Weekly journal-miner., 1909-11-24
TERRITORIAL COAL IS
 PROVING BIG SUCCESS

the merehantablllty or the coal 1rOm the new fields in southern Navajo county was given a practical test at the office of Judge J. NJ. W. Moore, who is one of the fortunate locators in the strip taken over few weeks ago by a party of sixteen Prescott citizens.
 Judge Moore utilized his office stove for the purpose and during the day many called to witness the in- flammable character of the product. It was pronounced the equal of any similar commodity to reach this city and in addition to that feature of its heating capabilities it is by far the most economical coal that was ever given free and general test of its heating range. The small quantity used during the entire day was some thing of a revelation and in speak ing of this particular feature of the radius covered on a minimum basis of supply, Judge Moore says that the seuttle was still practically full at the hour of closing his business and the stifling heat of the room was the best argument he could advance for the durability of the new article.
 With others interested these To- eators were not only pleased with the first demonstration, but likewise were they decidedly enthusiastic. Consid- ering the fact that the coal brought to Prescott a few days ago was from the surface locations, and no effort or consideration was given in making the selection at depth, those eonver- sant with this character of mining, openly say that when development is extended there is a well founded be- lief that the grade will be such as to give it the highest of rating in the bituminous family.
 The sample brought to this city was the first of any weight from these fields. Two large sacks were brought by Messrs. Fred Moore, Rob ert Heating, Henry F. Ashurst and P. c. Wilder last week and the ag- gregate weight was over 200 pounds. One of these was given to F. B. An drews, who will make a test of its heating capabilities in a few days in work incidental to his business, while the other was taken to Judge Moore s office and given its first trial yes terday.
 These surprising results are inter esting in many ways. The lands talk en over have for nearly a quarter of century laid in the Open in south crn Navajo an7 aside fra n few farmers art -ahc, men Ii ing close to the rr.r. ,he existence O. thcsr ''r. mense bodies has until the last few months ben considered as mythical. So-called geologists have passed upon these beds without ever personally in- speeding them, saying that their ex- istence was contrary to the laws that govern the creation of coal, their main argument being that granite was the prevailing formation in that belt, and this fact would dissipate the existence of mineral coal living under these conditions. Others have also been pronounced in their theories that not an ounce of coal would ever be found in a seam of any dimension within the territory, and their em- phatic declarations have to a certain extent been followed out in the de- sire of the general public diserediting what is now absolutely proven to be to the contrary.
 Personally considered, the placing of these fields before the public Is
 due to the knowledge of coal lands
 acquired by George Mervin in praeti
 cal experience in other sections ot the country other than Arizona. To : this practical miner and his observa } tions made over 9 years ago while prospecting in that section, is tho credit of the discovery due. The per } sistence with which he has maintained | the belief that the land is distinctive W one of coal resources and of i'm . mense range as well, is borne out by } what has followed through many trip . made by those interested as lOeators s MT. Nerwin is at the fields at thu
 present time making the legal publi cations necessary and will remain un til the limit of that duty is dail! . carried out, expecting to return t l Prescott by the first of the coming n monh.
 General interest is being shown tn
 new fields from outside eenters, an, l there is no doubt but what in tn Q +bav will roach th