Answer:
John Dawson had discovered that if he used Coal to burn on his stove, it would last much longer than ordinary wood.
Step-by-step explanation:
John Dawson has settled in a region in New Mexico that had plenty of coal deposits on the surface. After he discovered how useful it can be, he started selling coal in the local market.
It was seen as a profitable business and he eventually negotiated the sale of his estate to another company looking to develop a large base in the area.
However, things went downhill from there as the company, after buying the land, sought a legal right to evict everyone from the land, including Dawson himself.