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New Hope Mining Company

Silver mining operation in Echo Springs,[1] Utah Territory[2] in 1870.[1]

Organized by Bret Maverick in 1870, a partnership formed by the cooperative alliance between individual mine owners John Stoller, Kriedler, Jackson and Lawson.

The New Hope Mining Company was formed to go into direct competition with Phineas King’s Silver Lady Mine on the same hill. Each of the four smaller mines were adjacent to King’s holdings. The new company introduced mining reforms such as higher wages and shorter hours to attract new workers and build up a significant labor force in a short time. With a goal of 500 new workers, New Hope was able to launch an aggressive and prosperous business, undercutting King’s profits. By exercising the Apex Law, the New Hope Mining Company was able to follow the apex of silver veins on their claims underground and cross beneath the claim boundaries of the Silver Lady to extract ore.

When King learned of the intrusion under his property, he fought the New Hope Mining Company in court in Echo Springs. Judge Joshua Thayer ruled in favor of New Hope on the merits of the Apex Law, and allowed the continuation of their diggings under King’s claim. King sent his attorney, Richard Bixby, to the territorial seat to appeal his case in a higher court. While awaiting the higher court’s decision, King had his own mine tunnels flooded, which in turn flooded the New Hope tunnels, effectively stopping all mining on the hill.

Knowing the higher court had overturned Thayer’s decision, Bret allowed King to believe it had not. Before King realized the case had been turned in his favor, Bret was able to convince King to merge his Silver Lady Mine with the New Hope Mining Company, retaining New Hope’s labor reforms, and allowing the entire mining community to prosper as a result.[1]