| "Bagdad was initially identified in 1880 by John Lawler. Because of its isolated location and low grade, however, ore was not developed. Although the Giroux Syndicate gained rights to the mine in 1906, it was not able to do much. Between 1906 and 1927 a number of companies tried to work the mine with the greatest (yet still unsuccessful) effort being that of the Lewishon interests.In 1927 the Bagdad Copper Company began operation. The beginning of the Great Depression in 1929 slowed, but did not stop, their efforts. The company managed to continue development through the 1930's and, in 1941, received a government loan that enabled them to add new equipment. Since the low grade ore made underground mining unprofitable, General Manager Ernest R. Dickie began converting to an open pit operation. Dickie used large trucks for haulage, and Bagdad became the testing ground for much of the change taking place in large ore trucks. All underground mining at Bagdad had ended by 1950."Excerpt from The Mission, Means and Memories of Arizona Miners: A History of Mining in Arizona from Pre-History to Present by James McBride. 2001 Arizona Mining Association |
|
