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Show March 2004 Energy Guide 23 Become ghost towns: (Continued from page 12) gations. After the coal was worked out, the company opened a mine in Price Canyon above Rolapp. The community of Peerless was comprised of about 30 houses, a store, an office, a post office, a clubhouse for the company officials and a school house. About 150 men were employed while the property was at its height of production. The Rains precinct included Mutual and was located at the upper end of Spring Canyon. In 1915, L.F. Rains succeeded in interesting P.J. Quealy, an operator from Wyoming, in the coal lands west of Standardville. The land was purchased from the government and Carbon Fuel Company was organized with Rains as president. Little development work was necessary on the property and the first load of coal was hauled out in 1916. Approximately 60 houses were built for the employees and families along with a school, boarding house and store. While the mine was at the peak of operation, there were about 200 men employed and daily production averaged from 1,200 to 1,500 tons. The Rains mine operated continuously until March 1930, when production ceased. Mutual Coal Company produced 1,531,264 tons from February 1921 to December 31, 1931. The maximum production in one year was 191, 635 tons and the minimum was 99,289 tons. Mutual coal was rated as one of the best domestic coals in the territory. Rolapp was located approximately 1 1 miles northwest of Helper and one mile northwest of Castle Gate. In 1913, the district attracted the attention of developer Frank Cameron. The first work began in Rolapp with 35 men employed. Because of location, the camp was named Bear Canyon. As the population increased and the mine prospered, the camp was named Cameron. In 1917, Cameron sold to Henry H. Rolapp and the camp's name was changed to honor of the new manager. Royal Coal owned the property until 1930, when the interests were sold to the Spring Canyon company. Rolapp was not incorporated and was governed by the county. The population varied with the seasons, registering at 226 from 1913 to 1920 and increasing by only 129 from 1920 Sporting unusual apparel for daily life the coal camps, a group of men gather on the street at Peerless C v' ? 14m V : tin 'V to 1930. The mine's capacity ranged from 1 ,000 to 1 ,200 tons per day. About 45 men were employed in the mine and about 13 employed outside. in full-for- Mine company A Rows of company houses stretch out along the hillsides at Spring Canyon. |