Salt Lake, Sevier Valley and Pioche Railroad (1872-1874)

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Salt Lake, Sevier Valley & Pioche Railroad (1872-1874)

Overview

The Salt Lake, Sevier Valley & Pioche Railroad was oraginized in 1872 and began grading west from Salt Lake in April 1873, reaching Clinton's Lake House hotel at Lake Point in July 1873. But before tracks were laid, financial and management problems developed which caused the company to fail. The new Utah Western Railway assumed the previous road's debt and acquired its unfinished grade between Salt Lake City and Lake Point, 20 miles to the west.

"This [Utah Western] narrow gauge, which now extends a distance of some thirty-seven miles, was originally known as the Salt Lake, Sevier Valley and Pioche Railroad. The name will indicate the contemplated object of the road, which was designed to tap the extensive mines in that region, and, passing southward through the mines and agricultural lands of the Sevier Valley region, makes its terminus finally at Pioche, Southeastern Nevada. It has never attained the magnitude intended, and unless unforeseen circumstances should arise, never will. The road was commenced in 1872; work was suspended in 1873, when some twenty miles had been completed, but was resumed again later on and pushed as far as Stockton, its present terminus. During the summer months the road is greatly used by excursionists who go to the lake to bathe. W. W. Riter is superintendent; S. F. Fenton, general passenger agent." (Utah Gazetteer, 1884)

Timeline

June 23, 1871
Judge Clinton already had a hotel out at Lake Point, and bath houses and the like to be put up soon. Also, a fellow named Parkhurst has a lumber yard out there. (Deseret Evening News, June 23, 1871)

April 1, 1872
"Yesterday a telegram was received by General P. E. Connor from H. S. Jacobs, England, stating that the latter had just concluded negotiations for sufficient iron to lay fifty miles of track on the Salt Lake, Sevier Valley Pioche Railroad, and also for two locomotives and five cars. The dispatch was dated at New York. It may be reasonably expected that the work of construction on this line will now go forward with a rush and dash. That's right, push along the railroad development." (Deseret News of April 2, 1873)

April 16, 1872
The 'City of Corinne' sold a few days ago to H. S. Jacobs & Company of Salt Lake City, and the Lehigh & Utah Mining Co., of Mauch Chunk, Pennsylvania, and possession was given yesterday. The mining company is building a reduction works at Stockton. (Salt Lake Herald, April 16, 1872; Deseret Evening News, May 20, 1872)

"On The Lake" item gives some details of the steamboat "City of Corinne." It is 138 feet long, stem to stern, and 28 feet in the beam. Two engines, of 125 horsepower each, drive the stern wheel. Built mostly of Oregon fir, the ribs are eight inches apart, and the hull is planked inside and out with three-inch thick fir. The Captain is a Mr. Evans, the engineer is John Edgecomb, the chief clerk is G. B. Adams, and the steward is Samuel Lancaster. H. S. Jacobs, as part owner, seems to be on hand as the host. (Salt Lake Herald, May 19, 1872)

(Between 1868 and 1872, P. E. Connor operated a steam-powered boat on Great Salt Lake, which he named Kate Connor, for his daughter Catherine Francis Connor, born in Salt Lake City in 1863. Patrick Connor had married Johana Connor, of the same county in Ireland, in August 1854.)

May 3, 1872
Salt Lake, Sevier Valley & Pioche Railroad incorporated to build from Salt Lake City west to Stockton and the western line of Utah territory, through the valley of the Sevier River. (Utah corporation number 4349)

"In May 1872 a company was formed to build a narrow gauge line westward from Salt Lake City through Rush Valley, the Tintic District, the Sevier Valley west of Sevier Lake to the mines of Pioche, Nevada. It was organized by a group of Pennsylvania capitalists for the purpose of serving mining interest in the areas traversed by the road. Work commenced on May 14, 1873, and twenty miles of grading were completed that year. Work was suspended and track was not placed until the formation of a new company, The Utah Western, which took over the property in August of 1874, The Salt Lake, Sevier Valley and Pioche being declared defunct. December 14, 1874, The Utah Western had been officially opened and was running trains between Salt Lake City and a point in the mountains near Garfield Beach. In January 1875, an announcement was made by the company to the effect that it planned to construct ten flat cars using all Utah products, iron and wood. On April 17, 1878, it was taken over by [p.163] the bondholders, foreclosed in 1880, and The Utah and Nevada was organized on February 16, 1881, to take over this line and build from its terminus to Tanner's Springs, Juab County. This new company was organized by Eastern capital--Abraham Gould and others, and was capitalized at $2,000,000. Future plans were to extend the line via Dugway and Deep Creek to Bodie, California. The planned construction never materialized, and on June 17, 1881, the existing line was acquired by the Union Pacific." -- Utah Since Statehood

June 4, 1872
Clinton's hotel was called 'Lake House'. (Deseret Evening News, June 4, 1872)

Although the stated purpose of the Salt Lake, Sevier Valley & Pioche was to be the western line of Utah Territory, its real destination was most likely the mines along the western slope of the Oquirrh range, just 35 to 45 miles southwest of Salt Lake City. Smelters located at Stockton, 40 miles from Salt Lake, included General Conner's original 1864 smelter, the Monheim & Johnson smelter, built in 1866, the Waterman & Smith smelter, built in 1871, the Jack smelter, built in 1872, Chicago Silver Mining Company's "Chicago Smelter", completed in 1873, and the Carson & Bozo smelter, also completed in 1873. Other mines in the area included the Mercur (originally Lewiston) mines, with the Last Chance, Sparrow Hawk, and Marion claims all filed in 1872. The first placer claim was located in Mercur on April 20, 1870. There were also claims in the Ophir district, including the Mountain Lion, the Petalume, the Silver Chief, the Tampico, and the Blue Wing. The first claim in the Ophir district was filed on August 23, 1870, as the Silveropities. Ophir also had the distinction of being the location of the first stamp mill in the Territory, when the Walker Brothers located their 15-stamp Pioneer Mill at Ophir in June 1871, processing about 30 tons of ore per day. (Tooele County, pp. 343, 362, 376; Bliss, p. 176)

March 29, 1873
Gen. Connor, president of the S. L., S. V. & P. R. R., received a telegram from New York, yesterday, with the information that contracts had been closed for 50 miles of iron, two locomotives and five cars, the iron to be shipped by May 1st. (Salt Lake Herald, March 29, 1873)

April 14, 1873
"Official" ground breaking for the Salt Lake, Sevier Valley & Pioche Railroad. Seven miles of grade had already been completed. (Salt Lake Herald, April 15, 1873)

"The Salt Lake, Sevier Valley and Pioche Railroad. Ground was broken on the Salt Lake section of this road on the 14th of April and grading towards the Lake immediately commenced." (Utah Mining Gazette, September 6, 1873)

July 7, 1873
Salt Lake, Sevier Valley & Pioche locomotive arrived, along with two flat cars. The locomotive was named "Kate Connor", after General Connor's daughter. The locomotive was built by the Brooks Locomotive Works, of Dunkirk, New York. (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, July 8, 1873, "yesterday"; Deseret Evening News, July 10, 1873)

Katherine "Kate" Francis Connor was born in Salt Lake City on September 7, 1863. After 1870, General Connor's wife and children lived in Redwood City, California. In 1872, Kate visited her father, and again in 1879. Her married name was Kate Connor Oliver and she lived until at least late 1931. (Varley, pp. 172, 270, 291)

July 7, 1873
"Salt Lake, Sevier Valley & Pioche RR -- we are informed that three-fourths of the grading of this line between this city and Lake Point is now completed, and that a locomotive and two flat cars are on the way for the use of the company,..." (Deseret Evening News, July 7, 1873)

July 8, 1873
"A locomotive for the Salt Lake, Sevier Valley & Pioche Railroad arrived yesterday." "Hurrah for the Narrow Gauge." "General Connor informed us last night that the 'Kate Connor' locomotive arrived yesterday from the East... The 'engine is named after the General's daughter, and ... will undoubtedly be a success,..." (Salt Lake Tribune, July 8, 1873)

July 10, 1873
A new locomotive has arrived for the Salt Lake, Sevier Valley and Pioche Railroad. It is from the Brooks Locomotive Works of Dunkirk, N.Y. Mr. Pasho, from the company, has accompanied the engine, which is named 'Kate Connor'. also, a couple of flat cars arrived. (Deseret Evening News, July 10, 1873)

July 11, 1873
"Locomotive 'Kate Connor'." "The narrow gauge locomotive, 'Kate Connor';, which arrived on Monday last for the Salt Lake, Sevier Valley and Pioche Railroad, is said by engineers to be one of the best narrow gauge locomotives they have seen.

"It was manufactured by the Brooks Locomotive Works, Dunkirk, New York, and weighs, when charged with coal and water, sixteen tons, six hundred and thirty pounds. The feature of this locomotive, which commends it for effective service, is its great steam generating capacity, which is a desideratum in narrow gauge engines."

"The 'Kate Connor' is intended, in the first place, to be used as a construction engine and afterwards for freight. It was brought on to this city by Mr. D. N. Pasho, an engineer and traveling agent connected with the Brooks works." (Salt Lake Herald, July 11, 1873)

July 11, 1873
"The New Locomotive 'Kate Connor'." "Yesterday we paid a visit to the Utah Central depot, for the purpose of inspecting the new locomotive for the Salt Lake, Sevier Valley and Pioche Railroad, and on arriving found Gen. Barnum, Supt. Kimball, and a number of men making preparations to unload her. An introduction to Mr. D. N. Pasho, who accompanied the engine from the works, afforded us the opportunity of more closely examining it than we otherwise could. It appears to be of excellent workmanship throughout, furnished with all the appliances of first class engines, and elegantly painted. On inquiring, we learned that it is from the Brooks Locomotive Works, Dunkirk, New York, the president and superintendent of which is expected in the city shortly." (Salt Lake Tribune, July 11, 1873)

July 11, 1873
"At the depot we noticed also two box cars, one construction car, and two hand cars, all for the Salt Lake, Sevier Valley & Pioche Railroad. Success to it." (Salt Lake Tribune, July 11, 1873)

July 12, 1873
"New Locomotive. -- We inspected, yesterday, at Salt Lake, in company with General Barnum, the first locomotive of the Salt Lake, Sevier Valley and Pioche R.R., which arrived last Monday. It is a very handsome engine, weighing sixteen tons, six hundred and thirty pounds, with six driving wheels of three feet diameter. It is artistically ornamented, symmetrically proportioned, and will look very beautiful on the new narrow gauge road, which is graded to Lake Point, the bridge over Jordan being completed. The locomotive was manufactured by the Brooks Engine Manufacturing Company at Dunkirk, Ohio, and came through in nine days in charge of Mr. D. N. Pasho, who so managed that there was no delay in its passage. Mr. Pasho, regarded the engine with pride, and being 'au fait' in all matters connected with the manufacture of locomotives, would like to set her in trim and run her out on her first trip. But, the road is not quite ready." (Daily Ogden Junction, July 12, 1873)

July 14, 1873
"Engine Builder.""Mr. D. N. Pasho, representative of the Brooks Locomotive Works, at Dunkirk, New York, will leave this evening for the east. Mr. Pasho has but lately returned from Salt Lake whither he went to superintend the putting up, and on the line, of the narrow gauge locomotive Kate Connor. This sixteen-ton engine will be used at first in the construction of the Salt Lake, Sevier Valley & Pioche railroad." (Denver Daily Times, July 14, 1873)

July 19, 1873
On the 18th, the editor looked over the grade and such of the SL, SV&P, with W. C. Rydalch; at the depot, looked over the 'Kate Connor';, "...a shed has been built over the locomotive to protect it from the weather." Also at the depot, for the company, are "two box cars." The bridge over the Jordan was built by Rushton and Winters; piles were driven in 14 feet by a steam pile driver, and the stringers are of heavy red pine. H. P. Kimball and W. C. Rydalch were grading and tracklaying contractors for the SLSV&P. "On leaving the Jordan, the road swings west by south, until it reaches Bassett & Robert's pasture, a distance of some 3 miles. This diversion from a direct line was necessary in order to avoid, as far as possible, the big salcratus lake. From this point the grade runs on an air line a distance of 11 miles, to Millstone Point. It then curves north-west, past the Little Cave, Big Cave, Kesler's, and Black Rock, on the shore of the Great Salt Lake." (Salt Lake Herald, July 19, 1873)

July 1873
"The Salt Lake, Sevier Valley and Pioche Railroad Company, had received five car loads of iron rails, and would commence laying the track at once. Two hundred tons more was on the way, and 1,000 tons additional contracted for. The locomotive engine, 'Kate Connor,' from the Brooks works, Dunkirk, New York, had also arrived, likewise two box cars, one construction car, and two hand cars. The road was graded and ready for the ties for over ten miles from the city,..." (Utah Mining Gazette, September 13, 1873)

August 12, 1873
"Four hundred tons of iron and another locomotive are also to come on immediately for the Salt Lake, Sevier Valley and Pioche railroad." (Salt Lake Herald, August 12, 1873)

August 21, 1873
"Five carloads of iron for the Salt Lake, Sevier Valley & Pioche Railroad have arrived." "The grading on this road is being prosecuted with vigor." (Salt Lake Herald, August 21, 1873)

August 23, 1873
Eight car loads of iron were received for the SLSV&PRR yesterday, making 17 car loads this week. (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, August 23, 1873)

August 30, 1873
"Local Summary" "Eight car loads of iron arrived on Friday 22d, at the depot, for ' the Salt Lake, Sevier Valley and Pioche Railroad." (Utah Mining Gazette, August 30, 1873)

September 13, 1873
"Resources of Utah." "Statistics of Progress during the Year 1873"

September 24, 1873
Salt Lake, Sevier Valley & Pioche received "a full train of iron and material." Twenty miles of grade completed. (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, September 25, 1873, "yesterday")

September 25, 1873
"A full train of iron and material arrived yesterday for the Salt Lake, Sevier Valley & Pioche R.R., which has been graded twenty miles already, and the company intend laying the track in a few days and pushing the work through to completion." (Salt Lake Tribune, September 25, 1873)

September 25, 1873
Tracklaying began today on the SLSV&P, on the spur to the Utah Central depot, but can't run the engine on the track, as no bolts on hand for the fishplates! (Deseret Evening News, September 25, 1873)

September 26, 1873
"Nineteen kegs of fish-plate bolts for the S.L.,S.V.& P.R.R. were received yesterday, also 260 tons of rails, making about 500 tons of materials received to date. It requires 40 tons of rails per mile..." (Deseret Evening News, September 26, 1873)

September 27, 1873
"Salt Lake, Sevier Valley and Pioche Railroad." "Track laying on this important road commenced on the west side of the Babbitt block on Wednesday last, and will be continued without interruption until the road is completed to Clinton's, west of the point of the mountain,... Mr. William F. Tully, has charge of the track laying,... Ten flats, two box cars and one locomotive, the Kate Connor, comprises the construction train." "The freight depot, or point of transfer from the Utah Central, will be on the west side of the present Utah Central freight warehouse, and the passenger depot, it is thought, will be located one or two blocks west of the Utah Central block." (Utah Mining Gazette, September 27, 1873)

September 30, 1873
"Unfortunate Suspension""Work on the Salt Lake, Sevier Valley & Pioche Railroad Discontinued." "No Funds Left to Carry On the Great Enterprise." "Owing to the recent financial crisis in the East, the Salt Lake, Sevier Valley & Pioche Railroad Co. have for the present suspended operations." (Salt Lake Tribune, September 30, 1873; Deseret Evening News, October 13, 1873)

late September 1873
Salt Lake, Sevier Valley & Pioche stopped work. Throughout the next six to nine months there were accusations by other company officers of mismanagement by H. S. Jacobs. (Reeder, pp. 268-276)

October 4, 1873
"Local Summary." "The Salt Lake, Sevier Valley and Pioche railroad has been obliged to suspend, temporarily, on account of the tightness of the money market, caused by the financial difficulties east." (Utah Mining Gazette, October 4, 1873)

October 14, 1873
"At a Standstill" - General Connor tells the Tribune that the SLSV&PRR "...has not as yet resumed operations, and it is uncertain when work will be recommenced." (Salt Lake Tribune, October 14, 1873)

January 5, 1874
"Judge Clinton's faith in the Salt Lake, Sevier Valley and Pioche Railroad has induced him to build a large, three storey rock building, at [Great] Salt Lake, with the intention of putting up bathing houses and all the conveniences belonging to a stylish watering place." (Deseret Evening News, January 5, 1874)

March 28, 1874
Map of Dry Canyon, Ophir district takes up most of the front page of this issue of the Gazette. (Utah Mining Gazette, March 28, 1874)

April 30, 1874
"Another Open Letter", in reply to one in the paper the day before, which opened the floodgates, as-it were, on the bungling of H. S. Jacobs, and its becoming public knowledge. In all of the flap, not much useful equipment information, but this letter of the 30th says that Jacobs "...purchased and sent forward a locomotive and two box cars and hand cars, before the road had been graded a mile,... A freight bill of $1,700 had to be paid on their arrival as the first step in his economical business management for the benefit of the Company." (Salt Lake Herald, April 30, 1874)

(Note: Under dates of April 29th and 30th, and May 5th, 8th, and 10th, there appeared a number of lengthy items bearing upon the failure of the Salt Lake, Sevier Valley & Pioche Railroad, and where the fault lay.)

May 6,1874
"New Car." "The Utah Western Railroad Company has just imported from ' the East, a magnificent new passenger car, for use on their road. The car is now at the Utah Central depot, mounted on a flat car, and will probably be placed on the track where it belongs immediately." (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, May 6, 1874)

May 10, 1874
A very long item, in which General P. E. Connor relates the best history-to-date of the Salt Lake, Sevier Valley and Pioche Railroad Company yet available, and of Jacobs' wrecking of the enterprise through his incompetence and fraudulent dealings. Quotes from a number of Jacobs' own letters, in company records, which point out the duplicity of 'that great failure,' Jacobs. Equipment not mentioned, except in the briefest way possible. (Salt Lake Herald, May 10, 1874)

May 16, 1874
A letter, dated September 4, 1873, from New York, author presently uncertain, but it is someone Jacobs took for a ride, in more ways. than one! The letter is chiefly interesting for this sentence: "You may imagine the mess he (Jacobs) has made of everything; the very locomotive I contracted for from Grant, has been obliged to be resold,..."

May 16, 1874
An unsigned in the paper; dated at New York, September 4, 1873: "Salt Lake, Sevier Valley and Pioche Railroad." "The following extracts, from a letter received by one of our citizens, throw a flood of light on the actions of Mr. Jacobs, and show how totally unfit he is to retain any office connected with railroading in Utah, and moreover fully justifies the action of the resident officials of the S.L., S.V.& P. Railroad: "The object of this letter is to acquaint you of facts in regard to the claim I have against the Salt Lake, Sevier Valley and Pioche Railroad." An order for 2,500 tons of rail, from Danville, not closed on account of Jacobs; "I gave Mr. Jacobs my bill of brokerage; which amounted to $2,250, and as he did not settle the same, I sued him as President, for the amount." More hoo-haw on the iron deal - still Jacobs defaulted; a Mr. Hendricks is mentioned." "My brother, in an interview he had with General Connor, has, I think, explained all this,..." "You may imagine the mess he [Jacobs] has made of everything; the very locomotive I contracted for from Grant, has been obliged to be resold, as this fellow could not satisfy him [Grant?], but deceived him in his statement." (Here was the only clue George Pitchard had yet found that suggested SLSV&P no. 1 had been built by Grant.) (Utah Mining Gazette, May 16, 1874)

June 23, 1874
A letter from H. S. Jacobs is published, in which he tries to defend his actions in regard to the Salt Lake, Sevier Valley & Pioche Railroad and the failure thereof. Among other comments, he says: "The rails, together with bolts, fishplates, spikes and switches, with locomotives and cars for 20 miles of road, were purchased by me and delivered at Salt Lake City." (Salt Lake Tribune, June 23, 1874)

(Note: One locomotive and two box cars is the entire extent of the equipment known to have been received, hardly the equipment of a 20-mile railroad.)

(The story continues with the Utah Western Railway of 1874)

More Information

Clarence Reader's research -- Information about Utah Western Railway from Clarence Reeder's 1970 manuscript

Salt Lake, Sevier Valley & Pioche Railway corporate information

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