Arizona weekly citizen., 1890-12-13
COAL FIELDS W Within Eighty Miles of Tue son, in Graham Co. INEXHAU2TARE SUPPLY For the Territory, Probably Soon
 to be Opened.
INEXEAU2TARE SUPPLY
Ar Interview with Prof. c. T. Good ing on Che of Arizona's Great
 est Future Industrios.


 est Future Industrios.
 Ten years ago two mining prospectors, Jas Iiily and Chas. Seldon, laden with the usual outfit of their calling, were in central Graham county, following their very worthy and arduOus profession. In the course of their sojournings they came to the vicinity of Mt. Hobson, on the Southern border of the San Carlos reservation. While on the alert for any, thing-lurkirg Apache, game or mineral indications-theym made find of mine raj they little expected to see in that part of the world, at once the cheapest and the most precious. Cropping out in parallel lines, at places indistinct but true to it's strata, they saw ceal of fair quality, intermingied with some shale Though of different nature than sought their find was at once recognized as be- ing, should it develope as it probably would, more valuable than the biggest kind of bonanza of more precious min- erals, and they at once took steps to in- vestigate. Following the veins they found them, true to coal formations, ly- ing in anticlines and synclines, the veins sloping towards huge basin, the coal strata parallel to and above each other. Though expecting improvements upon investigation their delight can hardly be described as going down, yard by yard, they found the coal vein three, four, five feet thick, and soon seven and eight.
 They did not derive so much pleasure from discovery they shortly made re- garding their mine, however, when they found themselves unable to read thelr title clear. The land on which the coal field was situated was on the Indian re- servation, and was forbidden fruit to them. Soon the military from the re- servation headquarters ordered them off Considering thelr right as good to the land on which the coal fields were situa- ted, especially as the Apaches cared nothing for it, they soon returned, to be driven off once more by the seldiery. Three times they have been put eff and as often came back. The ma tier was brought to the notice of Secretary of War Lincoln upon his accession to office. He decided in favor of the miners, and issued an order that the men might stay there until sucn tune as Congress de- clded the boundary troubles. W ith four other, companions they are now living in the vicinity, and are unmolested.
 Prof. c. T. Gooding, the mining ex- pert, returned about month ago from the fields, and has since been engaged in preparing geological maps of the fields, which were kindly shown us, and which more fully explain the situation of the strata than is possible without them. The professor investigated the fields for his own information only, the maps be- ing for reference. He is now engaged in writing out full description of the fields, winch will also be held for re- ference.
 Prof. Gooding gave us some interest ing data regarding the fields, and de- clares them to be one of AriZona's inn portant possessions. The coal is of a semi-bituminous nature, is totally free from sulphur and iron, cokes well, is clean, and excellent for blacksmithing purpose. It lies in veins varying in thickness from two to twelve feet, the thickest part of the vein being at the bottom of the dip" of the various fields.
 There are three fields, which the pro- lessor designates as the upper, middle and lower. AS already stated, they are in Graham and Pinal counties and on the San Carlos reservation. Mt. HoDson is situated in the middle field and Mt. Stanley in the upper field. The lower field is in the eastern part of PInal O., near Graham Co. line. Though divided in fields on the surface they are really one and the same body of coal.
 As for size of the fields that is of course difficult matter to accurately gauge in thelr present undeveloped con dition The upper field so far as known contains about l2 square miles; the mid de one, and the most important, IS about six miles by three in dimension: the lower contains about Is square miles. This supply, as can be seen at once, is inexhaustable, and when mined and put on the market will be the greatest boon Arizona has ever been granted.
 The difficulty as to the property being situated upon the Indian reservation will probably be overcome. r. is owlng to careless surveying that Ihe preSou5 lne is at least SIX u.Iies from where it belongs, at the southw, Z. border of San Carlos. i'he line there is supposed 10 run pa rallel with the Gila river, and If cen miles from it, Instead of being fifteen miles the fields are twenty one miles from the river. The matter to be ad- justed must be brought before the De- partment of the Interior, which will place it before Congress. This should be attended to with all speed, that he may bv adjusted by the next Congress and the ii ~htful owners of the be given their mines, for which they have waited so long.
 The land of that vicinity contains an abundance of timber, for all purposes which can be used when the mines are opened. There is also plenty of running water. 'How far are these fields from Tucson?" | He asked. About 80 miles" said the | professor, land building of the Tucson md Globe'road to Camp Grant, thence ilmost direct, via Vail's ranch, is en- .irely practicable and easy. There is | ,nly one grade, just beyond Vail's where | raise of 300 feet in mile and a Ealf is | ound. Excepting this the road woulo | )e level" ''Is there a horse road to the | ,oal fields at present." No, not all the way. From Vaifs ranch on to the ields a distance of l5 miles, a gool | wagon road {, .Gid bo built for SeJ}l. at he outside"
 "Do the Indians care anything for he coal?" Not q bit. Wood is burned ,n the reservation, and the cnal will lever be while it Is part of San Carlos" What has been done at the mines?n There are several hundred tons of the very clean, however, on the lump, taken out by the men spoke of. There is also lead and copper in paying uantites alongside in" coal. All de- elopment work is foroldden, with the xception of assessment work, which he discOverers and their companions re keeping up."
 HbiC coal fiald whan onapad mn r,;Il h. |