Show the story of copper coppi e jr in m utah low 00 fsr ar 4 41 IN I 1 A opening of utah copper mine at bingham aided in rapid expansion of electrical and mechanical era during first quarter of century by providing low priced copper editors note this is the third of a series of eight articles titled the story of copper in utah the twentieth century might well be called the century of 0 copper because of the widespread developments in the production of 0 the red metal that followed the opening of 0 utah copper in 1904 this pioneering aided in the rapid expansion on of the electrical era by providing vital copper at a lower cost after jackling had shown the way at bingham for large scale copper production from low grade deposits the development of nevada consolidated soli dated ray consolidated and in arizona and the chino mine in new mexico alerico and other low grade mines followed swiftly A new era was established in production of low priced copper early in the twentieth century to aid the swift expansion of industry during the first quarter of the century the limits of this short series of articles permit tracing briefly the events that led up to the establishment and progress of the utah copper Ding liam canyon oldest of mining districts has hag been the scene of more or less profitable mining since 1864 siliceous gold ore and suver silver bearing lead ores that so frequently occur in important copper districts were sought in the early days until 1900 bingham remained essentially senti ally a lead silver mining camp smelters shelters Sm elters were built at murray and bingham junction now midvale near the jordan river 12 miles balow bingham and a substantial part of the intake of 0 these two plants came from 15 to 20 co comparatively param small underground mines in bingham canyon colonel enos A wall who had haal raining experience in colorado idaho and Alon montana tana first visited the camp in july colonel wall was attracted by the usual signa of copper then according to the story he entered an old adit started probably about 1865 when prospecting was first done by federal soldiers under gen eral P E connor first commandant at ft douglas wall became interested and acquired property in the district by location and during the succeeding 10 years added to his holdings through purchase ano and other loca eions during this period he spent approximately driving f feet of tunnel drifts and crosscuts cross cuts in the hills this exploratory work began to 4 untold unfold the possibilities at bingham Bingha int canyon as each foot of work added p to the evidence that the copper bearing mass was large although low in III grade wall financed hise ahls work by the sale of the brickyard mine at mercury utah and the yampa property near the highland boy at Ding bingham liam the fourth article la in this series will appear in these columns soon |