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Show Memories of Silver Reef By Mark A. Pendleton, In Utah Historical Quarterly. (Continued) Judge Barbee on his arrival in Southern Utah had observed: "They (the Mormons) have a hard time serving the Lord in this desolate des-olate god-forsaken looking country, coun-try, and it is about time for something some-thing to turn up to take the place of sorghum and wine as a circulating cir-culating medium." Now that He had turned up "something" that promised to bring prosperity to Utah's Dixie, Apostle Erastus Snow at Sunday services in the St. George tabernacle prayed God's blessing on "Brother' Barbee for opening up the mines. Judge Barbee's Bonanza City became the far-famed Silver Reef, postoffice by that name being established Feb. 1877. The first issue of the Silver Reef Echo, published and edited by Jos. E. Johnson appeared Feb. 24, 1877. This paper was probably purchased purchas-ed by Crouch and Louder, and renamed the Miner, which was successfully edited by Jas. N. Louder, Scipio A. Kenner and Edw. and John Pike. Brightly lighted stores, hotels, boarding houses, saloons, appeared on the boulder-strewn ridge to the north of Bonanza flat. John H. Rice opened a bank, Wells Fargo & Co. Express opened an office and Peter and Leo Welte operated a brewery. A notorious dance hall was a great attraction. Father Scanlan arrived at Silver Reef Dec. 1878. Money was raised and under his directions a church and hospital were built, and a "Sisters" school opened in the church. Rev. Edwin N. Murphy representing the Presbyterians came in 1881, and organized a church and held services in the Citizens hall. L. D. S. church authorities rented a hall and for several Sundays sent elders to preach. The fraternal societies were represented rep-resented by the Masons, Odd Fellows Fel-lows and Ancient Order of United Workmen. The population of Silver Reef is often placed at 3,000 souls. The census of 1880 throws some light on this matter giving the population popula-tion of Silver Reef precinct at 1046, and the Leeds-Harrisburg precinct at 334, so the total population pop-ulation of the Harrisburg (Silver Reef) mining district was ' less than 1,400. True in 1880 the boom days were over. The peak in population popu-lation was probably reached in the winter t of 1878-79, but at no time did more than 1,500 persons dwell in the sandstone mining camp, it is believed. By 1878 most of the producing claims had been consolidated under un-der the following companies: The Christy with a five stamp mill; the Stormont with a ten stamp mill; the Leeds with a mill of ten stamps; and the Barbee and Walker with five stamps. The Pioneer or Little Mill, located near Leeds, had three stamps. These mills had a maximum stamp capacity cap-acity of about 230 tons daily. The first mill called an arastra was located at the head of Barbee Gulch. A few tons of ore were crushed daily by a revolving stone run by water power. All these plants used the amalgam process. Watson N. Nesbitt was pioneering with a hyposodium plant. Harding, Bailey and Nesbitt in 1886 purchased the Leeds mill and converted it into a leaching plant by erecting tanks and by installing Cornish rollers. This venture that promised so much failed because the ores of the White reef contain con-tain copper. As each consignment of ore contained a different per cent of copper, frequent changes in the leaching solution had to be made which proved too expensive. Judge Barbee financed his operations op-erations by selling one of his "sand banks" the noted Tecu-mseh Tecu-mseh mine to the ' Christy com- pany. He andn7rlrtae7r i Van Hagen, managed their properties. lr n About nine million ounces 4 silver were produced at the ? stone camp during the years m?" 1903, at an average price of Z per ounce. , 51- The Buckeye mine before it sold to the Stormont compan !f mined by leasers who sought richest ore which was Jnl the Pioneer. During the year from April to the last oT j this mill turned out a thoui ounce brick every day, 0f an avT age fineness of 990, which e l" day was delivered to Welk 1 & Co. Express. Tne lf period averaged over $400 per t In marked contrast to this setT tion run in the record of T Christy mill for the year which milled 10,249 tons, prod ing silver bullion to the value f $302,597, and average recover, $29.10 per ton. The cost of mTnin hauling and milling was abJ $13.00 per ton. Wut With silver worth about $! per ounce, and the ore high grj! and easily minea and milled ii went well. But silver declined h price and the ore became w ' rich. Water was encountered in the Stormont, Buckeye and Calif ornia mines which added to the expense of mining. The stockholders of the Stor-mont Stor-mont Mining and Milling company com-pany in the East, murmured be-cause be-cause their dividends, had been decreased and demanded a cut in wages. The miners organized a union with a membership of over 300 "On the first of February, )-Col. )-Col. W. I. Allen of the Stormont company gave notice to the miners min-ers that wages would be reduced from $4.00 to $3.50 per day. The Miners Union promptly refused to accept such terms, and put out the fires at the reduction works and stopped work at the mines. After waiting a month some 60 or more union miners (led by big red-haired Jim Fitzsimmons) went to Mr. Allen's office and told him to leave the camp. He mounted his horse and was escorted by a detachment of the Union to the Black Ridge on the road north." (James G. Bleak.) Col. W. I. Allen lost no time in reaching Beaver, the seat of the Federal district court, and appealed appeal-ed for an investigation. The "tyrant" had been expelled, but apprehension brooded over the camp, yet the next move cams without warning so quietly did the civil authorities proceed. The Federal grand jury found indictments against about forty miners who had participated in the outrage against Col. Allen and warrants for their arrest were placed in the hands of U. S. Marshal Mar-shal Arthur Pratt, who called on Sheriff A. P. Hardy of Washington Washing-ton county to raise a posse. About 25 men were assembled at Leeds, (Anthony W. Ivins was one o! the deputies). An unusual sno storm was raging at the time that screened Sheriff Hardy's movements move-ments so that no hint of what was about to take place reached Silver Reef. Marshall Pratt swore in these men as deputies and he and Sheriff Hardy at their head, early in the morning rode to Silver Sil-ver Reef taking the camp completely com-pletely by surprise. As the jail was small, the large stone dance hall was commandeered and by night thirty-six men were under arest. It was a hectic day. The authorities at St. George viewed with apprehension the departure de-parture of twenty of their youn? men for Silver Reef as shown by the following interesting letters written by the presidency of the St. George (L. D. S.) stake, to Sheriff Hardy: "St. George, March, 15, 1881 Bro. Augustus P. Hardy: (To be continued) |