David Keith was a figure central to the industrial and journalistic history of the region, known for his mining ventures and his leadership in the press. According to the Utah History Encyclopedia, Keith was a partner in a business venture with Thomas Kearns that took over the ownership of the Salt Lake Tribune in 1901. This acquisition followed a period where the paper had been owned by an unidentified buyer. The partnership between Kearns and Keith was bolstered by the profits from their mining ventures, which were successful enough to allow them to purchase surrounding claims.
In the mining sector, Keith's influence was significant during the development of the Silver King Coalition Mine. According to an undated document from the Park City Museum, Thomas Kearns urged Keith to consolidate several claims on Treasure Hill during the 1880s. This consolidation led to the establishment of the Silver King Coalition Mine in 1892, which was one of the most profitable mining camps of its era. The document notes that Keith and Kearns built a state-of-the-art concentrator to process ore, and in 1901, they added an aerial tramway to transport the ore downhill to the D&RG Western railroad. The profits from these mining operations were vast; for example, the Silver King Coalition had distributed $14 million in dividends to its stockholders by 1914.
Beyond mining, Keith held a prominent role in the media landscape. According to the Preservation Utah report, Keith became the president of the Salt Lake Tribune. His involvement in the publication was part of an era of significant growth and change for the newspaper. The Tribune, which began as a movement to oppose certain political and economic policies of the Mormon Church, eventually became a dominant force in the region's media. The newspaper's history included various ownership shifts, including a period where the Kearns family maintained majority ownership after the death of Thomas Kearns in 1919, when his family bought out the Keiths.
The legacy of the mining interests involving Keith is still visible in the landscape. The Silver King Coalition Mine Headframe Building, a structure that was the centerpiece of the mining camp, was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in December 2024. This designation followed significant rehabilitation and restoration work aimed at saving the landmark from structural threats. The building, which was originally constructed in 1926 to replace a wooden structure from the 1890s, stands as an anchor for a designated National Historic District. The historical importance of the site is tied to the fortunes made by figures like Keith, whose work helped shape the civic fabric of the state through mining and journalism.
What this means for Kearns
The historical records of David Keith illustrate the deep connection between the mining industry and the development of media in the region. His business partnerships helped establish significant economic and journalistic institutions that shaped the area's history throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
