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Show The History of Mining in Utah (EDITOR'S NOTE: Thli U the eighth ot MheB of eitfht article on the hiHtory of the metal mining industry in Utah.) After the discovery of the districts dis-tricts of Bingham, Alta and Park City, prospecting spreaed south along the Oquirrn range and the camos of Dry Canyon. Ophir, Camp Floyd, Mrcur and further to the south the districts of Eureka. Frisco and Silver Reef. The Tintic district has long been one of the mi.st productive in Utah Owing to poor transportation transporta-tion facilities, development of the district was not rapid until 1878, when the railroad came within 6 miles of the district. Prior to that time, however, considerable rich ore was gleaned from near the surface which was shipped to San Fran Cisco, Calif, to Reno, Nevada, Baltimore, Bal-timore, Md.; and even to Swansea. Wales. Activity in Beaver County reached boom proportions with the discovery of the Horn Silver mine in 1875 and continued until 1885. During its heyday, the Horn Silver was one of the most productive mines of the west and the mine and its smelter supported a community of approximately 2500 persons. One sensation in Utah's mining history that failed to grow into maturity was the old Silver Reef, located about 20 miles north of St. : George. According to legend one prospector dissevered silver float which assayed $17,000 to the ton. He is reported to have filled up his shaft and left the country, returning return-ing with others to organize the district in 1874. He worked his claims for a few months but failing fail-ing to find the lead to his rich assay became discouraged and moved on ti. other mining districts. In 1875 others took up the search and their efforts rret with considerable consid-erable success, shipping their ores to Salt Lake Vallev smelters. During Dur-ing this period 640 claims wpre filed around the Silver Reef and a typical mining communilv grew up. Like many of the bih Kracle camps, Silver Reef soon languished, but there are those who cling to the ever preser hope in mining- -it will come back. |