St Thomas Mill

Mining was an integral part of the economy of St. Thomas. Gold, silver, copper and other precious minerals were shipped in from all the surrounding mining camps. Silica sand however was also an important resource that helped this economy grow and is still a part of the community today.

   

The St. Thomas spur once ran all the way down to the town of St. Thomas. With the times most technologically advanced mode of transporting freight, mining began to flourish in this community. However the tracks were pulled up with the advancing waters of the newly created Lake Mead. The terminus of the St. Thomas railroad was now roughly five miles north at what is today the Simplot sand mine.

The remnants of the old sand mill can be seen as the water of Lake Mead have receded and have exposed the foundations of this once growing  mining operation.

Traces of the silica sand can still be found in the old bins of the sand mine operation

Railroad & Mining at St. Thomas

Railroad and St. Thomas

On June 7^th, 1912 the Union Pacific Railroad connected a spur off of the Los Angeles & Salt Lake line down to the town of St Thomas. The rail line provided the main means for transporting goods including ore and agricultural commodities as well as providing another means of transportation for people during this time. This was a busy time in this frontier town.

Mining Around St. Thomas

With a railroad spur right into the town of St. Thomas the ability to transport goods and materials was modernized with the time periods main means of large scale transportation. The extension of the railroad into St. Thomas allowed for other economic opportunities to develop and expand within the region.

Gold Butte, Savanic, and Grand Gulch were only a few of the mining interests that greatly benefited from the rail access. The railroad provided a streamlined means of transporting ore to the mills. Prior to this extension all the ore had to be shipped even greater distance by team and wagon.  It provided not only faster delivery but also provided access into a larger market network.

During the First World War the price of copper rose greatly. This contributed to the excitement and development of this region as mining prospects developed to help supplement this need.  St. Thomas was the hub for most of these activities providing a means to transport supplies and ore for these mining camps.

Before the waters covered the railroad going down to St. Thomas the tracks were pulled up and the terminus of the St Thomas line was now, at what is today Simplot.