History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

738
AGRICULTURE AND MANUFACTURES.
south and east veins are being worked from 10 to 12
feet in width. 51
In estimating the value of these deposits, it must be
remembered that veins less than three or four feet
wide can seldom be worked at a profit, except when
near to market and under favorable circumstances,
and that the Utah veins are of smaller average width.
Thus the yield for 1869, though there were several
mines in operation at that date, was but 4,500 tons,
in 1876 and 1877 45,000 tons, and in 1878 60,000
tons, 52 or little more than one half of the consumption,
even for the last of these years. It will be observed,
however, that there are large coal-beds in close proximity
to the principal iron deposits; and with a ready
market, cheap and reliable labor and supplies, access
by railroad, and other advantages, it is probable that
the coal and iron industries of the territory, far removed
as it is from the manufacturing centres of Europe
and America, will rank among the foremost. •
There are few of the metals or minerals known to
science which are not represented in Utah. 53 Copper
is found, usually in connection w T ith other metals, in
51 For act incorporating the Sanpete Coal Co., see Utah Acts, 1855-6,
33-4; for further mention of Sanpete mines, S. L. C. Tribune, May 29, 1S75;
for report on condition of Utah coal mines in 1S59, Utah Jour. Legist,
1859-60, 32, 64-5; for discovery of coal near Provo, Desertt News, March
14, 1860; near Ogden, Id., Aug. 13, 1862; at Farmington, Id., May 16, 1860;
for extent of coal strata in Green River basin, King's Surveys, iii. 455-S; for
mines opened at Coalville and their operations in 1870, Id., iii. 467-73; for
Pleasant Valley mines, Reno gazette, Nov. 12, 1S81; for additional details
as to coal mines, lands, discoveries, and interests, Murphy's Min. Res. of
Utah, 8; Hollister's Res. and Attract, of Utah, 45-51; Utah Gazetteer, 18S4,
61-2; S. L. C. Tribune, Jan. 18, 1873, Oct. 27, 1879; S. L. C. Herald, May
12, Dec. 22, 1S77, March 30, 1S78, Jan. 28, 1880; Herald, Nov. 17, 1881;
S. L. Mail, May 17, 1876; S. F. Bull., Jan. 17, 1882; Alta, March 15, 1873,
April 6, 1875; Stock Report, April 26, 1875; Sac. Union, May 30, 1S60, Dec.
19, 1863; Austin Reese River Reveille, July 19, 1864.
52 House Ex. Doc, 46th Cong. 1st Sess., 3, 157. In Batch's The Mines,
Miners, and Mining Int. of the U. S. in 1882, 1040, the output for 1S80
and 1S81 is given at 275,000 tons. This statement is taken from Saicard's
Coal Trade, and is no doubt very much above the actual figures.
53 In Utah Gazetteer, 1884, 67-8, is a complete list of the minerals and
metals found in Utah. It does not include tin, which, however, is said to
have been discovered near Ogden in 1871. See S. L. Rev., Oct. 27, 1871; S.
F. Call. Oct, 10, 24, 1871; ScieM. Press, Oct. 28, 1871. Other lists will be
found in Wheeler's Surveys, iii. 652-61; S. L. Semi-Wkly Herald, Jan. 3, 1SS0;
Silver Reef Miner, Jan. 10, 1SS0.