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Again it was published in the newspapers last summer, that rich silver mines had been found in Llano county, at a place few miles east of Babyhead Mountain, near the headwaters of Little Llano river. Some of the ores here were said to have $900 in silver to the ton-an uncommon richness.

I did not visit this locality. Mr. Johns, of Austin, one of the proprietors of these mines, has specimens from there of silver, lead and copper, which are now before me. These will yield a large per cent. of these metals. The only question as regards the value of the mine is: do such ores abound there in large quantities? If they do, it is one of the richest mines in the United States.

It was also published last summer that tons of silver ore were being sent from Llano county to the North to be smelted. If so, where was the ore obtained? to whom was it sent? and by whom smelted? and what was the yield per ton? Some of the well informed people of Llano know nothing about it, and they even doubt whether it has been clone; hence it behooves those who own these silver mines, and have caused such statements to be published, to answer the above questions.

So much cheating has been done by speculators in buying and selling mines in the Rocky Mountain States during the past few years, that now well informed capitalists require strong proof before investing in mining property, and one of the strongest proofs that can be given is, by smelting large quantities of the ore, and also, by showing that the ore can be obtained at the mine abundantly, and for a long time.

Mr. Barnett and Dr. Watson, of San Saba county, gave me some specimens which may be stephanite, a black silver ore, containing a little sulphur and solve antimony. These specimens are in an unopened box of minerals, and have not yet been tested, for want of time. These gentlemen found this ore in Mason county, and report a very large deposit to be there, forming a large portion of a hill. Messrs. Barnett and Watson said the ore had been tested by Dr. Westfall, of the State Senate, and that the Doctor reported it to be an antimonial silver ore. If so, the mine will be of immense value.

TITANIFEROUS IRON.

Various forms of this occur frequently in Llano county, and have beets mistaken by many for more valuable minerals.