The copper era., 1904-02-25
GOOD COAL FOUND
 NEAR MORENCi.
A Discovery of Vast Importance to the
 Southwest.

1 During the past week the entire dis
 trict has been greatly excited over th, discovery Of coal which was mad,
 about ten days ago by John Moldcr, il Silver Basin near Morenci. The Mo
 renci Standard has the following ac count Of the discovery:
 : The Molder coal strike has deyel oped four feet Of coal in one fye-f1o' shaft and two oue-foot layers, beside several small seams, in three-foo'
 cut at the discovery point. The shafi
 first mentioned is in the basin above
 the discovery. Other coal scans have
 been found at several points io the
 basin and creek bed. but no work has
 been done except the little 10 demon strate the actual presence Of a de
 finite coal body at the discovery points. This work was finished on Monday, when Superintendent Mills.
 Vice-President James Of the Phelps
 Dodge Co. and Milt Mclean Of the D. C. visited the ground. Inspection wa Gnished in less than half an hour and the discovery bought from Mr. Molder by Mir. Mills for Phelps Dodge. The entire time Of the party at the discoy- nnu@p.,~ssasa- minutes. The price secured by Mr. Molder for his discovery has not been made public.
 Immediately upon purchase of the discovery, the D. c. sent in q corps Of surveyors to locate 32O acres Of sur rounding coal land, all that company may purchase or the governm nt be- fore doing 5000 worth of develop ment work. In doing this work and making surveys for private parties. the corps is still hard at work in the coal field.
 Tuesday Dr. Ricketts, the company expert, was summoned hastily from Globe to view the coal field. After going over the ground he advised that work be confined to the basin, begin
 ming at the discovery. until thor oughly explored. Opinion was eX- pressed by him that good working show existed for the basin to prove q wonderful bed of coal.
 Analy sis of the coal taken from within two feet of the surface in the hole on the discovery m the basin gave the following results. upon which and examination of the ground purch 4se of the Molder discoveries was made: Moist. .................... IS , ol ............-. lI I-D F. C................... ............. 9 Ash ........... ......... .........2G.
 The coal at the bottom of the four foot hole now down shows some i'm provement over that that analysis wa. made Of, being harder. The history Of coal mining calls for depth of at least 20 feet before coal is released from the action Of surface elements which sap its best values.
 The coal field is about two and one half miles from Moreaci, little west of south. The discovery Is on the north center line of the belt. This widens into basin dropping away to the Gila river. On the west is Eagle, it and the Gila forming two sides Of the basin. The horizontal incline ot the formation is about 30 degrees. The discovery Is about ten feet up the bank of Coal creek. At the bottom of the creek is sandstone, lying flat, with several seams Of coal, shale and sand stone running clear t).the top Of the bank. alternately. one above the other.
 The coal blossom in the basin has been traced to the present time two miles, east and west from the discOv- cry. It is q soft, muddy, blue shale, which may be squeezed in the hand to an oily pulp. The coal crops almost through the blossom, the discoverer having with one stroke of his pick brought out little punches Of coal. which satisfied him that he had not been mista zen in the character of the blossom and set him immediately to work. OH he stra ght line the blo,- som appears at d number Of places in the upper basin.
 Lower down i: disappears from sight, as does also close to surface coal. The formation here is covered with wash from an old river bed and with conglOmerate. IL may cover the coal to a depth of from 90 to loo feet. but the formation from all shOwings above certainly goes under it. The coal here will urUDahly be of the best grade. Toe fact that the greater part Of the basin is 90 covered explains in part the tact that lt has 'dln hidden away from the prospector through the many years of activity on the part Of miners throughout the secliOn-but always in search Of gold. copper and silver.
 The ERA is informed that almost everything in what i- considered the coal belt has been located The best of feeling prevails and SD far there have been no cla~hing ot interests.
 Plat of township No. , south Of Eauge 30 East has been received at the Tucson land onice, and lands in said township will be open to entry on and after March 2S, 1901
 The Knights of Pythias will confer sI Il T I