Tintic, Victoria Mine
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This page was last updated on December 29, 2025.
Victoria Mine
(The focus of this page is the surface workings of the Victoria 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.)
From the USGS Professional Paper 107.
The Victoria mine, owned by the Victoria Mining Co. until 1915, when it was purchased by the Eagle & Blue Bell Mining Co., is on the northern slopes of Eureka Peak, in Eagle Canyon, about three-quarters of a mile south-southeast of the town of Eureka. It lies south-southeast of the Eagle and Blue Bell mine, and the Grand Central property adjoins it on the south, the Grand Central shaft being three-quarters of a mile south of the Victoria shaft. The altitude of the collar of the Victoria shaft is 6,998 feet, or about 600 feet above the town.
The shaft is 1,200 feet deep, and dry. The workings extend 400 feet north and 1,100 feet south of the shaft, continuing northward into Eagle and Blue Bell ground and southward into Grand Central ground. The 1,050 and 1,200 foot levels connect with the Eagle and Blue Bell workings. The 600, 700, and 900 foot levels connect with the Grand Central workings, the 900-foot level of the Victoria corresponding to the 1,100-foot level of the Grand Central.
Shipments of ore have averaged about 3 carloads a week. Much second-class ore remains in the mine awaiting better conditions for reduction.
Victoria Lode and Claim
(There was also a Victoria claim or lode in the Bingham "West Mountain" mining district, and at least two in Nevada mining districts.)
(The Red Rose was owned by the Victor Gold and Silver Mining company, and was not affiliated with later Victoria Mining company near Eureka.)
June 12, 1891
"John H. McChrystal purchased of Norman McLeod last Thursday his one-third interest in the Victoria for $3,000. The Victoria lies just above the Eagle, and is now owned by John H. and Noah McChrystal. They have a force of men at work taking out ore and developing the property. The owners informed a Tintic Miner reporter that they intended to do a large amount of work on this property this season and feel confident of making it one of the best paying mines in Tintic." (Tintic Miner, June 12, 1891)
May 1, 1895
J. C. Sullivan of Eureka began a foreclosure suit against N. D. McLeod for a $300.00 mortgage, dating from November 1, 1892. (Salt Lake Tribune, May 1, 1895; Provo Evening Dispatch, August 14, 1895)
November 18, 1895
"On Monday, Nov. 18, the one-third interest of Norman D. McLeod in the Victoria mining claim was sold at Nephi at Sheriff's sale by Deputy Sheriff Henry Adams to John C. Sullivan, of Eureka, for $627.50." (Salt Lake Herald, November 30, 1895)
December 12, 1895
"The filings in the local land office under date of December 12th were as follows:" "Thurman J. Blue, George J. Field and William R. Wallace, mineral entry of Victoria lode, embracing 9.42 acres, in Tintic mining district, Juab county." (Deseret News, December 12, 1895)
February 8, 1896
"J. C. Sullivan has purchased the remaining interests in the Victoria from Dr. G. J. Field, T. J. Blue and W. R. Wallace, and is now the sole owner of that property. It is currently reported that a deal is in contemplation looking to the transfer of the Victoria and considerable adjacent property, but we are unable to confirm the report." (Salt Lake Tribune, February 8, 1896)
February 11, 1896
"Eureka Democrat: J. C. Sullivan has bought the balance of interests in the Victoria, adjoining the Eagle." (Inter-Mountain Mining Review, February 11, 1896)
Victoria Mining Company
(In the 1890 period, there was a Victoria Consolidated Mining company in San Juan County, Colorado.)
March 3, 1899
The Victoria Mining company filed its articles of incorporation with the county clerk. The incorporators were: C. E. Loose, Lafayette Holbrook, and Reed Smoot, all of Provo, William Hatfield of Salt Lake City, and J. C. Sullivan of Eureka. The officers and directors of the company were: Lafayette Holbrook, president; Reed Smoot, vice president; John R. Twelves, secretary and treasurer; with William Hatfield, C. E. Loose and J. C. Sullivan as additional directors. The property included the Sullivan lode, the Six Shooter (or Six Chooter, or Sixshooter) lode, and the Victoria lode, all patented, and the unpatented Victoria No. 2 lode. The property adjoins the Eagle & Blue Bell mine to the west and Grand Central mine to the south. (Utah County Democrat, March 3, 1899, "today")
(On March 23, 1899, the Grand Central Mining company, and the Victoria Mining company, together with J. C. Sullivan, completed a complex agreement in which the 250,000 shares of the Victoria Mining company were divided such that J. C. Sullivan received a total of 155,000 shares, or $38,750 in value at 25 cents per share. In return, Sullivan passed ownership of the Six Shooter and Hope claims to the Grand Central company. The Victoria company retained the Victoria and Sullivan claims. -- Salt Lake Herald, March 24, 1899; April 6, 1899)
(C. E. Loose, Reed Smoot and Lafayette Holbrook were majority shareholders and directors of both the Grand Central company and the Victoria company.)
April 5, 1899
"The directors of the Victoria Mining company met in Provo yesterday and decided to commence development of their property at once under the management of C. E. Loose." (Utah County Democrat, April 5, 1899)
April 17, 1899
"A force of men is rapidly preparing a site for the Victoria hoist, and in a few days the work of sinking the shaft will commence. Until the installation of the hoist a windlass will be used." (Salt Lake Herald, April 17, 1899)
August 14, 1900
The Victoria mine was closed and a 4 cent assessment levied against the stock. "The mine is equipped with one of the finest plants in the Tintic district and a splendid double-compartment shaft has been sunk to a depth of 750 feet, which corresponds with the 900 level of the Grand Central. From the bottom of the shaft a drift has been run out and reports from it less than two weeks ago were to the effect that nice stringers had made their appearance in the face and a good ore body was believed to be close at hand." (Salt Lake Herald, August 14, 1900)
January 7, 1901
At the annual stockholders meeting, the following officers and directors were elected: Lafayette Holbrook, president and director; Reed Smoot, vice president and director; William Hatfield, director; C. E. Loose, director; J. C. Sullivan, director; J. R. Twelves, secretary and treasurer. No decision was made concerning re-opening of the mine, with President Holbrook saying that he doubted it would re-open. (Deseret News, January 8, 1901)
February 28, 1903
"It is reported that Senator Ed Loose, of Provo, has purchased the Cannon estate stock, about 30,000 shares, in the Victoria Mining company, whose Tintic holdings are in the near neighborhood of the great Grand Central mine." (Salt Lake Mining Review, February 28, 1903)
November 2, 1904
"Provo, Nov. 2. — The directors of the Grand Central Mining company and the directors of the Victoria Mining company met today in the office of the Grand Central company in this city and agreed upon vertical division lines between the two properties in order to prevent any possible disagreement in the future caused by a conflict of opinion as to ore dips. Arrangements were also made for the Victoria company to bring its ore and water to the surface through the workings of the Grand Central, and a full force of men will be put to work in the Victoria and a vigorous campaign commenced. There are some men at work there now and a large force will be set to work tomorrow. The point of attack is about 1,500 feet below the surface and the indications are said to be most promising for good results from the work from the start." (Salt Lake Herald, November 3, 1904)
November 18, 1904
"The Victoria Mining company now has two shifts at work taking out ore from the recent strike which was made through the Grand Central workings. Three carloads of this ore, which is of a very rich grade, will be sent to the smelter some day next week. The ore now being mined was encountered a short time ago on the 800 foot level and for the present all work will be carried on through the Grand Central mine, the two properties are owned by practically the same people The splendid facilities which the Grand Central has for placing the ore upon the cars will cut down the expense of shipping considerably." (Eureka Reporter, November 18, 1904)
December 15, 1904
"Provo, Dec. 15. The directors of the Victoria Mining company met here today and posted a dividend of 3 cents a share, or $7,500, payable Dec. 20. This is the company's first payment. The Victoria has a magnificent body of good shipping ore, the cars of which recently netted the company $2,400 a car. The ore occurs in a drift on the 800 level and sufficient only has been taken out to make way for development. The drift has been run for a distance of 206 feet, and the showing all the way is highly gratifying. The mine is being developed through the Grand Central workings, whose owners are the principal stockholders in the Victoria." (Deseret News, December 15, 1904)
December 17, 1904
From the Deseret News, December 17, 1904.
During the past year, or to be more correct, during the past month or two, the Victoria has been transformed from an uncertain prospect into one of the best bonanzas that the Tintic district has produced. The property, owned by the Victoria Mining company, consists of four claims lying north of and adjoining the famous Grand Central mine.
This ground stretches over the crest of the mountain which separates Eureka and Mammoth and when development work was carried on so extensively a few years ago the company elected a substantial shaft house on the Eureka aide of the hill and installed the necessary machinery for a systematic campaign of development work.
A great deal of money was expended at this time and work was discontinued before the ore bodies were opened up. This year arrangements were made to develop the mine through the underground workings of the Grand Central, the two properties being controlled by practically the same coterie of capitalists.
A couple of months ago the drift which was run in to the Victoria ground from the 800-foot level of the Grand Central tapped one of the large ore deposits which has proven to be even richer than the officials of the two companion anticipated. The first shipment of ore, a three-carload lot, from the strike in the Victoria was sent out on the 23rd of last month. The three carloads containing in all about 125 tons of ore which carried values of over 150 ounces silver, $3.00 in gold and from 10 to 15 percent copper.
A few days later another consignment of 75 tons was placed on the market and the returns on this lot were even more satisfactory than the first, the chief values, however being in silver and lead.
Two shifts are kept continuously at work on this ore body, which by the way is becoming richer and better with every shot, and other shipments will follow. For the present, the entire work is being carried on through the Grand Central and the splendid facilities which this mine has for placing the ore upon the cars reduces the cost of handling to a considerable extent.
A great deal of the stock of the Victoria Mining company is held by Eureka people, J. C. Sullivan, the well known mining man of the camp, being perhaps the largest individual stockholder in the corporation. It is under Mr. Sullivan’s direction that the present work is being done. That the Victoria will be able to duplicate the record of its neighbor the Grand Central, now seems assured and those interested in the mine are feeling jubilant over the future of this baby bonanza.
(During September to November 1904, the newspaper stock listings began regular typographical errors of listing the Victor Consolidated Mining company as the Victoria Consolidated Mining company. They were two separate properties.)
(During this 1904-1906 period, the newspapers regularly confused the similar Victoria Gold Mining company in North Tintic, and its Annie Laurie claim on the northwest fringe of Eureka, with the Victoria Mining company, which lay adjacent to the Grand Central Mining company between Eureka and Mammoth. They were two separate and unassociated properties and companies. The most accurate stores were those that usually included the Grand Central, since the Victoria Mining company and the Grand Central shared owners, directors and officers, and were paying regular dividends. Whereas the Victoria Gold Mining company was regularly levying assessments, and was owned by R. S. Robertson, and after his death in 1906, by his widow.)
(There were continuous references to the Victoria Mining company throughout 1906-1910, reporting the regular dividends of both it and its closely associated Grand Central Mining company.)
May 13, 1910
"J. C. Sullivan of this city who is an officer and one of the heaviest shareholders in the Victoria mining company informed the Reporter today that this company will at once resume work upon this side of the mountain. The Victoria company's plant here has been idle for several years and all of the work has been carried on through the Grand Central shaft. The ore bodies in the Victoria ground are located so far away from the Grand Central shaft however that it is deemed advisable to handle the work through the Victoria shaft. This shaft is now down to a depth of 550 feet and the first work will be the sinking of this shaft. By putting the shaft down to a depth of 950 feet connection can be made with the 1100 level of the present Victoria workings and while a 1000 foot shaft will no doubt be all that is needed for the immediate future Mr. Sullivan says that his company may decide to go considerable deeper. It will not be a difficult matter to extend the present workings of the Victoria over to the shaft. This work will probably start soon and in this manner the connection will be made by the time the shaft is dropped down the necessary distance." (Eureka Reporter, May 13, 1910)
(The Victoria company began using the Grand Central shaft in 1900.)
June 5, 1910
"The Victoria property was closed about six years ago [about 1904], when the 500 level was reached and since that time nothing of any importance has been done. A new hoisting engine has been ordered and should arrive within a week's time. Many other improvements are planned for the Victoria site." (Salt Lake Tribune, June 5, 1910)
July 12, 1910
"One of the biggest purchases in the Tintic district that has been made this year will take place on Aug 1, when it is proposed to sell all the property of the Snow Flake Mining company to the Victoria Consolidated Mining company. The Snow Flake property adjoins the Eagle & Blue Bell ground, which intervenes between the Snow Flake and the Victoria, The property also adjoins the Chief Consolidated. It is probable that the intervening ground of the Eagle & Blue Bell will also be purchased, as that company would then have a large territory left. The Snow Flake ground consists of a number of fractional claims laying in one of the best mineralized sections of Tintic." (Deseret News, July 12, 1910)
October 15, 1910
"Manager J. C. Sullivan, of Eureka, is quoted as saying that it is expected that the working shaft will have attained a depth of 1,000 feet some time between the 15th and 20th of October. In due time the Victoria and Grand Central shafts will be connected by drift, but Victoria ore will hereafter be handled through its new shaft." (Salt Lake Mining Review, October 15, 1910)
Victoria Consolidated Mining Company
August 6, 1910
The shareholders of the Victoria Mining company met to approved an increase of the number of shares of the company, to be used to fund the purchase the Snowflake group. Instead of an exchange of stock in the old company for new stock in the new company, the two boards of directors decided to pay cash for the Snowflake property, reported as $40,000. (Eureka Reporter, August 5, 1910; Salt lake Mining Review, September 30, 1910)
(The Snowflake group lay northwest of the Victoria group, with the Eagle & Blue Bell property laying between the Victoria and Snowflake.)
August 30, 1910
"Stockholders of the Victoria are receiving notice of the company being ready to exchange stock in the new Victoria Consolidated Mining company for the old Victoria stock. The new company is incorporated for 700,000 shares, and two shares are given for one of the old. The certificates for exchange are being sent to J. R. Twelves, secretary. at Provo." (Deseret News, August 30, 1910)
August 31, 1910
The Victoria Mining company filed its amended articles of incorporation with the secretary of state, changing its name to the Victoria Consolidated Mining company. (Eureka Reporter, September 2, 1910)
September 1910
The Victoria Consolidated Mining company formally took ownership of the Snowflake group.
(Salt lake Tribune, April 29, 1912)
March 20, 1912
"At the Victoria, the management is developing the vein and shipping regularly the ore that comes from development. The work is now being confined to the 1200 and the third floor above and in the raise which is being driven. It is understood that about nineteen men are on the payroll and the low-grade in the vein runs from $10 to $12. The company owns the Snowflake ground, which was recently purchased and which lies west of the Eagle & Blue Bell and north of the Chief Consolidated. This area is about eleven acres and has a 1000-foot shaft." (Salt Lake Tribune, March 20, 1912, in an article discussing the continuous nature the rich ore vein that crosses the property lines.)
November 13, 1912
John C. Sullivan, one of the best known mining men in Utah, died on Wednesday November 13, 1912, at age 47. He had traveled to Salt Lake City on November 7th to attend the director's meeting of the Victoria Consolidated Mining company in his normal duties as general manager. He stayed at the Cullen hotel and became ill with pneumonia the next day, on November 8th. He was moved to Holy Cross hospital on Sunday November 10th, where he passed away on the 13th. Sulllivan was born in Ireland and came to America at age 15, traveling first to the copper mines in Michigan. He then came west and worked at the Daly mine in Park City, then in 1884, he came to Eureka as a prospector. He did the original locations of the claims of Victoria company in 1895 and was employed and had a financial interest in the property ever since. At the time of his death, he owned a third of the stock in the Victoria Consolidated Mining company. (Eureka Reporter, November 15, 1912; January 3, 1913)
November 17, 1913
At a special meeting of the stockholders of the Victoria Consolidated Mining company, its place of business was changed from Provo to Salt Lake City. Its officers remained the same: Lafayette Holbrook, president; Reed Smoot, vice president; J. C. Lynch, director and general manager; A. F. Cardon, secretary and treasurer; C. E. Loose, director; D. J. Sullivan, director. (Eureka Reporter, November 21, 1913, "last week")
(D. J. Sullivan was the brother of John C. Sullivan, who had passed away a year previously. He was also the executor of his estate.)
Victoria Consolidated Mining Company (Bingham Mines)
1914
From the Copper Handbook, Volume 11, 1914, page 946.
Victoria Consolidated Mining Co. -- Mine at Eureka, Tintic district, Juab County, Utah. Lafayette Holbrook, president; Reed Smoot, vice-president; J. C. Lynch, manager; J. R. Twelves, secretary-treasurer, Provo.
Property, the Victoria mine at Eureka. Ore is silver-lead with some copper occurring in fissure replacements in limestone. Copper, though present, is in too small an amount to be paid for by smelters. Like other Tintic mines, it is likely to develop copper ores.
Development includes 1,200' shaft with 2,500' of workings and 1,500 200' and 300' tunnels. Has new compressor, installed 1913, and uses electric power.
1914
Bingham Mines Company purchased the entire stock of the Victoria Consolidated Mining company in 1914. (Mines Handbook, Volume 13, 1918, page 1356)
1915
"During 1915, the company purchased the entire capital stock of the Victoria Consolidated Mining Co., which owns 49 acres of mineral land, situated at Eureka, Tintic District, Utah. This property can be operated through the workings of the Eagle & Blue Bell Mine, which it adjoins." (Poor's Manual of Industrials, Volume 7, 1916, page 1548)
July 30, 1915
"It is stated that a deal has been closed whereby 275,000 shares of the stock of the Victoria Consolidated Mining Company, of Eureka, has been purchased by eastern capitalists who are identified with the Bingham Mines Company, and that this stock will, in all probability, be taken over by the Bingham Company. The Victoria adjoins the holdings of the Eagle & Blue Bell Mining Company, a subsidiary of the Bingham Mines Company, and will probably be worked through the workings of the Eagle & Blue Bell company." (Salt Lake Mining Review, July 30, 1915)
(The Victoria Consolidated company had increased its shares to 700,000 in September 1910, of which 200,000 were held back in the company treasury. 275,000 outstanding shares gave the Bingham Mines company control of the Victoria Consolidated company.)
(The newspaper reports referred to the Bingham Mines company as "the Boston people who control the Eagle.")
October 29, 1915
The holders of shares of the Victoria Consolidated Mining company were reminded that the offer of August 14, 1915, to exchange five of their shares for one share of Eagle & Blue Bell stock, would expire on November 5, 1915. After that date, the offer was cancelled. (Eureka Reporter, October 29, 1915)
March 10, 1916
"The entire capital stock of the Victoria Consolidated Mining company was acquired during the year. The property consists of forty-nine acres in the Tintic District, adjoining Eagle & Blue Bell. This mine is opened by a 1200 foot shaft and several tunnels, but it is believed that the ore can be extracted more economically through the Eagle & Blue Bell's workings. The later company has installed a 250 horsepower electrically operated hoist which will permit the extraction of double the present output." (Eureka Reporter, March 10, 1916)
(This deal gave the Bingham Mines company control of the Victoria group, the Eagle & Blue Bell group, and the Snowflake group, all adjoining each other.)
In March 1918, the Victoria Consolidated Mining company was among the thousands of corporations shown as being in default for non-payment of the Utah state corporate license fee, which indicates that the company was no longer in existence.
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