Tintic, Swansea Mine
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This page was last updated on November 21, 2025.
(The focus of this page is the surface workings of the Swansea 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.)
Swansea Mining Company (1870-1908)
December 10, 1870
"The Swansea Mining Company, under Supt. Crismon, are tunneling on a rich vein (galena) on the Swansea lode." (Salt Lake Weekly Tribune, December 10, 1870)
(The ore from the Swansea in those early years was smelted at the Clarkson smelter, located at Homansville. But that smelter closed in 1872.)
March 16, 1892
The Swansea Mining company filed its articles of incorporation with the county clerk. Officers were: John H. McChrystal, president; William Hatfield, vice president; Frank A. Keith, secretary treasurer; with Edward W. Keith and G. C. Elmer as additional directors. William Hatfield and G. C. Elmer were majority shareholders, with 22.5 percent each. The mining claims held by the company were the Mountain Chief and the North Swansea. (Salt Lake Tribune, March 17, 1892)
(In June 1894, the two mining claims, along with the East Swansea claim, were consolidated under a single patent, under the name of the Swansea Consolidated claim. -- Salt Lake Tribune, June 1, 1894)
1893
"In 1893 Mr. Hatfield, now Mayor of Eureka, relocated the old Swansea, which in the past had yielded $1,000,000, and began sinking a shaft. He worked in a small way till the fall of 1895, when the shalt penetrated the iron zone and disclosed a very rich lode of silver and lead ore." (Kantner, "Mines, Miners And Minerals Of Utah," 1899)
August 7, 1896
The Swansea Mining company shipped four carloads of good ore "yesterday." (Deseret News, August 7, 1896)
April 5, 1897
From the Salt Lake Herald, April 5, 1897.
The famous old Swansea mine, which has recently come to the front as the richest of Silver City's bonanzas, was located May 24, 1870. The mine was purchased shortly after by Warren Hussy of Salt Lake, who worked it for a short time, and leased it in 1873 to C. F. Meader. The latter worked the property for about a year, shipping large quantities of high-grade ore to Sandy and Lehi by wagon, the ore all coming practically from the surface.
The mine lay practically idle for about a year after the expiration of Merder’s lease and in 1875 was leased to Captain Lusk for a year. The latter took out a great deal of ore, some of which was shipped, but the larger portion was worked in the old Shoebridge mill.
The mine was worked in 1879 and 1880 by William Gundry under a 20 months' lease and during that period produced considerable high-grade ore. Owing to the prevailing idea at that time that the ore in the porphyry did not go down, the Swansea was considered worked out and abandoned at the expiration of the work done under Gundry's lease.
January 1, 1882, two parties, one composed of Frank McHatton and "Big John" Masterson, and the other of W. J. Durley and J. W. Reed, both with the single idea of locating the property, raced for the ground and arrived there and planted location notices simultaneously. A compromise was effected and the four united on one location, calling the property the Mountain Chief. The property was afterwards sold to L. E. Riter, C. V. Wheeler, G. P. Elmer, Ike Woolf and William Hatfield, and by them sold to the Swansea Mining company, and today forms the nucleus of the magnificent property of that company.
Adjacent ground was subsequently acquired by location and purchase and the company now owns a group of nine claims. The Swansea was worked for several years under the management of William Hatfield, the present superintendent, and to the indomitable energy and perseverance of that gentleman is today mainly due the present prosperity of Silver City and vicinity.
Mr. Hatfield, for years, in the face of adverse criticism and advice, and in many cases ridicule, contended that the ore bodies would be larger and more valuable below the pyrites, and nobly has he proven the truth of his theory.
The Swansea main shaft is down 600 feet, the property is equipped with one of the most complete hoisting plants in Tintic, together with all the other necessary buildings and machinery. It has over 2,000 feet of drifting and many tons of shipping ore are today in sight in its workings. About ten tons are being hoisted daily, the average value being 40 ounces silver and 10 per cent lead to the ton. The Swansea has paid seven dividends.
April 9, 1897
"It was learned yesterday on good authority that the Swansea Mining company had contracted its output for the balance of the year 1897 to T. R. Jones & Co. of this city, and that shipments will begin at once. It is also stated that the mine is in splendid condition, with large reserves of mineral in sight, and that the company has a thousand tons or more of shipping ore in the bins at the mine. It is also learned that the South Swansea Mining company will contract its ores today for the balance of the year. As stated in Wednesday’s Herald, the South Swansea has 25 carloads of ore on the road to the samplers and broken down in the mine, besides which the property is in excellent shape, with enough mineral disclosed to maintain shipments for an indefinite period." (Salt Lake Herald, April 9, 1897)
1898
"In 1898 crude ore, concentrates, and bullion were being shipped over the two railroads, and the product was valued at over $4,000,000. The leading producers were the Eureka Hill, Bullion Beck, Centennial Eureka, Grand Central, Mammoth, Star, Swansea, South Swansea, Eagle and Blue Bell, Humbug, Uncle Sam, and Joe Bowers mines."
("Geology And Ore Deposits Of The Tintic Mining District, Utah," USGS Professional Paper 107, 1919.)
1905
"The Swansea mine, at Silver City, is developed by a vertical shaft 1,050 feet deep. During the year this mine forwarded to the smelters nearly a carload of ore daily. This was extracted from the upper levels, no work being carried on below the 800-foot station on account of water. The ore is favored by the smelters principally for its iron content. Some silver and a small quantity of gold are also present." (USGS, Mineral Resources Of The United States, 1905)
February 22, 1908
"Swansea -- This property, which recently passed into the control of the Tintic Smelting Company, will be utilized principally for the water it will provide for the operation of the new smelter." (Engineering and Mining Journal, February 22, 1908, page 432)
March 21, 1908
"The Tintic Smelting Company, which recently acquired a controlling interest in this property, is installing a large pump in the Swansea shaft, which will pump water to the Tintic Smelter." (Engineering and Mining Journal, March 21, 1908, page 627)
South Swansea Mining Company (1896-1908)
January 24, 1892
"South Swansea. The whim and shaft-house have been completed." (Salt lake Herald, January 24, 1892)
May 5, 1896
The South Swansea Mining company filed its articles of incorporation "this afternoon" with the county clerk. Officers were J. T. Croxall, president; J. M. Wheeler, vice president; C. V. Wheeler, secretary treasurer; with L. E. Riter and W. H. Farnsworth as additional directors. The mining claims owned were the South Swansea and West Swansea claims. (Deseret News, May 5, 1896)
May 6, 1896
"Tommy Croxall, C. V. and J. M. Wheeler came in from Silver City yesterday to complete the articles of incorporation of the South Swansea Mining company, which were filed with the proper officers during the day. These gentlemen brought with them a beautiful specimen of silver-lead ore, which came from the bottom of the South Swansea shaft, where the pay ore body is about four feet in width, running through which there is a six-inch streak that carries values of 79 per cent, lead and 125 ounces silver to the ton. The mine adjoins the Swansea and Four Aces mines, which have attracted so much attention of late." (Salt Lake Herald, May 6, 1896)
December 15, 1896
"C. V. Wheeler, the treasurer of the South Swansea Mining company, who was in from Silver City yesterday, states that the mine is looking 'out of sight.' A train load of South Swansea ore was received at the Taylor & Brunton sampler yesterday. Mr. Wheeler brought in with him some samples of ore from the 400-foot level. The mineral is a bright galena and of high grade." (Salt Lake Herald, December 15, 1896)
April 21, 1906
"The annual meeting of the South Swansea Mining Company, resulted in the election of J. M. Wheeler, C. V. Wheeler, J. T. Croxall, L. E. Riter and W. H. Farnsworth, all of Salt Lake, directors. The ore mined amounted to 4675 tons and contained 224,325 lb. lead, 78,880 oz. silver, 18,842 oz. gold. The ore carries an excess of iron and has been sought by the smelters during the past year." (Engineering and Mining Journal, April 21, 1906)
Swansea Consolidated Mining Company (1908)
May 9, 1908
"A consolidation of the Swansea and South Swansea mines in Tintic is about to be accomplished, the control to be vested in Jesse Knight and associates, of Provo, Utah. These mines were formerly dividend-payers of considerable note, but were closed several years ago when it became necessary to depend on the ore supply below water level. The two companies could not agree on a basis wherein each would share in pumping costs, and production ceased. Two or three months ago, control of the Swansea mine passed to Mr. Knight, his prime object being to obtain a permanent water supply for the Tintic smelter, now being constructed." (Engineering and Mining Journal, May 9, 1908, page 976)
June 13, 1908
"The consolidation of the Swansea and South Swansea mines in Tintic has been ratified by shareholders. A new organization, to be known as the Swansea Consolidated Mining Company, will operate the two properties." (Engineering and Mining Journal, June 13, 1908, page 1218)
June 15, 1908
"Eureka Reporter: The final acts in the closing up of the deal whereby 'Uncle Jesse' Knight secures control of the Swansea and the South Swansea mines were performed at the special meeting of the old companies on Monday, when the proposition was ratified to sell both companies' assets to a new organization on a stock basis. The new company is known as the Swansea Consolidated Mining company. It is capitalized at $1,000,000 in $1 shares, 350,000 shares being awarded to the old Swansea and 300,000 to the Swansea. This means the old Swansea gets three and one-half shares for one and the South Swansea share for share on its capitalization. The remaining stock goes into the treasury to provide a working capital, and it is understood that Mr. Knight takes the bulk of this at a nominal figure, so as to hold control of the 1,000,000 shares in the new company. Jesse Knight is president of the new company; J. M. Wheeler, vice president, and R. E. Allen, secretary. W. Lester Mangum and L. E. Riter are the remaining directors. The offices of the new company will be at Provo." (Salt Lake Mining Review, June 15, 1908)
1910
"The Swansea Consolidated Mine. The Swansea Consolidated mine at Silver City is now under the control of 'Uncle Jesse' Knight. In the early history of the district the Swansea produced some fabulously rich ore, some of which was shipped to Swansea, Wales, for treatment, the sailing vessels carrying this ore to the 'Old World,' making the trip 'around the Horn.' The ore exposed in the mine at this time is quite extensive, but of a lower grade than that found nearer the surface many years ago. J. Will Knight is manager of this as well as all of the other Knight properties in Tintic." ("The Home Of The Dividend Payers," 1910 souvenir book, page 127)
August 26, 1910
"On the north border of Silver, the Swansea Consolidated shaft houses stand idle while water gathers in the workings." (Copper Curb and Mining Outlook, Vol. 6, August 31, 1910, page 24)
1919
"In the Swansea water was found just below the 650-foot level (altitude about 5,530 feet)." "In the Swansea mine a steam pump was installed in the 700-foot level, and the water level, which was originally met at 650 feet below the surface was lowered to the 940-foot level." ("Geology And Ore Deposits Of The Tintic Mining District, Utah," USGS Professional Paper 107, 1919.)
(The North Lily company was a subsidiary of the International Smelting company, which in-turn, was a subsidiary of the Anaconda company.)
(In a move to clean up its holdings in the Tintic district, in March 1963, Anaconda, through its International Smelting company subsidiary, "de-listed" the stock of the Big Hill, Mountain View, and Swansea Consolidated companies from the Salt Lake Stock Exchange. The reason for this was that Anaconda had purchased the last of the outstanding minority shares of the three companies.)
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