Dates

• Existence: 1906 - 1960

Parallel Names

• Cardiff Mining and Milling Company

Administrative History

The Cardiff Mining company (1906-1960) was a mining company located in the Big Cottonwood Canyon mining district near Salt Lake City, Utah.

The Cardiff company operated out of the Cardiff Mine and was primarily known for its large quantities of lead, silver, copper, and zinc ores. The company was formally incorporated in 1906 under President Fred W. Price, vice-president Ed. E Jenkins, and secretary and treasurer, Hugh A. McMillin. Former Salt Lake City mayor Ezra Thompson became president in 1908 and served in that position until his death in 1923.

In 1907, the Cardiff Mining Company encountered the first of many large profitable ore lines of galena and silver. In 1911, the company exported 125 tons of ore each month, with a height of 120 tons a day in 1916. By 1929, the company owned sixteen patented claims and had tunneled over five thousand feet and was the largest mining company in the entire district.

The company’s success benefited its shareholders, paying out over one million dollars in dividends from 1915 to 1927. While the company had good financial success, they also experienced a legal injunction from the Salt Lake City water department in 1916. The lawsuit claimed that its use of horse teams for hauling ore on the dirt canyon roads was causing pollution of the city’s water supply. This suit was dismissed later that year, as the company agreed to sanitation restrictions imposed by the Salt Lake City health department. The company soon switched over to hauling ores with trucks contracted by the Utah-Idaho Motor Company in 1916.

The Cardiff mine was worked off and on until 1960. The company’s articles of incorporation were last amended May 3rd, 1955, raising the company’s stock to two million dollars, under President W. H. H. Cranmer. No further records for the company are available.

Citation:

Western Mining History, via WWW, accessed June 26, 2023 (Cardiff Mine, company located in Big Cottonwood Canyon mining district; company primarily known for large quantities of lead, silver, copper, and zinc ores)

Utah Digital Newspapers, via WWW, accessed June 26, 2023. (Cardiff Mining Company, Cardiff Mining and Milling Company, 1906 company formally incorporated under President Fred W. Price, vice-president Edward E. Jenkins, and secretary and treasurer Hugh A. McMillin; 1907 galena ore found in the Cardiff mine; 1908 Former Salt Lake City mayor Ezra Thompson became president; 1911 Cardiff Mining Company regularly exporting 125 tons of ore monthly; 1911 company exported 125 tons of ore each month; 1916 company exported 120 tons a day; 1923 Ezra Thompson served as president until his death; 1916 legal injunction from Salt Lake City water department, claimed use of horse teams for hauling ore causing pollution of city water supply, suit dismissed as company agreed to Salt Lake City health department sanitation restrictions, company hauled ores with trucks contracted by the Utah-Idaho Motor Company)

Mining Utah, via WWW, accessed June 28, 2023. (Cardiff Mining Company, by 1929 company owned 16 patented claims and workings totaled over 5000 feet of tunnel; company paid over $1 million in dividends from 1915 to 1927; mine worked off and on until 1960; largest mining company in its district)

New Park Mining Company Records, Series 2, pg. 4 (Articles of Incorporations last amended May 3rd, 1955, raising company’s stock to $2 million under President W. H. H. Cranmer)

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