Carbon County, Utah Ghost Towns - Coal Mining Fever Still Running High

Carbon County Ghost Towns - Page 6

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Somewhere along the line, the mine was sold as by late 1945 it was under the ownership of the Utah-Carbon Coal Company and in 1951, was operated by the Hi-Heat Coal Company. But the coal was gradually being depleted and in 1958 the mine was shut down completely.

During its peak, the mine produced about 1200-1500 tons of coal per day, employed about 200 men, and the town was called home to about 500 residents.

Today, the townsite still has several foundations, walls, and buildings, which are located on a private ranch. but it is difficult to determine what belonged to Rains and the other nearby towns of Mutual and Latuda.

An old building in the Rains vicinity, April, 2008, Kathy Weiser.

This image available for photographic prints and downloads HERE!

Mutual - Just northwest of Rains was the mining camp of Mutual developed by the Mutual Coal Company in 1921. Along with the Mutual Mine, there were also a number of smaller operations in the area. Located so close to Rains, the Mutual’s population utilized the Rains school and post office, but had its own large company store and a number of miners’ homes.

From 1921 to 1931, the Mutual Mine produced more than 1.5 million tons of coal, which was rated one of the best domestic coals in the territory. The mine closed in 1938 and its workings were taken over by the adjacent Carbon Fuel Company by extending its own underground workings into the Mutual mine.

Numerous mining remains dot the end of the canyon and the old walls of the Mutual Company Store still stand, amongst corrals and ranching paraphernalia.