Tintic, USSR&M Mines
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This page was last updated on January 16, 2026.
United States Smelting Refining and Mining
(The focus of this page is the surface workings of the USSR&M mines in the Tintic mining district, 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 United States Smelting Refining and Mining Company was organized in 1906 to acquire the United States Mining Company, operating in Bingham, Tintic and California and to acquire other mining interests in Mexico and Nevada. The Company's first managing director Albert F. Holden.
(The United States Mining Company was organized in March 1899 to operate the Old Jordan Mine in Bingham Canyon, and Albert F. Holden is shown in July 1899 as the managing director of the United States Mining Company, as well as the Centennial-Eureka mine in Tintic.)
United States Smelting Refining and Mining Company was also the parent company of Utah Railway, a coal-hauling railroad in Carbon and Utah counties, along with United States Fuel Company, which owned the coal mines in Carbon County served by Utah Railway.
(Read more about the Midvale smelter of United States Smelting Refining and Mining Co.)
U.S. Mining Buys Centennial Eureka (1899)
In 1899, the United States Mining company bought control of the Centennial Eureka mine in the Tintic district.
(Read more about the Centennial Eureka mine, including under USSR&M ownership from 1899 to 1929)
Centennial Eureka Mining Company After 1929
(In April 1921, operations at the Centennial Eureka mine had been suspended due to the closing of the copper smelters of Utah. Although USSR&M owned and operated a smelter in Midvale, it had no furnaces for the treatment of copper ore and copper was a big factor at the Centennial Eureka mine. -- Eureka Reporter, April 8, 1921)
(USSR&M closed the Centennial Eureka mine in January 1925. -- Eureka Reporter, January 2, 1925)
(In early January 1928, the steel frame of the hoist house at the Centennial Eureka mine, and the steel frame of the power house at the mouth of the Holden tunnel, along with the steel wire rope used as part of the hoist, were all dismantled and loaded into railroad cars as scrap metal. The metal from the hoist house alone filled 15 railroad cars. Several specialized castings were sold for their scrap value to the May Foundry in Salt Lake City to be melted down as reused in other castings. -- Eureka Reporter, January 6, 1928)
December 31, 1936
"The United States Mining company, which operates the Centennial Eureka, Bullion Beck, Eagle & Blue Bell, Victoria and American Star, was the second largest producer with 664 carloads during the present year as compared with 584 in 1935. The gain was 80 carloads. Last year's gain over 1934 was 370 cars. A good portion of the ore from the United States Mines was dump material, taken from the old Centennial Eureka dump and shipped by the Atherley brothers." (Eureka Reporter, December 31, 1936)
(There were apparently no surface facilities at this time at the Centennial Eureka mine, or at any of the other USSR&M Tintic mines by this time, which suggests that all shipments were coming from the waste dumps.)
USSR&M Buys Bullion Beck (1925)
In 1925, USSR&M bought the Bullion Beck mine in the Tintic district.
(Read more about the Bullion Beck mine, from 1874 to its control by USSR&M in 1925)
Bullion Beck Mine after 1925
(In April 1921, operations at the Bullion Beck mine, one of Eureka's oldest mines, had been suspended due to the closing of the copper smelters of Utah. Although USSR&M owned and operated a smelter in Midvale, it had no furnaces for the treatment of copper ore and copper was a big factor at the Centennial Eureka mine. -- Eureka Reporter, April 8, 1921)
August 24, 1928
"The old Bullion Beck mine of the United States Smelting Refining & Mining company is being reopened on a leasing system. It is announced by D. D. Muir, Jr., manager of the smelting company. A new compressor and all the necessary equipment is being installed, Mr. Muir states. The Bullion Beck mine was one of the famous producers of the Tintic district during the early days." (Deseret News, August 24, 1928)
September 1, 1928
"Sept 1st was the date set for the reopening of the old Bullion Beck Mine. The old gallows frame was the only thing left standing. The machinery to be used there was to be thoroughly modern and included an electrically driven hoist and compressor, new mine cars and cages and everything needed for reopening and further development work." (Eureka Reporter, August 28, 1948, "Twenty Years Ago")
December 27, 1928
As of December 27, 1928, U. S. Smelting owned 58,990 shares of the Bullion Beck & Champion Mining company stock, leaving 4,797 shares still in public hands. (Salt Lake Tribune, July 18, 1929)
1929-1930
The Bullion Beck mine shipped 19,000 tons during 1929, which was decreased to 5,000 tons during 1930. (Eureka Reporter, March 26, 1931)
(The productive portions of the Bullion Beck mine ran along the eastern edge of the property, but mostly resided in the adjacent, to the east, Eureka Hill property, making the remaining portion of the Bullion Beck property much less valuable. These productive ore veins continued south into the Centennial Eureka property, which USSR&M continued to operate through leasers.)
(This also indicates that USSR&M had separated the more valuable mining claims of the Bullion Beck property, consolidating the productive claims with those of the adjacent Centennial Eureka and Eagle & Blue Bell properties. By this time, the USSR&M properties were completely surrounded by the adjacent Chief Consolidated properties.)
(Throughout the 1940s and 1950s, weekly newspaper reports of ore shipments from Eureka show that the leasers continued to ship from one to four carloads per week from the Bullion Beck dump. From 1956 onward, the shipments were shown as tons rather than carloads, and the Bullion Beck leasers was shipping less than 100 tons. The weekly reports of ore shipments ended in 1958.)
May 23, 1958
The one of the last reported shipments from the Bullion Beck mine was in May 1958 when the mine shipped 240 tons. (Eureka Reporter, May 23, 1958)
March 27, 1962
In its annual report to shareholders, the United States Smelting Refining and Mining company reported, "Further work at the Bullion Beck property at Eureka, Utah, proved disappointing and operations were discontinued." (Salt Lake Tribune, March 27, 1962)
(These shipments had been from the waste dumps, shipping low-grade ore used as part of the smelting process in the USSR&M smelter at Midvale, Utah.)
USSR&M Buys Bingham Mines (1929)
Eagle & Blue Bell Mining Company To 1929
In 1929, USSR&M bought the Bingham Mines company, which owned the Eagle and Blue Bell mine, also in the Tintic district.
Eagle & Blue Bell Mining Company After 1929
April 25, 1930
"U. S. Smelting Closes Tintic Mines -- The Eagle and Blue Bell, Victoria and Bullion Beck mines of the United States Smelting, Refining & Mining company, all three of which are located in the Tintic district, are to be closed down immediately as a result of the low price of metals, it is announced. D. D. Muir, vice president and general manager, states, however, that the shut down is only temporary and that operations will be resumed as soon as metal prices pick up." (Deseret News, April 25, 1930)
1932
"The Eagle & Blue Bell property closed down and from authentic reports would remain inactive until such time as better metal prices warranted the resumption of work. The Eagle was shipping about 2 carloads of ore per week at the time work was stopped." (Eureka Reporter, January 4, 1952, "Twenty Years Ago")
1934
At the Eagle and Blue Bell mine in 1934, "after the depression had closed the mines, and the townspeople were on relief, the leasers again demonstrated their worth upon being given the opportunity." (Salt Lake Tribune, January 31, 1943)
(Read more about the leasing system for the Tintic mines)
April 4, 1935
From the Eureka Reporter, April 4, 1935.
Eagle & Blue Bell to Resume Work. - Tintic people in general are highly elated over the announcement made early in the week by local representatives of the United States Mining company that within the near future the Eagle & Blue Bell would resume mining operations after having been closed for more than three years.
The work of preparing the surface equipment for operations will require fifteen or more days but assurance has been given that no time will be lost in making these preparations. The big electric engines, or motors, which previously drove the machinery, will be replaced with lighter equipment and to offset this the triple and double deck cages will be discarded and single-deckers installed. This is being done in the interest of economy, to keep the power bills down. Other surface work will be necessary and when all of this is completed the shaft and underground workings will be placed in tip-top shape for the actual mining of ore.
The reason for opening the Eagle at this time is the increase in the price of silver, which on the open market is now well above the 60 cents mark. However, the Eagle produces considerable lead, which is bringing a deplorable price right now, and for that reason ores of a heavy lead content will not be shipped but will be held in reserve with a view to getting a better price.
Officials of the company state that practically all of the underground work will be handled under the individual leasing system whereby blocks of ground in hundred foot squares are leased out to individuals on a royalty basis for all ores shipped.
For some months past there have been three or four sets of leasers working Eagle & Blue Bell ground, these operations being carried on through the Chief Consolidated No. 1 shaft, but the handicap of working in this manner has been so great that underground mining in the Eagle has been limited. There has also been a small amount of work in the Victoria and American Star carried on through the Chief shaft. When the Eagle shaft is in shape for work the Eagle, Victoria and American Star, which have always operated from the same shaft, will be alive with miners seeking pay dirt.
The United States Mining company owns the Eagle & Blue Bell, Victoria, American Star, Bullion Beck and Centennial Eureka mines in this district. All of these mines were closed down tight for a long period. But a little over a year ago leasers began gophering into the workings and the successes attained has been the reason for the number of workers to gradually increase until at the present time more than eighty leasers are in these mines, most of them in the Centennial and Bullion Beck. With the opening of the Eagle shaft this number is expected to treble.
The Eagle is one of the old time bonanza producers of the district and for years it poured out a steady stream of mineral wealth. It first hit the "dumps" about 1929 when the depression was creeping upon us, and due to the low price of metals and the lack of rich ores it closed down in the spring of 1930. Then on July 5th, 1931, the mine again resumed operations but its duration of activity was short lived for it again closed on January 1st, 1932, after operating for only six months. The reason for the last closing was that the company posted a notice of a 50 cents reduction in wages which the miners refused to accept so the company ordered the complete closing of the mine.
There are many who believe that the Eagle & Blue Bell and the two adjoining U. S. properties, Victoria and American Star, are far from gutted of valuable minerals and that under the present plan these properties will have another period of prosperity.
April 25, 1935
"After more than two weeks of preparation officials of the Eagle & Blue Bell announce that operations in the underground workings of the mine is starting today. The job of placing the property in shape for work was a hard one due to the fact that many changes to the surfaces machinery were made. The underground workings were found to be in splendid shape and needed but little repair work to place it in good condition. The present plan is to operate the mine strictly on the block leasing system. A little later on the company may do some development work." (Eureka Reporter, April 25, 1935)
June 8, 1935
From the Deseret News, June 8, 1935.
A sensationally rich carload of ore reminiscent of early days in the Tintic district, has just been shipped from the Eagle & Blue Bell property.
The shipment was made by two leasers, Jarvis and Carlson, who have been toiling in the Eagle & Blue Bell property for months. They discovered the rich ore in their lease and said little about it, going about their work as usual.
A few days ago the shipment was loaded, ready for shipment and the leasers kept close guard to make sure that it did not go astray. They followed the carload into the Utah Ore Sampling works at Midvale and will soon receive a check for approximately $14,000 in payment fr a small shipment.
Gold values predominate in the ore which also carries some silver.
The shipment recalls early day lots that were sent out from Mammoth, the Centennial Eureka and other properties in the Tintic district. Shipments reputedly worth $200,000 were mined in the district during the early days. Two years ago the Eureka Standard marketed two carloads, one worth $60,000 and the other approximately $120,000
December 31, 1936
"The United States Mining company, which operates the Centennial Eureka, Bullion Beck, Eagle & Blue Bell, Victoria and American Star, was the second largest producer with 664 carloads during the present year as compared with 584 in 1935. The gain was 80 carloads. Last year's gain over 1934 was 370 cars. A good portion of the ore from the United States Mines was dump material, taken from the old Centennial Eureka dump and shipped by the Atherley brothers." (Eureka Reporter, December 31, 1936)
October 27, 1940
"The U. S. S. R. & M. continued to operate at the Centennial Eureka, Bullion Beck, Victoria and Eagle & Blue Bell properties. All the output was by lessees and comprised about 39,000 tons of siliceous ore and about 2700 tons of lead ore, indicating slight decreases compared with 1938." (Salt Lake Tribune, October 27, 1940)
Eagle & Blue Bell Mine Closed (1942)
1942
"Eagle and Blue Bell Mine produced lead-silver and gold during the producing years. It closed for a few years in 1931, and opened again in 1935, when a leasing program was carried on until 1940. The final closing was in 1942. Through the years it provided work for a number of men in the town. William Owens was superintendent for a number of years. Billie Clark, another was foreman for many years." (Eureka Reporter, October 25, 1963)
July 17, 1943
"The United States Smelting Refining and Mining company will cease operating its Victoria and Eagle and Blue Bell mines in the Tintic district on or before July 17, to give about 40 miners and other employees the opportunity to shift their activities to mines producing critical and strategic metals. The products of the mines to be closed are mostly gold and silver. Both J. D. Harlan, vice president and general manager, and T. P. Billings, assistant general manager of mines for the U. S. company, explained Thursday that any employees not absorbed by Tintic producers of lead, zinc and copper would be shifted to other mines of the company. It is expected that the Chief Consolidated, Tintic Standard and North Lily mines will employ most of the men released. The supervisory officials from Tintic operations will be transferred to the company's mines in the Bingham district." (Salt Lake Tribune, July 2, 1943)
(The adjacent Bullion Beck properties of USSR&M had been closed in 1931, and the property auctioned off. Shipments of low-grade ore from the Bullion Beck waste dumps continued until 1962.)
July 24, 1943
The Eagle and Blue Bell and Victoria mines were set to be shut down on or about July 24, 1943. (Deseret News, July 15, 1943)
July 13, 1947
From the Salt Lake Tribune, July 13, 1947
Because of close associations, management and ownership, two operations, the Eagle & Blue Bell in the Tintic district and the Bingham Mines in Bingham are chosen as examples in this article. Both operations' properties are owned today by the United States Smelting Refining and Mining Co.
The Eagle & Blue Bell mine, developed by a three-compartment shaft in solid limestone to a depth of 2016 feet (incidentally the smoothest "riding” vertical shaft in Utah), operated from its first days to the time of its acquisition by its present owners without a strike and held the best safety record in Utah. And the superintendent, William (Billy) Owens, now retired, was given credit for having the cleanest mine in the west. All one had to do was to empty a carbide lamp in drift or stope or to leave mine debris around to bring righteous wrath upon himself from "Billy" Owens.
As to personnel involved in the management of the Eagle & Blue Bell and Bingham Mines operations "Billy" Owens and "Joe" Hyland have been mentioned. Next step up is T. P. (Josh) Billings, who rose to manager of mines for both operations from storekeeper, assayer and engineer, and is still connected with them as general manager of mines for the U. S. Co.
The leader of the men mentioned was the late Imer Pett Sr., kindly and beloved general manager, who never drove but led, and who held universal respect.
June 25, 1948
The leaser of the Eagle & Blue Bell mine shipped two carloads of ore during the week ending June 25, 1948. (Eureka Reporter, July 2, 1948)
July 29, 1954
From the Salt Lake Tribune, July 29, 1954.
A recent newspaper account concerning whether or not a large mineral specimen in the state capitol is a "Meteorite," stirred the memories of veteran miners, and the following item comes from some of the veteran miners who are "in the know" on the subject:
The specimen, which some correctly said is not a meteorite, is the abode of a geode, that is, a concentric formation characterized by a hollow cavity. The authority who expressed the opinion that the specimen came from Juab county was also correct.
It was mined on one of the lower levels of the Eagle and Blue Bell mine in 1919 or 1920, when William (Billy) Owens was superintendent for the then Bingham Mines Co., headed by the late Imer Pett Sr.
T. P. (Josh) Billings, at that time general superintendent for the company, remembers that part of the geode sampled about 100 ounces silver and 30 percent lead to the ton.
It was presented to the Utah State Fair during 1920, or thereabouts.
Mr. Owens was a resident of Eureka for many years, and both Mr. Pett and Mr. Billings were well known in Eureka, which by the way is where the Eagle and Blue Bell mine is situated.
(The same story was carried in the Eureka Reporter, August 6, 1954)
Eagle & Blue Bell Sold to Chief Consolidated (1954)
December 31, 1954
Chief Consolidated Mining Company acquired control of Eagle and Blue Bell Mining Company and the American Star Mining Company December 31. These properties, comprising some 78 acres of ground, are of interest to Chief principally because the American Star is surrounded by Chief property and the Eagle borders the south end of Chief No. 1 mine. Both of these properties were important producers in previous years, but have been out of production since 1949. At the present time no important work is contemplated in either property, according to Cecil Fitch, Jr., vice president and general manager of the Chief Consolidated Mining Co. He states, however, that some block leasing will be done through Chief No. 1 shaft." (Eureka Reporter, January 14, 1955)
March 15, 1958
In the Chief Consolidated Mining company's March 1958 report to shareholders, Cecil Fitch, Jr., president of the company, noted that "The firm is considering leasing for gold development its affiliate Eagle & Blue Bell property." (Salt Lake Tribune, March 15, 1958)
(The Eagle & Blue Bell shaft, because of its extreme depth of 2,016 feet, remained as an important asset of the Chief Consolidated company well into the mid 1990s.)
Victoria Consolidated Mining Company To 1929
In 1929, USSR&M bought the Bingham Mines company, which owned the Victoria mine, both also in the Tintic district.
Victoria Consolidated Mining Company After 1929
(In 1914, control of the Victoria mine passed to the Bingham Mines company, which also controlled the adjacent Eagle & Blue Bell company.)
(In 1929, control of the Bingham Mines company passed to the United States Smelting Refining & Mining company.)
USSR&M Tintic Mines After 1929
July 1929
United States Mining (USSR&M) completed its purchase of the Bingham Mines group, which owned the adjacent Eagle & Blue Bell mine. (USSR&M Annual Report for the period ending December 31, 1929; Wilson thesis, page 5)
April 25, 1930
"U. S. Smelting Closes Tintic Mines -- The Eagle and Blue Bell, Victoria and Bullion Beck mines of the United States Smelting, Refining & Mining company, all three of which are located in the Tintic district, are to be closed down immediately as a result of the low price of metals, it is announced. D. D. Muir, vice president and general manager, states, however, that the shut down is only temporary and that operations will be resumed as soon as metal prices pick up." (Deseret News, April 25, 1930)
December 31, 1936
"The United States Mining company, which operates the Centennial Eureka, Bullion Beck, Eagle & Blue Bell, Victoria and American Star, was the second largest producer with 664 carloads during the present year as compared with 584 in 1935. The gain was 80 carloads. Last year's gain over 1934 was 370 cars. A good portion of the ore from the United States Mines was dump material, taken from the old Centennial Eureka dump and shipped by the Atherley brothers." (Eureka Reporter, December 31, 1936)
October 27, 1940
"The U. S. S. R. & M. continued to operate at the Centennial Eureka, Bullion Beck, Victoria and Eagle & Blue Bell properties. All the output was by lessees and comprised about 39,000 tons of siliceous ore and about 2700 tons of lead ore, indicating slight decreases compared with 1938." (Salt Lake Tribune, October 27, 1940)
(The reports of ore shipments were consolidated for all four of the USSR&M-controlled mines. These ore shipments were reported as coming from the waste dumps, being low-grade ore that was seen as without value in the early days.)
(The last reported shipment from the USSR&M mines in the Tintic district was in mid December 1941. -- Eureka Reporter, December 11, 1941)
July 2, 1943
In 1943, the U.S. Smelting, Refining and Mining Company ceased commercial operations at Eagle & Blue Bell
and Victoria mines. The Bullion Beck mine had been closed in 1931. (Salt Lake Tribune, July 2, 1943; Deseret News, July 15, 1943)
March 28, 1947
From the Western Mineral Survey, March 28, 1947.
The great metal mines surrounding the town of Eureka, Utah, while having produced millions in wealth during past years, are now responding to far-reaching exploration programs started during recent months.
Tintic, Utah, once one of Utah's great mining districts, and for many years the leading silver producing district in the nation, is once again the scene of renewed attention in an effort to reestablish it in the metal mining world.
Since its discovery in the early seventies, Tintic has never given out. It has contributed much to the commerce and industry of the state by its production of gold, silver, copper, lead and zinc. But it has languished. Many of its great mines such as the Centennial Eureka, Bullion Beck, Mammoth, Chief Consolidated and Tintic Standard have passed their peaks, at least temporarily.
Tintic has outlived many booms and depressions, but today it needs development and encouragement. Those who know the district believe that Tintic has only been scratched and that it will see greater days ahead.
It is encouraging to learn that new capital has entered the district has leased the Little May property in the south end of the camp and plans an extensive prospecting campaign to sound out the productive possibilities of that area. The North Lily Mining Company has leased the old No. 2 shaft of the Chief Consolidated and has started work in that area, and the Tintic Standard and North Lily is prospecting in the eastern end of the district as fast as available manpower will permit.
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