The Florence tribune., 1900-06-16
THE COAL FIELDS.
Early Discoveries in Stanley Butte Dis- trlct Capitalists Now TurnlngAt-
 tenton to this Favored Min 2 eraI District.

erdf DiSLFlCTs
 Special Correspondence Arizona Bulietin.l
 am informed that coal was first discovered in Graham county by It. Stanley, in whose honor Stanley Butte, the highest mountain peak in the adjacent territory, is named, in 1861. It was not, however, until 1881 that work was begun, when q few venturesome men built large adobe house, which is still standing and began to explore for the black diamonds. A couple of lonesome graves there, all overgrown with cactus, tells how faithfully they stay ed. The many and long continued efforts of the people of the county to have this land segregated, Logan's survey and his mysterious disappear ance, and the final receptance of the survey is history.
 A few weeks ago it became known that capitalists in the east had been interested in the exploration of these coal deposits, and on May 27th l ac- cepted an invitation to visit the camp, and am able to give the read CTS of the Bulletin an account of the work up to date.
 The Coal Fields consist of three basins, the upper, middle and lower. The upper basin lies in Pinal County, at the head of Deer Creek, which emp ties into the Gila river, and must not be confounded with the Deer Creek which flows south and empties into the Aravaipa. This basin comprises about 5000 acres and extends from the divide rim two and a half miles west.
 About two miles below the upper basin the middle basin begins and extends for about five miles, and then begins the lower basin, which extends, practically to the Gila river.
 Dr. W. B. Philips, civil engineer of large and varied experience, has charge of this exploration work, and through his courtesy I was enabled to acquire the embodied information.
 One of the original prospect shafts has been utilized, but as the roof was in bad condition twenty-six feet has been filled up. From this point drift was run twenty-five feet and then the incline resumed. This incline is down about ten feet, exposing a forty-six inch vein of fine coal. It is good coal {; in fact, never saw better, and am quite well acquainted with the bituminous fields of Pennsylvania. It does not contain quite so much volatile matter as some eastern coal, but still it is fine colxing article. Dr. Philips tells me he can take out ear load per day from the present vein.
 A new shaft has been begun short distance west of the above and is down about ten feet; this is intended to cut the vein at this point.
 All the coal, so far as present indi- cations show, lies between limestone which overlies all the mineral bearing rock peculiar to the country east of Hawk canyon and abutting the Coal Fields about mile west of said can yon, being separated by ridge oi limestone, rich in fossils. I secured some fine specimens of coral, trilobites etc.
 What more may be learned regard ing the geology of this country must be left to future investigations, which will be carried on with the diamond drill, which will be in charge of MT. B. Frenzel, of Pittsburgh, Pa, but who has but recently returned iron South Africa, where he has been ex ploring for gold for European capi. talists. He arrived week ago. l I will mention, for the benefit oi those as ignorant as myself, that the diamonds used in the driIl 'spoint' are Brazilian black diamonds, or bort as hard and fine as the white gen stone, and costing at present prices $54 per carat. A carat I think is | weight of four grains. This would b. trifie of $6,4SO per ounce. It take eight of these stones to set drill l If nothing unforeseen occurs boring will begin this week, and from indi cations and measurements Dr. Phil 1 ips expects to strike the vein at abou 150 feet. This boring will begin at [ point about one fourth. of mile wes of the present shaft, in the upper ba sin.
 From the best information I cal secure railroad to the upper basi is an assured fact if sufficient bod, of coal can be found, but Dr. Philip I ic cousaruativ and iusf tthoroe ,3