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Show Wednesday, August If, 1974 The history of Park City mining dates back over 100 years. At present market values, more Sian one billion dollars worth of ore has been extracted from area mines. At the turn of the century, there were nine major mining operations in the Park City mining district, which extends from Keetley to Brighton. Between 1900 and 1950, most of the land now covered by the ski resort was merged into the Silver Coalition Mining ComKing pany. The area not covered by the Resort was combined to form the Park Utah Consolidated Mining Company. By 1950, with the exception of the Ontario Mine, operations in the area had come to a standstill. In 1953, tiie Silver King Coalition and the Park Utah companies merged to become the United Park City Mining Company. In an attempt to boost the value of its landholdings and to generate income, the United Park City Company invested over one million dollars in the development of a ski resort. The result was the Treasure Mountain Resort Company, forerunner of the Greater Park City Company. Mr. Niles Andrus was hired by Mr. James Ivers, President of UPCMC, in 1965. Mr. Andrus had extensive experience in mining and engineering projects both in the United States and abroad. Mr. Andrus first course of action was to develop the Number Six Shaft of the Ontario. The err money for this project was advanced by the Anaconda Company and the American Smelting and Refining Company. The Number Six was operated as a producing shaft from 1965 to 1967. During this period, Mr. Andrus not only supervised the mining operation as Project Engineer, but he was also in charge of the ski resort maintenance. In 1966, Mr. Andrus was made Mine Manager for the United Park City Mining Company. He was immediately faced with a need for more money to finance both the mining and resort operations. Conjunctive with this lack of funds was the need for a mill in Park City. At that time, the mine was producing through the tunnel at Keetley, and the ore was then purchased by Anaconda and shipped to Midvale. Although the ore was sold to Anaconda, United Park was required to pay transportation costs. Mr. Andrus attempted to operate both functions of the company with a very limited supply of funds. He was successful in introducing some modem and innovative methods of mining, such as the use of sand fill, and, consequently, small profits were made. Financial calamity struck in h 1969. A strike in the copper industry forced Anaconda to cease operations. In that Anaconda was United Parks sole purchaser of ore, the local firms market was erased. Spending $45,000 a month to nine-mont- k lal tl Pages keep water out of the lower levels of the mines with no offsetting income, after nine months the company was in its worst financial condition ever. Attempts at recovery failed, and United Park was forced to refinance. Ah agreement was made with the Royal Street Development Company, and the Greater Park City Company was formed in February of 1971. The mining company was out of the resort business. During this same period, Anaconda and American Smelting leased from United Park the underground and surface areas needed for mining. A new company was formed to conduct the mining operations, and Mr. Niles Andrus was made manager of the infant Park City Ventures. The change of hands did not change the operations luck. In the spring of 1971, pollution regulations and the confiscation of Chilean mines forced area zinc and lead smelters to close down. The market for the local ore again vanished. Park City Ventures was forced to cut back on manpower and it embarked on a strictly developmental program. This program consisted of locating ore deposits and increasing reserves to justify expenditures. Work in the shaft continued, but on a single shift basis rather than the previous round the clock schedule. By the spring of 1973, the developmental efforts had provided proof of sufficient quantities of ore to make a mining the potentially most profitable area in the district. To keep things in perspective, however, Mr. Andrus remarked, It looks like theres a lot of money here but when you consider the cost of mining, there has to be a lot of . money involved. The impact on the city brought about by the resurrection of the mining industry will contain both beneficial and adverse aspects. On the negath e side, there will be an increase in the already increasing demand for housing. There will be ten-to- n capacity plant feasible. The final approval for the construction of a mill, warehouse, shop, hoist room, shaft, and other mining operation facilities was granted by the parent companies in the summer of 73. Although the company would have liked to dig a new shaft for of operations, Mr. Andrus says, The oldtimers put the Number Three right where we needed a shaft. The Ontario Number Three is located in the center of the Park City mining district and creates what Mr. Andrus terms a tight fit for our the resumption trucks hauling concentrates And, there will be in excess of 300 workers driving through town to reach the mining plant . On the other side of the coin, Park City cannot help but benefit economically from the mining industry. The payroll and demand for supplies will provide a economy which will give balance to our seasonal ski industry. Mr. Andrus is hopeful measures can be taken to diminish the negatives and accent tiie positives. As he says, Were trying to be good down Marsac and Park Avenues. plant. Barring unforeseen setbacks, Park City Ventures anticipates full operation of the mines by A LOCAL BUSINESS April of 1975. When the mining commences, a crew of 300 to 350 men will be employed to carry out the operation. Mr. Andrus commented on the sparsity of trained miners. We will have to convince the younger men it's a good job and then train them. In addition to hiring local manpower, Park City Ventures will attract miners from other areas. The mines will be worked five days a week producing 1,000 tons of ore a day. The mill will operate seven days a week to convert the 5,000 tons of ore into 1,600 tons of concentrate. This concentrate will then be transported by truck to a railroad loading ramp on lower Park Avenue. The future of Park City mining seems to lie in Park City Ventures ability to keep costs minimal while the price of ore remains relatively high. Mr. Andrus said, There's still another hundred years of mining left in He further the mountains. stated. Were just getting into f FIRST CHANCE 1 1 v THE OOZY I LAST CHANCE J J In Park City ' EASONS Restaurant (at the Golf Clubhouse) Featuring Fine American and Continental Cuisine Breakfast Lunch Dinner Open daily 7:30 a.m. 10 p.m. Liquors and wines available after 4 p.m. Ext. 3934 For reservations call -- X 649-811- 1, y |