Arizona silver belt., 1895-11-09
THE MINERAL MARKET.
sEGREGATE THE DEER GREEK COAL
 FIELD AND GIVE Us CHEAT FUEL.

Southeastern Arizona, while abound ing in natural resources, has not progressed with the same rapidity as some other sections. Population and wealth appear to center with cumula- tive force in Marioopa, Yavapai and Coconino counties, and while several causes may contribute to this end, yet the natural advantages which those counties possess over Cochise, Pima, Graham, Pinal and Gila counties, are not so apparent as to account for or justify the disparity of the two sections in material prosperity All the coun- ties mentioned in the group with Gila possess great agricultural possibilities, and extensive grazing areas, while everyone of them is rich in minerals in the precious metals, and in copper, the mining and smelling of which has grown to be one of the chief industries of Southeastern Arizona; and among her sister counties there is none that stands pre-eminent above the little county of Gila in the extent and value of mineral deposits.
 Examining closely to discover the cause of the unequal development of the two groups of counties, it is found in the existence of the White Mountain Indian reservation of 2,464, ,0OO acres, which caps the southeastern tier of counties, menace to their peace and progress. That has been for twenty years our bete noir, the source of our woes and repression, aud will continue to be a thorn in our side, retarding progress, until the Government abol- ishes it, or at least abates the evil by more rigid surveillance of the Apaches, and the segregation of portions of the reservation of no practical benefit to the Indians, but material to the vel fare and industrial progress of South eastern Arizona. The SILVER BELT has always contended for the white mans right against the Indians priyi- lege, at the same time censuring the Government for it's inconsistency in herding five thousand Indians on Q reservation and yet withholding from them sufficient rations to sustain life.
 The only concession made by the Government to civilization in South eastern Arizona iu late years was the granting of right-of-way across the White Mountain reservation to the Gila Valley, Globe Northern Railroad. which is still dependent upon the con- sent of the Indians A question of almost equal importance with the rail road and intimately connected with it in it's bearing upon the development of the mineral resources of this section, IS cheap fuel. Its importance has been realized for long time aud of late has become more urgent by reason of the rapid diminution of the local timber supply, the low prices of metals and the necessity of cheapening the reduc- tion of ores. Under these conditions, supply of coking coal convenient to the mines and smelters would be of the greatest advantage
 The Deer Creek coal field appears to offer a solution of this problem, pro- gided it can be segregated from the White Mountain reservation. This coal field is situated in the southern | part of the reservation, in a valley formed by the foothills of Mount Turn bull, and about thirteen miles south of | San Carlos.
 Coal was first discovered there by David Anderson, in the latter part of January, 1881, The Anderson broth. CTS and James Lillie made several locations along the outcrop of the coal bearing rocks and soon began active development work. Four beds have been worked sufficiently to show their character. One shaft was sunk 200 feet, another 15O feet. There is a tunnel running for more than 100 feet along the strike of the bed on which the l50-foot shaft was sunk, and cross cut of 40 feet made to parallel bed. A number of other openings have been made on various beds. The coal is hard bituminous and as tested in the laboratory will make @ fair coke. The Deer Creek coal field has sey- eral times been examined by experts, whose reports as to their value was somewhat conflicting but sufficiently encouraging to warrant more exten- siye development.
 Under the Act of Congress approved J Jnly 1, 1884, Secretary of the Interior II. M. Teller appointed two com who examined the coal fields.