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Show The History of Mining in Utah (EDITOR'S NOTE: Thi. ii tht eighth ol m series of eifht articles on the hitur7 of the metal mining industry in Utah.) After the discovery of the districts dis-tricts of Bingham, Alta and Park City, Drospectirif? spreaed south along the Oquirrh 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 rm.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 5 miles of the district. Prior to that time, however, considerable rich ore was gleaned from near the surface which was shipped to San Francisco, 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 25(10 persons. One .sensuti'in in Utah's mining history that failed to grow into maturity was the old Silver Kn-f. located about 2 miles north of St. George. Aecord'ng to legend ore prospectci discovered 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 hut failing fail-ing to find the lead to his rich assay became discouraged and moved on to other mining districts. In 1875 others took up the search and their efforts met with considerable consid-erable success, shipping their ores to Salt Lake Valley smelters. During Dur-ing this period CIO claims were filed around the Silver Reef and a typical mining community grew un. Like many of the high grade camps, Silver Kecf soon languished, but there are those who cling to the ever present hope in mining it will come back. |