Herald, August 2, 1901)

(Read more about the Northern Spy mine after 1901, as part of the Carisa group)

###