The copper era., 1904-03-10
LOCAL MINES AND MINING.
THE NEw COAL FIELDS.

A
 rett, of Morenci, a representative Of the ERA this week visited the new coal fields of Silver Basin, recently discovered by that tireless prospector, John Molder.
 The writer knows but little about coal. but from the immense croppiugs Of shale and coal bosom. the wonder is tha: the coal was not discovered
 long ago. The shale occurs under layers Of sandstone, and is from twenty to thirty feet in width. with a dip to the southwest The shale
 bed has been exposed for a consider able distance by the eroding Of the canyon, along which the discoveries have been made. Up to the present
 time but little development work has been done. the discoverers having been busy surveying and monumenting their claims. 4 sufficient amount Of work has been done. however, to show three strattas Of coal in place. one of which is fully four feet in width. The coal is found near the surface but it has d considera ble degree Of hardness and carries a lustre of the genuine article. IL is pronounced frst-class by judges Of coal, and also by those who have been using it for blacks mithing etc. Its quality will Of course improve with depth, as the atmospheric action has had a tendency to deteriorate its quality. The coa! field seems to be quite extensive, but at the present time the ground is all located. and a surveying party under Lamar Cobb of Clifton, is busily engaged running lines, and erecting corners. etc. The original discovery was almost imme- diately purchased by the Detriot Cop per Mining company, after having had the ground carefully examined by well known experts. The purchase price is said to have been SD. coo upon which d cash payment was made. Since that time good offers have been made for adjoining ground, which were not accepted by owners. who will soon proceed to develop their.property.
 A good wagon road can be built to the field from the old Micawbe miLe in Silver Basin. or from, the D. C. pump house on the Frisco river. for q small amour. of money. In fact, lum- Der and supplies have already been hauled in via the pump station, over a hastily constructed wagon road. It would be an easy matter to extend the railroad from the pump station to the coal fields, but as the distance is not over two miles, coal could be hauled by wagons to the pump at a nominal cost, from which point it could be con- veyed by rail to either Morenci or Clifton.
 As the ERA has previously stated thefact that good coal las been dis covered, is ot the greatest possible importance. Development is matter of detail only, which cannot long be delayed.
 John Molder, the discoverer, after selling his original location, secured other holdings, and also remem bered many of his friends by locating claims in their names. He will lay out a town to be called Molder, and will soon open small store to accommo- date the travelling public.
 Water has not yet been discovered in the camp. but it can be hauled in from the pump station on the Frisco. As soon as the camp takes on any de. gree of activity pipe will be eX tended from the main line of the Mo reuci Water company to supply the needs ot the place.
 Frank Garrett, representing him. self and associates of D. C. employees. was first on the ground and secured 2000 acres adjoining the original lis eOverv. which would seem to be about he choicest land in the district.
 Many Clifton people also got good locations, and if the field develops a. well as is expected, large amount of .asy money will soon be in.circulation throughout the entire camp.
 While it i, yet too early to predict a great future for the camp. there seems DO gool reason why many bundred miners should not be. employed in year or two in mining and developing he coal.
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