Career
Jackling worked at the Cripple Creek & Victor Gold Mine from 1893 until 1895, first as a miner, then as a millman and metallurgist. Starting in 1896, Jackling worked for Joseph Raphael De Lamar in Mercur, Utah where he developed a cyanide process for extracting gold ore.[2]
Jackling followed up at the Missouri School of Mines with a degree in metallurgical engineering in 1900, then worked a gold mine in Republic, Washington. In 1902, he managed Charles MacNeill's and Spencer Penrose's zinc-pigment plant in Canon City, Colorado and their gold mill at Colorado City, Colorado.[2]
In the mid-1890s, Jackling, Hartwig Cohen and mining engineer Robert C. Gemmell made a detailed examination of the Bingham Canyon, Utah, copper property, most of which was owned by Enos Andrew Wall. Jackling and Gemmell "liked the prospect." On June 4, 1903, Jackling organized the Utah Copper Company to put his plan into action. Investors included Charles L. Tutt, Sr., Charles MacNeill, Spencer Penrose, Boies Penrose, Tal Penrose, and Dr. R.A.F. Penrose. Jackling was named general manager.[2]
In 1904, Jackling recommended open pit mining, using steam shovels to load railroad cars. The mine proved to be profitable, and became the "showplace for railroad-pit operations" of low-grade copper deposits. By 1912, Bingham Canyon Mine and the nearby ASARCO smelting operations were "the largest industrial mining complex in the world."[2]
In 1905, Jackling "pushed development" of the Veteran Mine outside Ruth, Nevada, eventually becoming president of Nevada Consolidated Copper Corporation. Utah Copper Company, eventually the Western Mines Division of Kennecott Copper Corporation, acquired Ray Consolidated Copper Mines in Arizona and Chino Copper Company in New Mexico through Jackling's promotion. [2] He was the central figure in the Porphyry group of copper properties, holding executive positions in them. Early in the 20th century, he was reported to have an income of $1,000,000 a year from his copper interests alone.
In 1912 Jackling became president of Utah Power and Light Company. Also in 1912, Jackling formed the Alaska Gold Mines Company, which operated the Alaska-Gastineau Mine, at the time "the largest in the world."[2]
He also held executive positions in railway and smelting companies, was a director of the Chase National Bank and Sinclair Oil Corporation, and was in charge of all the Western holdings of Kennecott Mining. After he retired in 1942, he continued only as chairman of the board of the Mesabi Iron Company.
His collected papers were given to the Stanford University Library.[3]
