DEPARTMENT OF
AGRICULTURE, INSURANCE, STATISTICS, AND HISTORY.
L. L. FOSTER, Commissioner.

SECOND ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF TEXAS,
1890.

E. T. DUMBLE, F. G. S. A.,
STATE GEOLOGIST.

AUSTIN:

STATE PRINTING OFFICE.
1891.

 

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LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL.

OFFICE OF COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE,
INSURANCE, STATISTICS, AND HISTORY,
AUSTIN, TEXAS, May 1, 1891
.

Hon. J. S. Hogg, Governor of Texas:

DEAR SIR—I have the honor to transmit herewith the Second Annual Report of the Geological and Mineralogical Survey of Texas. The work of that branch of this Department has been in charge of Prof. E. T. Dumble from its organization up to the present time, and whatever of success has attended the inauguration and first two years' work of the Survey is largely due to his skill as an organizer and ability as a geologist. Considering the limited means placed at the command of the Department for use in that branch of the office, the character and extent of the work accomplished will, in my judgment, compare favorably with that done by the Surveys of other States.

These Reports have resulted in acquainting our own people with the mineral resources and wealth of the State, and attracting the attention of capitalists and investors, both at home and abroad, thereto. Indeed, this is only a modest claim for the practical benefits to the people of the State resulting from the work of the Survey.

Since the Survey has demonstrated its right to live, and its effect on the material development of the State is becoming better understood, it is to be hoped that more liberal appropriations will be made for the prosecution of the work.

I have the honor to remain, with great respect, your most obedient servant,

L. L. FOSTER,
Commissioner of Agriculture, Insurance, Statistics, and History.

 

 

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF TEXAS.
REPORT OF THE STATE GEOLOGIST
FOR

1890.

 

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CONTENTS.

• REPORT OF STATE GEOLOGIST.
  • Letter of Transmittal xv
  • Introductory xvii
  • Work of the second year xvii
    • Topography xvii
    • Geology xxii
    • Paleontology xxix
    • Chemical Laboratory xxx
    • Library xxxi
    • Museum xxxi
    • Office work xxxii
    • Publications xxxiii
    • Co-operation with the public schools xxxiii
  • Mineral resources of Texas xxxv
    • Introductory xxxv
    • Fuels and oils xxxvi
    • Fertilizers xlvi
    • Fictile materials xlix
    • Building material li
      • Building stone li
      • Clays for brick lvi
      • Lime lvi
      • Cement material lvi
      • Plaster Paris lvii
      • Sand for mortar lvii
    • Metals and Ores lvii
      • Iron lvii
      • Copper lxii
      • Lead and zinc lxv
      • Gold and silver lxvii
      • Tin xix
      • Mercury lxix
      • Manganese lxx
      • Bismuth lxx
    • Abrasives lxx
    • Ornamental stones and gems lxxi
    • Refractory materials lxxiii
    • Road materials lxxv
    • Materials for paints lxxvi
    • Other economic materials lxxvi
  • The artesian water conditions of Texas lxxxviii
  • Acknowledgements lxxxviii

 

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• REPORTS OF GEOLOGISTS.
  • Report of Mr. W. von Streeruwitz xcii
  • Theo. B. Comstock xciv
  • W. F. Cummins xcviii
  • J. B. Walker cii
  • W. Kennedy ciii
  • J.H. Herndon cvi
• ACCOMPANYING PAPERS.
  • REPORTS ON THE IRON ORE DISTRICT OF EAST TEXAS.
    • Part I. General Statement, by E. T. Dumble.
      • Introduction 7
      • Historical 8
      • Topography 19
      • Stratigraphy 22
      • The ores and their mode of occurrence 28
    • Part II. Fuels and their Utilization.
      • Chapter I. Charcoal manufacture in Texas, by John Birkinbine 33
      • Chapter II. Lignites and their utilization, with special reference to the Texas brown coals, by Dr. Otto Lerch 38
    • Part III Description of Counties.
      • Chapter I. Cass County, by Wm. Kennedy-
        • Preliminary notes 65
        • Topography 67
        • Stratigraphy 70
        • Iron ores 74
      • Chapter II. Marion County, by Wm. Kennedy-
        • Introductory 96
        • Geography and topography 97
        • Economic materials 100
      • Chapter III. Harrison County, by Wm. Kennedy-
        • The iron ore region 115
        • Topography 117
        • Stratigraphy 120
        • Iron ores 128
        • Clays 142
      • Chapter IV. Gregg County, by Wm. Kennedy-
        • Stratigraphy 161
        • Iron ores 164
        • Building stones, etc 171
      • Chapter V. Morris, Upshur, Wood, Van Zandt, and Henderson counties, by Wm. Kennedy 173
        • Morris County 175
        • Upshur County 182
        • Wood County 184
        • Van Zandt County 186
        • Henderson County 186

       

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      • Chapter VI. Smith County, by J.H. Herndon—
        • Preliminary statement 204
        • Geography and topography 204
        • Iron ores 205
        • Lignites, etc 216
      • Chapter VII. Panola County, by J. B. Walker—
        • Introduction 225
        • Iron ores 228
        • Clays 229
        • Lignite, etc 231
        • Stratigraphy 235
      • Chapter VIII. Shelby County, by J. B. Walker—
        • Introduction. 244
        • Clays 245
        • Iron ores 247
        • Stratigraphy 252
      • Chapter IX. Rusk County, by J. B. Walker—
        • Introduction 255
        • Clays 256
        • Lignite 257
        • Greensand marl 258
        • Iron ores 260
        • Stratigraphy 263
      • Chapter X. Nacogdoches County, by J. B. Walker—
        • Introduction 268
        • Clays 269
        • Lignite 270
        • Oil 271
        • Greensand marls 276
        • Iron ores 279
        • Stratigraphy 282
      • Chapter XI. Cherokee County, by J. B. Walker—
        • Introduction 287
        • Clays 288
        • Lignite 289
        • Greensand marl 290
        • Iron ore 291
        • Iron industry at Rusk 292
      • Chapter XII. Anderson County, by E. T. Dumble—
        • Geography and topography 303
        • Stratigraphy 304
        • The iron ores 308
        • Greensand marls 312
        • Salines 315
      • Chapter XIII. Houston County, by E. T. Dumble—
        • Introduction 318
        • General geology 319
        • Iron ores 319
        • Soils 321
        • Building stone 325

   

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  • CARBONIFEROUS CEPHALOPODS, BY ALPHEUS HYATT.
    • Introduction 339
    • Nautiloidea 339
    • Goniatitinae 354
  • REPORT ON THE GEOLOGY OF NORTHWESTERN TEXAS, BY W. F. CUMMINS.
    • Introduction 359
    • Part I. Stratigraphic geology 359
      • Silurian 360
      • Devonian 360
      • Sub-Carboniferous 360
      • Carboniferous 367
      • Permian 394
      • Triassic 424
      • Tertiary 431
    • Part II Economic geology—
      • Coal 436
      • Natural gas 441
      • Salt 444
      • Copper ore 449
      • Iron ore 455
      • Gypsum 455
      • Building stones 459
      • Building materials 467
      • Agriculture 469
      • Archaeology 489
    • Part III. Description of counties 492
      • Young County—
        • Coal 493
        • Topography and drainage 502
        • Geology 502
        • Geology 502
        • Soils, timber, and water 503
        • Building material 504
        • Iron ore 504
        • Salt 605
      • Montague County—
        • Topography and drainage 506
        • Geology 506
        • Soil. 506
        • Timber, water, and building material 507
        • Coal 508
        • Copper and galena 509
      • Jack County—
        • Drainage and topography 509
        • Geology 509
        • Soil, timber, and water. 510
        • Building material 511
        • Coal 511
      • Wise County—
        • Topography and drainage 516
        • Geology and soil 516

       

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      • Wise County— continued.
        • Timber, water, and building material 517
        • Coal 518
        • Other minerals 519
      • Parker County—
        • Coal 519
      • Palo Pinto County—
        • Topography and drainage 521
        • Geology 522
        • Soil and timber 523
        • Water and building material 524
        • Natural gas 525
        • Coal 526
      • Stephens County—
        • Topography and drainage 534
        • Geology 534
        • Soil 535
        • Timber and water 536
        • Coal 537
      • Brown County—
        • Topography and drainage 541
        • Geology 542
        • Soil 542
        • Timber, water, and building material 543
        • Oil 544
        • Coal 544
      • Eastland County—
        • Coal 544
      • Coleman County—
        • Topography and drainage 546
        • Geology 546
        • Soil, timber, and water 547
        • Building material 548
        • Oil and natural gas 548
        • Coal 549
    • Appendix—
    • Hadrophyllum aplatus 552
  • REPORT ON THE GEOLOGY AND MINERAL RESOURCES OF THE CENTRAL MINERAL REGION OF TEXAS, BY THEO. B. COMSTOCK.
    • Skeleton 555
    • Part I. General review of geologic structure 556
      • Archean group 559
        • Burnetian system 559
        • Fernandian system 560
      • Eparchean group 561
        • Texian (Algonkian) system 562
      • Paleozoic group 563
        • Cambrian system 564
        • Silurian system 565
        • Devonian system 568
        • Carboniferous system 568

     

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    • Part II. Economic geology—
      • How to use the Report 569
      • Metalliferous deposits 570
      • Precious metals 572
        • Gold 574
        • Silver 575
      • Base metals—
        • Copper 577
        • Lead 583
        • Tin 595
        • Zinc 602
        • Manganese 602
        • Iron 608
      • Building stones 636
        • Granites 638
        • Marbles 646
        • Limestone and dolomites 649
        • Sandstones 651
        • Slates, schists, etc 652
      • Clays, cements, etc 653
      • Materials for lime, mortars, etc 654
      • Refractory materials 654
      • Fictile materials 655
    • Part III. Supplement—
      • Archean rocks 656
      • Eparchean rocks 658
      • Paleozoic rocks 659
  • REPORT ON THE GEOLOGY AND MINERAL RESOURCES OF TRANS-PECOS TEXAS, BY W. H. VON STREERUWITZ.
    • Chapter I. Definition of area included in the region 669
    • Chapter II. Descriptive geology 677
    • Chapter III. Mineral resources and irrigation 689
      • Hunter district 691
      • Bonanza district 692
      • Big Gulch, or Silver King, district 695
      • Zimpelman's Pass district 696
      • Sierra Blanca Junction 697
      • Eagle Mountains 697
      • Hills between the Texas and Pacific Railway and cliffs of the Sierra Diabolo 698
      • Ornamental and building stones 700
      • Irrigation 701
      • Development 704
    • Chapter IV. Minerals of Trans-Pecos Texas 710
    • Chapter V. Report on Cretaceous deposits, by J. A. Taff 714
      • Lower Cretaceous series 715
        • Trinity division 715
        • Fredericksburg division 717
        • Washita division 719
      • Upper Cretaceous series 732
        • Lower Cross Timber or Dakota division 734
        • Eagle Ford or Benton Shale division 734
      • Concluding remarks 737

 

ILLUSTRATIONS.

• PLATE I. View from Quitman Mountains toward foothills.
• II. Oil well, Nacogdoches County.
• III. Map of oil region of Nacogdoches County.
• IV. Map of iron ore areas of East Texas.
• V. Thurber Coal Mine. Shaft No. 1, Texas and Pacific Railway.
• VI. Vertical section of strata, Northwest Texas.
• VII. Comparative section of strata.
• VIII. Southwestern part of Young County.
• IX. Northern part of Stephens County.
• X. Weatherford and Milsap.
• XI. Ground plan of a long wall working.
• XII. Section across the face of a long wall working.
• XIII. Thurber, Erath County.
• XIV. Gordon, Palo Pinto County.
• XV. Vicinity of Crystal Falls, Stephens County.
• XVI. Vicinity of Cisco, Eastland County.
• XVI. Sections across Carboniferous and Permian.
• XVII. Red sandstone quarry, Quito, Texas and Pacific Railway.
• XVIII. Map of coal districts.
• XIX. Weathering of Burnetian gneiss, Cat Mountains, Llano County.
• XX. Exposure of Upper Cambrian shales, Silver Mine Creek.
• XXI. Map of Central Mineral Region, with transit lines, etc.
• XXII. Economic map of Central Mineral Region.
• XXIII. Map of the Central Mineral Region. (In pocket)
• XXIV. Diabolo Mountains, El Paso County.
• XXV. Lower outlet, Carrizo Canyon.
• XXVI. Sections along lines indicated on topographic map of Trans-Pecos Texas.
• XXVII. Sections of Cretaceous in El Paso County.
• XXVIII. Topographic map of Trans-Pecos Texas. (In pocket.)
• FIG. 1. Profile of Calvert Bluff, Robertson County. 53
• 2. Profile in the vicinity of Hall's 54
• 3. Section showing relations of sands 71
• 4. Section at A. Duncan headright 72
• 5. Section of Hall's Hill 123
• 6. Section two miles southeast of Marshall 127
• 7. Section of Hightower Ridge 133
• 8. Section of Allan's Bluff 138
• 9. Section at Walnut Creek 150
• 10. Section of lignite bed near Port Caddo 156
• 11. Section three miles west of Hughes Springs 181
• 12. Section two miles east of Daingerfield 181
• 13. Diagram showing benches between Pilot Hill and Caddo Bayou 188
• 14. Section of Texas Fire Brick and Tile clay pit 195
• 15. View from Brewer's Mountain, Nacogdoches County 225
• 16. Section four miles southeast of Carthage 235

 

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Fig, 17. Twomey Creek disturbances.. 241
• 18. Section of iron ore deposit four miles north of Timpson 249
• 19. Wolf Mountain sandstone 253
• 20. Faulted lignite bed 254
• 21. Section at Sulphur Spring, Rusk County 264
• 22. Ideal section of oil bearing region Nacogdoches County 274
• 23. Section one mile southeast of Fitze Station 282
• 24. Section near brickyard at Nacogdoches 283
• 25. Oil bearing greensand marl 284.
• 23, 24. Temnocheilus conchiferous 329
• 25, 26. Temnocheilus depressus 331
• 27, 28, 29. Temnocheilus crassus 333
• 30, 31, 32, 33. Metacoceras cavatiformis 334
• 34, 35. Metacoceras dubium 336
• 36, 37. Metacoceras walcotti 336
• 38, 39. Metacoceras hayi 339
• 40, 41. Metacoceras inconspicuum 340, 341
• 42, 43, 44. Tainoceras cavatum 341
• 45, 46, 47. Damatoceras umbilicatum 343, 344
• 48, 49. Asymptoceras newloni 346
• 50, 51. Phacoceras dumbli 347
• 52, 53, 54. Ephippioceras divisum 350
• 55, 56. Endolobus gibbosus 353
• 57, 58. Gastrioceras compressum 355
• 59. Gastrioceras compressum 355
• 60, 61. Hadrophyllum aplatus 552
• 62. Section through Northern Copper Field 579
• 63. Section crossing Mason Copper Field 581
• 64. Section crossing most southern Burnetian folds 583
• 65. Section of lead region of northwest Burnet County 585
• 66. Section of lead district north of Hye 586
• 67. Section crossing Caylor tract, Mason County 587
• 68. Complications in structure at eastern end of tin belt 601
• 69. Neighborhood of Shaft Mountain, Mason County 601
• 70. Spiller mine, Mason County 603

 

LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL.

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, INSURANCE, STATISTICS, AND HISTORY,
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF TEXAS,
AUSTIN, TEXAS, May 1, 1891
.

Hon. L. L. Foster, Commissioner of Agriculture, Insurance, Statistics, and History, Austin, Texas:

DEAR SIR—I have the honor to transmit herewith the Second Annual Report of the Geological and Mineralogical Survey of Texas.

This Report is mainly devoted to the description of the mineral resources of the State, so far as determined by the work of the Survey during the two years ending December 31, 1890.

We have endeavored to make these statements in such manner as that they will be valuable to every citizen, be he land owner, farmer, mechanic, capitalist, or what not, and have used illustrations and maps freely to make clear the conditions under which the various materials occur. I greatly regret that at the last moment circumstances arose which prevented the coloring of the maps of the Central Mineral Region and of Trans-Pecos Texas, to indicate the geology of the areas, as had been arranged for, and hope that they may be so issued in the near future.

Owing to the necessarily great mass of matter, and the limited appropriation for printing, it has been found necessary to omit several reports which it was intended to include in this volume. I would suggest, in order to get them out more speedily, that they be printed as a Bulletin.

In conclusion, I desire to express my most sincere thanks for the perfect freedom of action you have granted me and the unfailing assistance and advice you have so kindly given at all times. Only under such conditions was the amount of work which has been accomplished by the Survey during the brief period of its existence a possibility.

Yours, very truly,

E. T. DUMBLE,
State Geologist.

 

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SECOND
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF TEXAS.

E. T. DUMBLE, STATE GEOLOGIST.

INTRODUCTORY.

The character of work required to carry on the investigations of the Survey during its second year, in accordance with the plan outlined in the First Annual Report, was necessarily somewhat different from that which preceded it.

The broader features of the different geological formations had been determined, the character of the materials composing them and some idea of their extent had been ascertained, and with this as a basis we were prepared to take up in greater detail the study of each formation with its various economic minerals and possibilities.

The work of the different field parties was therefore planned and carried out as nearly as possible with this end in view. Numerous difficulties were encountered, and in some instances the results are not as definite in character as I had hoped to have them, but the general and total result is most satisfactory.

WORK OF THE SECOND YEAR.

TOPOGRAPHY.

One of the most serious troubles experienced by the different field parties was the lack of accurate maps. Without a correct map on which to plot his observations the field geologist is working to the greatest disadvantage. Our county maps are insufficient for the purpose. Many of them are old. They do not show the proper courses of the streams. Few roads are laid down, and these, owing to the frequent changes, are often differently located on the map from their actual location on the

 

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ground. Even the railroads do not appear in some of them. Therefore in endeavoring to carry on this detailed work we are met on every side by this great want, and much of the time that should be spent in the study of the geology must be given to correcting inaccuracies of the maps.

I have made an earnest effort to remedy this deficiency as far as possible. With this in view I went to Washington and had a conference with Major Powell, Director of the United States Geological Survey. As was stated in the First Annual Report, the topographic work carried on under the direction of the United States Geological Survey had been completed over some twenty-four thousand square miles in the center of the State. More exactly, the area covered by this work to June 1, 1890, was bounded by parallels 30°; and 33°;, and meridians 97°; and 99°; 30'.

These maps are engraved in sheets on the scale of two miles to the inch. On this scale each square degree forms four sheets. The principal points are located by triangulation, and the relative heights and differences of elevation are based upon the railroad levels of the country. Where there is a system of railroad lines which cross one another at various points a series of checks is afforded, and the degree of accuracy with which these levels are run is sufficient for the best of these maps. With these levels for a basis the reliefs of the whole country are determined by running lines of levels, plane table work, and barometric observation.

The maps are printed in three colors; the water-courses, lakes, etc., being in blue; the contour lines, by which each difference of elevation of fifty feet is shown, in brown; and the roads, railways, and other cultural features and lettering in black. They are by far the most accurate maps in existence of the region which they cover, and have been of great service, since they are fully sufficient for any but the most detailed work or that requiring a larger scale and greatest accuracy in detail. The intention was to extend eastward by this season's field work. I therefore requested of Maj. Powell that the field work of the present year be planned to meet our requirements more nearly, and instead of working to the east of the area given above that they take up that area lying between meridians 99°; 30' and 100°;. The completion of this tier of sheets would give us the topography of all the Central Mineral Region, part of the Abilene-Wichita country, a large portion of the Cretaceous area, and all of the Central Coal Field except that

 

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portion lying north of the completed line of work of last year-the 33d parallel of latitude.

I also requested that if possible the United States Geological Survey take up the entire topographic work west of the Pecos River, or if unable to do that, at least to finish the primary triangulation for us in order that we might take up such detached areas as we desired to study and have accurate connection between them such as this would give. Maj. Powell promised compliance as far as possible, and under date of June 9 writes:

"It has been arranged that during the field season of 1890 topographic field work will be carried on in the tier of sheets indicated by you, immediately west of the area already mapped-that is, between 99°; 30' and 100°; of longitude. It is hoped that the maps resulting from this work will prove of service to you.

"It is not yet possible to indicate what topographic work will be done this year in the Trans-Pecos region. The addition of the irrigation investigation to the work of the Geological Survey has led to the assignment of all topographic work in the region to the Irrigation Survey, and the order in which different districts are surveyed is determined by the needs of the irrigation investigation."

He also informed me in the same letter that although the United States Geological Survey could not undertake triangulation in Texas as a basis for our own topographic work, the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey was especially authorized by law to co-operate with any State which is conducting a geologic or topographic survey by executing triangulation for it.

Having already been assured by Dr. T. C. Mendenhall of such cooperation as he could give, I immediately wrote him asking that the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey, of which he is the superintendent, take up the primary triangulation of Trans-Pecos Texas. In his reply of June 28 he says:

"In response to your request I will say that we can begin the primary triangulation along the boundary line of Texas near the point to which you refer, commencing with your base line if desired, but preferably perhaps at El Paso, and running down the Rio Grande. This triangulation would cover possibly a strip of fifty miles wide, and would furnish you with a number of points and bases from which a local triangulation for topography could proceed. I would endeavor to begin the work during the present season and push it as fast as possible, but the high character of the triangulation demanded

 

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would necessarily make it somewhat slow. This, however, would not in any way impede your own operations in topography and secondary or tertiary triangulation."

The co-operation thus secured will be of the greatest benefit to our work in Trans-Pecos. as it will enable us to take up the topographic mapping of detached areas according to their importance and to connect them by doing the intervening flats and less important portions more at leisure.

CO-OPERATION OF THE UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

The work of the United States Geological Survey in this State during the years 1889 and 1890 was as follows:

1889. In topographic mapping surveys were completed for sheets covering approximately the counties of Shackelford, Palo Pinto, Parker, Tarrant, Dallas, and Johnson. 6 sheets.

1890. Sheets covering approximately the counties of Concho, Taylor, Runnels, Jones, and parts of Falls, McLennan, Hill, Coke, and Tom Green. 8 sheets.

This, together with the twenty-three sheets already surveyed, twenty-one of which have been engraved, gives us a total of thirty-seven sheets, representing an area of nine and a quarter square degrees, or about forty thousand square miles.

During the past field season the work in this State has been in general charge of Mr. R U. Goode, Geographer. It has been prosecuted by four parties as follows:

Triangulation party, in charge of Mr. C. T. Urquhart.

Party for establishing primary levels, in charge of Mr. A. E. Wilson.

Two topographic parties in charge of Messrs. H. L. Wallace and H. O. Gordon, respectively.

In astronomic work Prof. R. S. Woodward, assisted by Mr. A. P. Davis, determined the location of the 105th meridian of west longitude at a point east of the town of Sierra Blanca, Texas. This was effected by first determining an astronomical position at Sierra Blanca, the longitude being ascertained by telegraphic exchange of time signals with the observatory at Washington University, Saint Louis, and the latitude by the method of zenith distances. From the astronomical position, longitude 105°; 21' 24" west, latitude 43°; 35' 58" north, thus determined, the 105th meridian was located by triangulation, and a zenith mark on the meridian established.

 

ERRATUM.

Page xx, last line, for "zenith" read "azimuth."

 

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The following is a list of the topographic map sheets of this State which were engraved up to the first of December, 1890:

• Bastrop,
• Austin,
• Blanco,
• Fredericksburg,
• Kerrville,
• Taylor,
• Georgetown,
• Burnet,
• Llano,
• Mason,
• Gatesville,
• Lampasas,
• San Saba,
• Brady,
• Meridian,
• Hamilton,
• Brownwood,
• Coleman,
• Granbury,
• Stephenville,
• Breckenridge.

CO-OPERATION OF THE UNITED STATES COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY.

Assistant Stelman Forney, of the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey, left Washington late in November for El Paso, where he will begin the reconnaissance for primary triangulation. His scheme will follow the general direction of the Mexican boundary line, and will be connected with the base lines measured by this Survey and by the United States Geological Survey.

WORK OF THE STATE SURVEY.

TRANS-PECOS TEXAS.

In this district an effort was made by Prof. Streeruwitz, assisted by Mr. Wyschetzki, to complete the section begun last year by mapping the area between the Quitman Mountains and the Rio Grande. This was, however, found to be impracticable on account of lack of facilities for securing supplies and the impassable condition of the old roads south of the mountains. It was therefore thought best to map in the Diabolo and Carrizo mountains on the northeast, which was accordingly done.

The accuracy of the work done in this district is fully established by Dr. Woodward's remeasurement of many of the angles with instruments of great precision, with resulting differences well within the limit of error of the smaller instrument belonging to the Survey, and his verification of the Texas Base Line to within 1/32000.

For the benefit of the survevors of West Texas Dr. R. S. Woodward, of the United States Geological Survey, in connection with Prof. Streeruwitz, erected monuments in the vicinity of Torbert, giving the true north and south line, and also an accurately measured line for the

 

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correction of their chains. This is marked by monuments in the Texas Base Line.

That portion of the work which was finished appears with the report of Prof Streeruwitz on the geology of his district

CENTRAL MINERAL REGION.

The topographic work in Dr. Comstock's district was carried on by Mr. J. C. Nagle, and is intended to furnish, in connection with the work of the United States Geological Survey, the accurate topography of the entire area of the rocks older than the Coal Measures in Central Texas, as a basis for mapping the complicated geology of this region. The work was carried as far as possible in the time allowed by the present field season, and the map as far as completed accompanies this Report

In September Mr. Nagle was elected Assistant Professor of Engineering at the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas, and the completion of the plotting of the map has been done by him without cost to the Survey.

MAP OF TEXAS.

The map of Texas used in the First Annual Report was printed from the plates belonging to the United States Geological Survey, by permission of Major Powell. As it was necessary for us to have maps of the State on several different scales, we began early in the year to collect materials for getting as correct data as possible for use in construction.

Maps of each county were sent to the respective county surveyors and all required alterations noted. These were compiled on a post route map of the State corrected to late date, and the copy from which engraving is to be made was drawn from this corrected base.

This has been engraved on the following scales for the use of the Survey and the Department of Agriculture:

• 1/267200, or 20 miles to one inch.
• 1/2534400, or 40 miles to one inch.
• 1/6336000, or 100 miles to one inch.

GEOLOGY.

EAST TEXAS.

On March 28th Mr. W. Kennedy was sent into East Texas to continue the work of mapping the iron ores of Cass, Harrison, and other

 

23

counties, and at the same time to study the associated clays and lignites. In pursuance of instructions he proceeded to Cass County, after mapping which he took up the investigation of Harrison County, and before returning to Austin made a brief reconnaissance of parts of Gregg and Marion counties.

In order to complete enough of the mapping of the district to make a satisfactory report, it was determined to send Messrs. J. B. Walker and J. H. Herndon into the field. Mr. Walker went out, under instructions of June 6, to map the iron ores of Rusk, Panola, Shelby, and Nacogdoches counties, and in addition to make such observations of the geology as his time would allow.

To Mr. Herndon was given the study of Smith County, including its iron ores, clays, lignites, and building stones, on the completion of which he returned to Austin and resumed his regular work in the chemical laboratory.

These counties were gone over as thoroughly as the time permitted, and their studies have added much to our knowledge both of the general and economic geology of the region.

The reports of these gentlemen will be found in Part II of this Report—"The Iron Ore District of Eastern Texas."

During the field season I visited Mr. Kennedy while he was at work in Cass County, spent several days in working with Mr. Herndon in Smith County, and visited Anderson and Houston counties for the purpose of collecting specimens of ore from certain localities previously mapped by Mr. G. E. Ladd, or reported on by Dr. Penrose, which were needed for analysis. My investigations were greatly facilitated by the kind assistance of the citizens of Palestine and Crockett.

The artesian water belt of the Gulf coast being a very important factor in the economic geology of the region, I tried to take up the study of it in such intervals as occurred in my administrative work. I visited Ledbetter, from which point I was enabled through the kindness of Captain A. W. Littig, superintendent of the First Division of the Houston and Texas Central Railway, to visit several of the most favorable localities for the study of the outcrops of the Fayette Sands, which constitute the catchment basin of the artesian belt. The results were of importance in this connection. Later I visited Galveston and Houston to investigate the results of the artesian borings at those places. It is to be regretted that more time could not have been given to this

 

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important work, but it was found impracticable to complete it. Consequently only a brief statement is made concerning it.

THE CRETACEOUS AREA.

In February, 1890, Mr. Robt. T. Hill, having resigned from his professorship at the State University of Texas, was appointed Geologist in charge of the Cretaceous area. Under this appointment he first prepared his paper on "The Cretaceous Rocks of Texas and Their Economic Uses," for the First Annual Report.

This report comprised the material contained in the introduction to Bulletin No. 4, together with some new matter which had been obtained in tracing the Cretaceous-Tertiary parting north of the Colorado River, to which was added brief mention of the economic features of the formation.

His work for the present year, as outlined in his letter of instructions, was the economic geology of that portion of the Cretaceous lying north of the Colorado River, including its soils, marls, building and paving stones, cement and lime materials, artesian water conditions, and such additional work in general or special stratigraphy as might be carried on with the above ends in view.

He began field work in the latter part of March, starting from Texarkana to make a study of the region adjacent to Red River. He continued to work westward, taking in such portions of the Indian Territory as became necessary to the proper understanding of his region. With his various assistants he covered as rapidly as possible the area of the Cretaceous north of the line of the Texas and Pacific Railway, and also considerable portions to the south of that line such as had not previously been examined.

His work, as detailed in his letters from April 8 to July 23, proved of the greatest interest both from a scientific and economic point of view.

Among the facts thus determined were: the presence of a great fault north of Denison, which has its effect on the present course of Red River; the absence in North Texas of the "Alternating Beds" of the Fredericksburg Division; the separation of the Trinity Sands, between Comanche and Wise counties, into two beds by a stratum of limestone, which has, in some places, a thickness of two hundred feet; and the presence of greensand marls.

On the 26th of July he was called in for consultation in regard to

 

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the preparation of his report, the amount of his allotment not permitting longer field work. At the same time a request was made by the citizens of El Paso that he be sent to examine and report on the probabilities of artesian water at that place. He was instructed to make this and a similar investigation at Georgetown, to start his assistants on the preparation of their notes for his use, and to have his report ready as near the 1st of October as possible.

On the 26th of August he presented his resignation from the Survey, to take effect as soon as his report was prepared. On his return from El Paso he expressed a desire to have his resignation take effect at once, and that he be allowed to make his report when he could, as he wished to enter into business arrangements which his connection with the Survey would prevent and which would pay better than Survey work. This being found impracticable, he presented a physician's certificate on September 26, stating that he was physically unable to make a report, at this time, and on September 30 he presented another resignation, to take effect at once without a report. Under the circumstances this was accepted, under the conditions that he return all his notes, maps, and materials to this office and observe his written agreement in regard to the publication of the results. This terminated his connection with the Survey and explains the reason for the non-appearance of a report on the region included in this investigation with the present volume.

He had, as assistants in this work, Messrs. J. S. Stone, J. A. Taff (who was transferred to Prof. Streeruwitz's division in May), L. T. Dashiel, G. H. Ragsdale, and W. T. Davidson, the work of all of whom he frequently commended highly in his letters.

NORTH TEXAS.

Prof. Cummins was instructed to take up the detailed study of the Coal Measures of the Central Coal Field. His field force was the same as that of the preceding year.

He first traced the partings between the Permian and Carboniferous to the Brazos River, and the upper part of Coal Seam No. 7, and then made an instrumental section entirely across the Carboniferous from the edge of Throckmorton County southeast by Graham and Milsap, and tracing at the same time the outcrop of Coal Seam No. 1 from

 

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Wise County to its southern terminus, continuing the section down then Brazos to the line of Hood County, about ten miles above Thorpe's Springs, thus giving a connected section entirely across the Brazos Coal Field from the Permain on the west to the Cretaceous on the east. From here the party moved back to Palo Pinto and then to Crystal Falls, where the work of tracing Coal Seam No. 7 was again taken up and carried south to Cisco. I was with this party during this part of the work.

The second line of instrumental section was across the Colorado Coal Field from near the head of Pecan Bayou, where the Carboniferous is overlaid by the Cretaceous, southeast to San Saba.

Careful measurements were made on the dip of each coal seam at various points, in order to get the average dip. Examinations were made of all mines and prospects within reach of the line, and the outcrops of both of the workable coal seams were mapped as closely as possible in the time allowed for field work. The instrumental work was done by Mr. N. F. Drake, assisted by Duncan Cummins, and the result of the season's work in giving us an exact knowledge of the different members of the Coal Measures, their relations and thickness, has a most important bearing on the question of coal mining and consequent fuel supply in Central Texas, and has also added greatly to our knowledge of the building stones, soils, and other economic features of the region.

GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS.

From all the information at hand concerning the Guadalupe Mountains it seemed probable that an examination of them would add considerably to our knowledge of the relations of the rock structure of the Central and Western region to that of the Trans-Pecos, and give valuable information as to artesian well possibilities. Mr. Tarr was, therefore, instructed to make a reconnaissance of the mountains, and in order to more fully familiarize himself with the section of the Texas Permian to drive from Lampasas to Pecos City, by which route he would cross the entire series of Carboniferous and Permian beds. This part of the trip was satisfactorily accomplished; but on his arrival at Pecos City it was found that circumstances would prevent the entire completion of the trip as planned, and his work in these mountains was limited to the Guadalupe Mountains proper, and did not include their extensions southward far enough to get the connections desired. He, however,

 

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fully verified the results of Dr. G. G. Shumard's work in regard to artesian water supply, and ascertained the probable absence of deposits of ores or coal in the region. Upon his return from this trip he resigned from the Survey. The results of his work will be found among the papers accompanying this Report

CENTRAL TEXAS.

Dr. Comstock took the field this year under instructions to complete his general work in the regions which he was unable to reach the previous season, and to give especial attention to working out the mineral resources of his district as fully as possible. The work was carried on as far as possible with these ends in view, but the difficulties arising from the fenced up condition of the country, lack of suitable roads, and often of water, provisions, and feed for teams accessible to the places at which work was contemplated, rendered it impossible to do all that was anticipated. His general route was from near Burnet south and west by Flat Rock Creek and Round Mountain, through Blanco and Gillespie counties, with excursions into the southern part of Llano County in working out the geology of Honey Creek Cove and the Riley Mountains. Then through Mason, Kimble, Menard, and Concho counties as rapidly as possible, tracing the western boundary of his district.

Following the northern boundary through McCulloch County he then turned into the region of Katemcy, Fredonia, and Cherokee to Silver Mine Hollow, Burnet County, at which point I joined his party for a few days. From there his party worked south and came into Austin.

This general route was interrupted by frequent trips toward the interior of the district for the examination of such localities as had been passed by during the last year for lack of time, but the hindrances mentioned above proved so great that it was found impossible to visit all that he wished. In November Dr. Comstock also devoted a week to the field study of the district in which tin was discovered by him.

The results of this season's work fully confirm the general statements made regarding the stratigraphic geology of the region in the First Annual Report, while in economic results it has given returns of greatest value. Among them may be noted the mapping of the area of the Burnet marbles, the various outcrops of granites, special study of the lead-bearing districts already known and the discovery of new ones, the study of the brines, the mapping of the general outcrops of the veins of iron ores, more detailed study of the gold, silver, and copper ores of

 

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the district and the determination of the probability of their existence in workable quantities, and finally the discovery of the existence of tin, which is in itself one of the most important of all.

TRANS-PECOS TEXAS.

Prof. W. H. Streeruwitz, having practically completed the topographic mapping of an important area, including the Quitman and Sierra Blanca mountains, parts of the Eagle, Diabolo, and Carrizo mountains, and the foot hills adjacent to them, was instructed to investigate its geology, with special reference to the valuable deposits of precious metals already determined as existing in it. He accordingly went to Fort Davis and got together his teams which had been at pasture, and after some trouble in securing assistants, finally started work with Mr. Ralph Wyschetzki as Assistant Topographer, and Mr. J. A. Taff as Assistant Geologist. Mr. Taff was given the study of the Cretaceous strata of the region, Prof. Streeruwitz working on the crystalline and older stratified rocks. The winter having been an unusually dry one, great difficulty was experienced in getting water at places convenient to the work without long hauling. The summer heat was also excessive, and lacked the invigorating breezes which are usual in that section. Taking it altogether, the work was done under very considerable disadvantage and even hardship, and it required the best of good nature and all the enthusiasm which the intensely interesting features of the geology of that region evokes to overcome them and succeed as fully as has been done.

The work that has been done includes the tracing and mapping of the various mineral veins of that district, specimens of all of which were taken and are now in the laboratory for analysis. Of the value of the district as a mining region there can be no doubt, and since excellent water occurs in the deeper workings and is found in the Quitman Valley, there is no longer any fear of a lack of this important item.

Besides this, the general geology of the region has been studied, and, as far as the limited time permitted, compared with similar adjacent areas; and while it is not possible to fully correlate the older rocks with those of other regions, much has been done towards the clear understanding of the structure and the stratigraphic relations of the various granites, porphyries, quartzites, marbles, etc. The fine porphyries and marbles have been collected for the purpose of showing their great beauty as building and ornamental stones.

 

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In the Cretaceous a clear and comprehensive section of the system as it appears in the area has been obtained, which not only develops facts of some scientific importance, such as the absence of the Alternating Beds of the Fredericksburg Division, but furnishes economic results also that will in time be of considerable interest to that portion of the State.

PALEONTOLOGY.

The necessity for a correct knowledge of the fossils occurring in the different formations, and even in the different beds of the same formation, is as absolute for the correct determination of certain economic relations as any other branch in the science of geology.

The fossils are the guide boards of the geologist, and in spite of the fact that in many cases practical men look upon the labors of those whose time is given to such study as an utter waste, they must be studied in order that the exact succession of the rocks be known and their relations accurately defined. This is easily understood and appreciated if we take into consideration that each separate series of rocks has its own characteristic fossils, and that having definitely determined these, and by them the relations of the underlying and overlying strata, we can make a section showing the succession and thickness of each series of beds, and from such section in many cases tell exactly the chances for artesian water, for coal, or oil, or natural gas, and many other substances, at any point at which any one of the beds so determined may appear upon the surface, and often very closely approximating the depth at which they lie. In the Coal Measures, for instance, there is a persistent band of limestone with a certain association of fossil forms. We have determined them and know from observation that a coal seam lies a certain distance below them. Therefore at any place at which this limestone appears upon the surface, or where we find its characteristic fossils, we immediately begin the search for the coal seam. Many other instances of equal importance might be given of the economic use of the study of fossil forms. Of its relations to knowledge from the standpoints of biology and world-building it is unnecessary to speak.

While this is true, we have found it almost impossible to do anything in this direction here owing to a lack of books and type specimens for reference. We have therefore taken advantage of the kind offers of assistance that have been made at different times, and have by this

 

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means succeeded in getting a large amount of much needed work done at very little money cost to the Survey.

Prof. Angelo Heilprin, of the Philadelphia Academy of Sciences, took up the study of the fossils from the Tertiary beds which were collected by Dr. Penrose and myself. He has completed the work and sent me a list of his determinations. These, together with the descriptions of such as were undescribed or unfigured, will appear in the Transactions of that Academy at an early day.

Dr. Ferdinand Roemer, Professor in the University at Breslau, Germany, was the first geologist who wrote of the Texas Cretaceous, and his works are still our textbooks in paleontological matters. It was thought best on that account to ask his co-operation in determining and describing the numerous fossils of the Cretaceous. His reply was prompt and favorable, and the third shipment of material is now on the way to him.

In the trip made by Prof. Cummins and myself from Abilene to the Double Mountains in September, 1889, a number of new Nautiloid forms were found, and after they were gotten together in the Museum I forwarded some of them to Prof. Alpheus Hyatt, of the Boston Society of Natural History, for examination. They proved to be of such interest that he has made a study of them in connection with similar forms from Kansas and other places, and has furnished descriptions of all of them, together with accurate engravings, for incorporation in this Report.

Prof. E. D. Cope, of the Philadelphia Academy of Sciences, who has already described many of the fossils from the Permian beds of Texas, has offered his services in the determination of such Vertebrate fossils of that period as we may collect, and has given us such aid as he could in furnishing a check list of those which he has already described.

By the means of such co-operation I have secured for the Survey assistance that will be of greatest value, and have had forms identified which could not be done by the Survey itself in anything like a satisfactory manner.

CHEMICAL LABORATORY.

Soon after the completion of the work required for the First Annual Report, Mr. J. H. Herndon was given field work, as has been stated, in East Texas.

During Mr. Herndon's absence in the field Mr. Magnenat made all

 

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analyses and carried on other necessary laboratory work in the Survey laboratory.

Mr. P. S. Tilson continued the work of soil analysis, to which were added a number of East Texas iron ores, until the last of July, when he tendered his resignation as Chemist to the Survey to accept the position of Assistant Professor of Chemistry at the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas.

Upon his resignation such material and apparatus as was the property of the Geological Survey at the laboratory of the Agricultural and Mechanical College was brought to Austin, and the chemical work was all concentrated in our own laboratory.

On Mr. Herndon's return from the field he again resumed charge of the laboratory, and he and Mr. Magnenat have had the entire work since that time.

A general statement of the work of the year is given in another place. It has been almost entirely analytical, and little time was available for any original work, although there are many questions of interest which await investigation in connection with the ores and other materials collected.

LIBRARY.

I have added to our reference library as many books as I could bearing directly upon our work, but it is still very incomplete. Even the sets of Geological Reports of the various States and the different United States Surveys are still incomplete, and the Transactions of the numerous Scientific Associations are either unrepresented or present only in detached numbers. Numerous exchanges are arranged for, and further purchases will be made as rapidly as the appropriation will admit. Our distance from all public libraries renders the building up of one of our own a prime necessity.

MUSEUM.

There has been little change in the Museum. The difficulty of securing suitable field assistants for the character of work wanted compelled me to use all the force in the field, and in consequence there was no one to take up the Museum work; Mr. McCulloch, to whom it had been assigned in January, having been fully engaged in assisting me in reading the proof of the First Annual Report and other office work until just before his resignation from the Survey. It is intended to improve

 

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its condition as far as possible as soon as the present Report is ready for the printer.

OFFICE WORK.

My office work this year has required much closer application than that of last year, and in consequence I had little time for field work. In addition to the usual routine and correspondence I was engaged until June 1 in editing and revising the manuscript and reading the proof of the First Annual Report. I then used a few weeks in the necessary work of visiting the different field parties, and on the resignations of Mr. McCulloch in August, and Mr. Jones in September, I was left entirely without office assistance for more than a month. The amount of correspondence is steadily increasing. Letters of inquiry are coming in constantly from the different portions of the State regarding different points of interest which require time and study for proper answers. These include such questions as artesian water supply at many different points, the utilization of the greensand marls of Eastern Texas in particular localities, the lignites and their uses, localities and descriptions of clays for pottery and fire brick, the availability of certain waters and soils for irrigation purposes, the prospect for coal at certain localities, the location and extent of the deposits of bitumen, and many other similar subjects.

I have also been called upon for special detailed reports on several subjects, among which may be mentioned:

A report on the artesian water conditions of Texas west of the 97th meridian and north of San Antonio. This report was made at the request of Hon. J. M. Rusk, Secretary of Agriculture, for the use of Congress in their inquiries in regard to the use of artesian water in irrigation.

A report on the iron ores, fuels, manganese, fire clays, and other materials requisite for steel making which are found in Texas, with especial reference to their use at San Antonio. This report was made at the request of the Board of Trade of San Antonio for submittal to the officers of the Army Board, who were charged with the duty of selecting or recommending a site for the erection of works for the manufacture of heavy ordnance.

In October Dr. Otto Lerch was appointed Assistant Geologist, and given the special work of collating the results of the lignite industry in Germany from such literature as was available (the most of which

 

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was kindly loaned us from the library of the University of Texas), and preparing a statement of this in connection with the lignites of Texas. Upon the completion of this work he began the preparation of a preliminary statement of the history, present conditions, and probable future of irrigation in Texas.

Mr. W. S. Hunt was appointed to the position formerly filled by Mr. J. L. Jones, and began work November 10.

PUBLICATIONS.

The First Annual Report was the only volume issued by the Survey during the year 1890. The edition was not large enough to meet the demand for it, and after the required number was reserved by law and a few for exchanges, those remaining were distributed to the best advantage over the State and United States. I have, however, furnished the daily newspapers with a series of papers on the mineral resources of the State, and have also issued some of these in circular form, as there were numerous requests for them from different portions of Texas.

CO-OPERATION WITH THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

There having been several inquiries for collections of minerals of Texas for use in the public High Schools of the State, in connection with the study of Mineralogy and Geology, I began the arrangement of sets for such a purpose, which should consist of a fairly representative collection of the various minerals and rocks found in Texas and described or mentioned in the elementary works on Geology. Having gotten together enough materials for about twenty collections, I notified Hon. O. H. Cooper, Superintendent of Public Instruction, of my readiness to supply the collections, in the following letter:

AUSTIN, TEXAS , February 10, 1890.

Hon. 0. H. Cooper, State Superintent of Public Instruction, Austin, Texas:

DEAR SIR—As numerous requests have been received during the past six months for collections of the rocks and minerals of Texas for the purpose of illustrating the study of Geology in the various High Schools of the State, 1 have made up a collection of specimens of suitable size, which are numbered and labeled plainly and ready for use in the way desired. These specimens, besides the ordinary educational value of such material, have the additional advantage of being all from the State, and therefore just such forms as the student will meet with in his field studies.

These collections will be furnished to any High School in Texas on application

 

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of the Principal, approved by the School Board, the only requirement being that a suitable case be provided for their preservation.

An ordinary show case, eight feet in length, with locks on the doors, will answer admirably; or, if an upright case be preferred, a book case with glass doors will answer.

Similar collections of the characteristic fossils of the different geologic periods will be prepared for the fall term.

Yours, very truly,

E. T. DUMBLE, State Geologist.

This was published in the Texas School Journal and other papers, and the consequent demand for the collections has been far beyond our ability to supply. Forty-one sets, more or less complete, were furnished, and since their shipment we have had applications for something over twenty more. During the last field season attention was given to securing the materials needed for supplying the specimens lacking in some of the collections sent out, and for furnishing complete collections to the other applicants.

It is proposed to follow these collections of rocks and minerals with others giving the characteristic fossils of our various geological formations, and it is hoped that each High School in the State will sooner or later have both these collections as a help in teaching Geology and interesting the young people of the State in the study of the natural features around them.

Collections were furnished the following schools and institutions:

• Atlanta Male Institute, J. B. Madden, President.
• University of Texas, Prof. F. W. Simonds.
• Agricultural and Mechanical College, College.
• Austin High School, I. H. Bryant, Principal.
• Austin Colored High School, H. T. Kealing, Principal.
• Abilene Public Schools, Geo. W. Roach, Superintendent.
• Chappell Hill Female College, F. W. Tarrant, President.
• Cisco Public Schools, C. G. Faust, Superintendent.
• Colorado Public Schools, Jacob J. Hill, Superintendent.
• Comanche High School, C. O. Smith, Superintendent.
• Calvert High School, A. W. Kinnard, Principal.
• Corsicana High School, Chas. J. Alexander, Superintendent.
• Crockett Academy, E. A. Pace, Principal.
• Dallas High School, T. G. Harris, Principal.
• Denton High School, E. B. Keyte, Principal.

 

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Ennis High School, Joseph C. Watkins, Superintendent.
• El Paso High School, Miss Ella B. Meekins, Principal.
• Fort Worth High School, P. M. White, Superintendent.
• Hempstead High School, S. H. Dean, Principal.
• Gonzales High School, Oscar Chrisman, Superintendent.
• Gainesville High School, W. L. Lemmon, Principal.
• Kyle Seminary, Milton Park, Principal.
• Lovelady High School, H. W. Browder, Principal.
• McKinney High School, J. T. Johnson, Superintendent.
• Pecos High School, A. D. Wallace, Principal.
• Paris High School, D. R. Cully, Superintendent.
• Richmond High School, E. W. Smith, Principal.
• San Antonio High School, W. Schoch, Principal.
• Timpson High School, T. R. Day, Principal.
• Tyler High School, Percy Pennybacker, Superintendent.
• Whiteright Grayson College, Anderson &Butler, Proprietors.
• Winsboro High School, E. H. Trammell, Principal.
• St. Mary's Academy, San Antonio, Brother Lewis, Principal.
• St. Mary's Academy, Austin, Sisters of the Holy Cross.
• Texas Deaf and Dumb Asylum.
• Taylor High School, A. P. Hill, Superintendent.
• Texas State Geological and Scientific Association, Houston.
• Waco High School, Mrs. W. D. House, Superintendent.
• Bastrop High School, J. L. Hood, Principal.
• Pleasant Grove High School, E. H. Tramwell, Principal.

MINERAL RESOURCES OF TEXAS.

INTRODUCTORY.

The mineral resources of Texas are too varied in their character and too widespread in their occurrence to permit more than a brief review of the results obtained by the investigations of this Survey during the past two years.

Previous to the organization of the present Survey little systematic work had been done toward securing definite and accurate information of the various economic products of the geology of the State. Many mineral localities were known, and the qualities of many ores, soils, and other materials had been tested by analyses. A few mines and manufactories scattered here and there over the State had tested some of these deposits practically, but there was nowhere a statement of such

 

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facts concerning them as would enable the owner or prospector to form any definite idea of their relations or probable values.

The following statements are based for the greater part on the work of myself and associates of the present Survey (although all reliable sources of information accessible to us at present have been examined), and many of the facts will be found stated in much greater detail in the various papers accompanying this and preceding Annual Reports, to which the reader is referred.

FUEL AND OILS.

WOOD.

Over Eastern Texas the amount of wood suitable for fuel purposes is seemingly inexhaustible; but as we go west it grows less and less, until in many places mesquite roots or even the "Mexican dagger" are the principal source of supply. The investigations of the Survey up to the present have been confined to an examination of the wood supply of certain counties with reference to the manufacture of charcoal for iron smelting, and this will be more fully discussed in Part II of this Report, "Report on the Iron Ore Region of East Texas." Other facts are also given in other parts of the Report

LIGNITE.

Intermediate between peat and bituminous coal we find a fossil fuel known as lignite or brown coal. It contains less water and more carbon than peat, but has more water and less carbon than bituminous coal. Lignites are the product of a later geologic age than bituminous coal, and the bituminous matter has not been so fully developed as in the true bituminous coal.

Lignite varies in color from a brown to a brilliant jet black, and occurs in all degrees of purity, from a lignitic clay to a glossy coal of cubical fracture. The greatest amount of our lignites, however, are of black color, changing to brownish black on exposure, often with somewhat of a conchoidal fracture and a specific gravity of about 1.22.

Lignite occurs in beds similar to those of bituminous coal, although they are not always as regular and continuous.

LOCALITIES—The area in which the lignites occur in Texas was defined in general terms in the First Report of Progress, p. 20, as follows:

"The lignite field is by far the largest field we have, and the coal strata it contains are of much greater thickness than those of either of the others. As

 

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nearly as we can at present mark its boundaries they are as follows: Beginning on the Sabine River, in Sabine County, the boundary line runs west and southwest near Crockett, Navasota, Ledbetter, Weimar, and on to Helena and the Rio Grande, thence back by Pearsall, Elgin, Marlin, Richland, Salem, and Clarksville to Red River.

"It includes fifty-four counties in whole or part, and while we do not know of the occurrence of lignite in every one of these, it will in all probability be found in all of them sooner or later."

Within the area thus defined lignite has been observed at hundreds of localities. Drs. Shumard and Buckley reported many of these, and many others have been described by members of the Survey. The beds vary from a few inches to as much as twelve feet, which thickness has been observed and measured in numerous places.

The lignites have been mined in greater or less quantities in several places, among which may be mentioned:

• Athens, Henderson County.
• Seven miles east of Emory, Rains County.
• Alamo, Cass County.
• Head's Prairie, Robertson County.
• Calvert Bluff, Robertson County.
• Rockdale, Milam County.
• Bastrop, Bastrop County.
• Lytle Mine, Atascosa County.
• San Tomas, Webb County, and others.

Of these localities the Laredo "San Tomas" coal stands out sharply above the rest. Although it is classed as a lignite on the ground of its geologic occurrence, it is much superior to any of the ordinary lignites, as is shown by its analysis. A description of the bed and analysis of the coal were given in the First Annual Report.

USES OF LIGNITE.—The real value of this material as fuel is not at all appreciated. Lignite, up to the present time, has been regarded as of very little value. Two causes have been instrumental in creating this impression; first, the quality it possesses of rapidly slacking and crumbling when exposed to the air; and second (and perhaps this is the principal cause), all who have attempted to use it have done so without first studying its character and the best methods of burning it, and they have in most cases endeavored to use it under the same conditions which apply to a bituminous coal containing little water. While lignite may not differ materially from bituminous coal in weight, its

 

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physical properties are entirely different. This is due not only to the amount of water contained in the lignite, amounting to from ten to twenty per cent of its weight, but also to the fact that it is the product of a different period of geologic time, and it may be that the development of the bituminous matter differs in some way in the two. Therefore in any intelligent effort to make it available for fuel, these considerations must be taken into account and proper allowances made for them. In Europe, where fuel is scarcer than here, lignites of much poorer quality than our average deposits are successfully used, not only as fuel for domestic purposes but also for smelting.

The fact that lignites have not been used in the United States is taken by some as an evidence of their worthlessness, but if we turn to Europe we find that their usefulness is of the highest character. From the Jahres Berichte der Chemischen Technologie, by Dr. R. Wagner (1855 to 1889), I have had a careful compilation made of the progress of the lignite industry in Germany. From this we learn that although the German lignites are inferior to those of Texas, as proved by numerous chemical analyses, they are in use for every purpose for which bituminous coal is available, and for some to which such coal is not suited. Their principal use is, naturally, as fuel. They are used in the natural state, or "raw," in places for household purposes, and also to a very large extent in Siemens' regenerator furnaces; and, even in connection with coke made from the lignites themselves, as much as forty to seventy per cent of raw lignite is used in the smelting of iron ores in furnaces of suitable construction.

Raw lignites are also used in the conversion of iron into steel by the Bessemer process, but require a small addition of coke for this purpose.

For general fuel purposes, however, the lignites are manufactured into briquettes, or coal bricks, of different sizes, by pulverizing them, evaporating the surplus water, and compressing them under presses similar to those used in the manufacture of pressed brick. Many of the German lignites contain as much as thirty to forty per cent of water, and the heat which is necessary to drive this off acts on the chemical elements of the lignite and develops the bituminous matter "

---

This work is a yearly review of the progress of applied chemistry and chemical industries in Germany. It gives accurate descriptions of all new processes and reviews all publications on subjects connected with the application of chemistry to manufactures, and is also devoted to everything connected with the science of chemistry itself. It is of the highest authority.

 

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sufficiently for it to serve as a bond or cement under the semi-fusion caused by the heavy pressure which is applied to make it cohere. Such coals as do not form their own cement in this way are made to cohere by the addition of various cementing materials, such as bitumen, coal tar, pitch, starch, potatoes, clay, etc.

Lignites prepared in this way are fully equal to ordinary bituminous coal as fuel for all purposes, and possess, in addition, several important advantages. They are more compact, and are in the regular form of blocks which can be stored in four-fifths the amount of space occupied by the same weight of coal. They are much cleaner to handle, and the waste in handling, which in the case of bituminous coal is often as much as twenty per cent, is very little.

Owing to its physical structure it burns with great regularity and without clinkers, making it a very desirable steam fuel. For these reasons it is often preferred to bituminous coal.

Coke of excellent quality is made from lignites in ovens properly constructed for the purpose. These ovens are of various designs suited to different characters of lignite, but all accomplish similar results, and the coke thus produced is used for all purposes for which other cokes are adapted.

Illuminating gas of very superior quality is manufactured from lignites, and is in use in many German manufactories.

Lignite also forms the base of many other important industries. Up to the time of the discovery of the oil fields of America and the great deposits of mineral wax, or ozocerite, the lignite was the principal source of supply of paraffine and illuminating oils, and even now, although comparatively few factories are run solely for their production, as was formerly so largely the case, the amount manufactured as byproducts is very large.

These substances are the results of distilling the lignites in the same manner in which gas is produced from bituminous coal, and the product consists of gas, water, tar, ammonia, coke, and ash. The tar contains paraffine and mineral oils, as well as being the basis for the analine dyes for the production of which great quantities of lignite are used.

Powdered coke from lignites is used in the manufacture of gunpowder, of blacking, and for filters, and is substituted in many places for the more costly boneblack.

Finally lignite is used very successfully in the place of boneblack in

 

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clarifying sugar. In this, as in all uses of lignite, reference must be had to the particular kind of lignite to be employed.

Just as bituminous coals vary, and that from one locality proves more suitable for certain purposes than that of another seam at no great distance, so the lignites differ and the characteristics of each must be studied in order to ascertain for which of these many uses it is best adapted.

With such evidence as this before us—the results of fifty years of experiments and trial ending in successful operation in all these various uses of lignites—there can remain no shadow of doubt of the adaptability of the great lignite fields of Texas, and other parts of America as well, to meet the wants of the people for cheap fuel.

The ease and cheapness of mining, the small cost of preparation, and its value when prepared, will enable it to compete with wood in the best wooded portions of the State, with coal in close proximity to the coal mine, and it will prove of inestimable value in those localities in which it is the only fuel.

BITUMINOUS COAL.

The work of the Survey during the past two years has resulted in fully determining the limits of the Central Coal Fields, in ascertaining the number, thickness, and dips of the workable seams of coal, and in approximately mapping their lines of outcrop.

The coal measures consist of beds of limestones, sandstones, shales, and clays, having an aggregate thickness of some six thousand feet. The dip of these beds is very gentle, averaging less than forty feet to the mile in seam No. 7, and about sixty-five in seam No. 1, and is toward the northwest or west. Very little disturbance has been noted in it beyond a few slight folds and small faults. These two facts—slight dip and undisturbed condition—are of great importance in the mining of the coal.

Two seams of workable coal were found, Nos. 1 and 7, respectively, of the Texas section. None of the other seven seams observed are of sufficient thickness to be of economic value.

The Central Coal Field is divided by a strip of Cretaceous south of the line of the Texas and Pacific Railway. The two divisions thus formed have been named after the principal rivers which cross them—

 

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the Brazos Coal Field, or Northern, and the Colorado Coal Field, or Southern.

In the Brazos Coal Field both of the workable seams of coal are found but No. 1 has not yet been identified in the Colorado Coal Field, and No. 7 is therefore its only workable deposit.

Coal seam No. 1 first appears at the surface in Wise County, some eight miles southwest of Decatur. It outcrops in a southwestern direction nearly to the southwest corner of the county, when it turns more sharply west and appears in the southeastern portion of Jack County. It crosses into Palo Pinto County near its northeastern corner and its outcrops appear in a south-southwest direction entirely across this county and down into Erath, until it disappears beneath the Cretaceous hills and is found no more. On this seam are located several mines and prospects, among which may be mentioned those of the Wise County Coal Company, Mineral Wells Coal Company, Lake Mine, Carson and Lewis, Gordon, Johnson, Palo Pinto, and Adair. The output from these mines is gradually increasing.

These mines, as well as those on Seam No. 7, were briefly described in the First Report of Progress, and those now in operation are described more fully in this Report.

Coal Seam No. 7 is first observed outcropping near Bowie, in Montague County. From this point it bends southwestward, passing north of Jacksboro, between Graham and Belknap, when it turns south, running just west of Eliasville, by Crystal Falls and Breckenridge, to and below Cisco, when it, too, passes under the Cretaceous ridge.

South of this ridge we find it again on Pecan Bayou, in Coleman County, and from here the outcrops extend in a southerly direction, near Santa Anna Mountain, to Waldrip in McCulloch County.

On this seam we have the Stephens Mine, in Montague County, and various prospects in Jack County. Considerable work has been done in Young and Stephens counties, and coal of fair quality mined, but lack of railway facilities prevents anything like systematic mining. The seam becomes thinner and much poorer toward Cisco, graduating into a material little better than a bituminous shale. Probably the largest amount of work ever put on a coal seam in Texas was expended in this county, but the whole thing was given up at last as impracticable.

"

---

The name Brazos was originally applied to the northwestern portion of this field by Dr. Chas. Ashburner in a paper read before the American Institute of Mining Engineers in 1879. It is now extended to cover the entire area north of the Cretaceous ridge mentioned.

 

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On the southern portion of this seam, or that within the Colorado Coal Field, there have been numerous prospecting shafts sunk, but no coal of any consequence has been mined except for local consumption. The various mines were described in the First Annual Report The principal ones are located north of Santa Anna, on Bull Creek, Home Creek, and at and near Waldrip.

The thickness of these two seams is about equal, each averaging about thirty inches of clean coal. They are similar also in having at most places a parting of clay, or "slate," of a few inches in thickness. While the outcrops of the two seams are parallel to each other in a general way, they vary from twenty-five to forty miles apart

In the northern portion the seams are separated by some twelve hundred feet vertical thickness of limestones, clays, and shales. This thickness, however, increases rapidly toward the south.

As has been stated, the dip is gentle; that of seam No. 1 will not average over sixty-five feet, and that of No. 7 is less than forty feet. The average increase of elevation of the surface of the country toward the west is only a few feet per mile (not exceeding ten), and in consequence the extension of these beds can be found anywhere within eight to ten miles west of their outcrops at less than six hundred feet in depth.

The linear extent of the outcrops of these two seams is fully two hundred and fifty miles. They are probably workable for at least ten miles west of their line of outcrops, giving us an area of twenty-five hundred square miles of coal lands. Even if only two-fifths of this area prove to be fully adapted to coal mining, we have one thousand square miles, each of which contains nearly three millions of tons of coal.

The roof of these coal seams is sandstone, limestone, or a hard clay which makes a good roof. The mines are general dry.

The quality of the coal varies considerably. In some few places it is high in sulphur, in others very little is found. It also varies greatly in the amounts of ash and moisture contained in it, as well as in its fuel constituents, but careful selection will result in a fuel that will give perfectly satisfactory results.

Of its value as a steam coal there can be no doubt, for it has been fully tested for railroad and other uses, and is taken as fast as it can be mined, leaving practically none to be sold for ordinary purposes.

So far as I am informed there has been but one attempt at testing its coking qualities in regular coking ovens This was done by the manager

 

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of the Johnson, or Texas and Pacific, Mine. The quality of coke produced gives every promise that, with proper care in selecting material and attention to burning, it will produce a coke fully adapted for the best metallurgical uses.

In addition to this Central Coal Field there are others on the western borders of the State. One of these, the Nueces Coal Field, was described in the First Report of Progress of this Survey, and again in the First Annual Report. Since that time a boring made at Eagle Pass, four miles from the outcrop on which the Hartz Mine is situated, reached the same coal at five hundred and thirty-one feet. This coal cokes in the crucible, and there is no doubt but that an excellent coke can be made from it, if ovens of suitable construction are used.

This seam is the thickest in the State, averaging nearly five feet, and must prove of very great economic value.

A second coal field is that containing the deposits in Presidio County between the Capote Mountain and the Rio Grande. The specimens of this coal which have been furnished for analysis show it to be very high in sulphur, but no detailed examination of it has yet been made.

BITUMEN OR ASPHALTUM.

This valuable material exists in Texas under several conditions. Its most frequent occurrence is probably in tar springs. These are found in many places in the Tertiary and Cretaceous formations, and occasionally among those that are older. It is in these cases the seepage from the beds which contain it. So far few, if any, of these beds have been examined to ascertain their extent or quality, for there has been little or no demand for the material. Among these may also be included the Sour Lakes of Hardin and Liberty counties, at which both bitumen and gas occur in large quantities.

In other places it is found as deposits of greater or less extent, impregnating the accompanying sands, sandstone, and limestone. These have not been given much more attention than the springs, but some of the localities have been examined and specimens of the material analyzed.

The tar springs are of frequent occurrence in certain beds of the Timber Belt Series, which stretch across the State in a belt approximately parallel to the Gulf coast and from 100 to 150 miles inland, and are at places connected more or less with deposits of oil.

They are also found along the belt of country underlaid by the Fish

 

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Beds, or Eagle Ford Shales, of the Cretaceous, as may be seen in the vicinity of Fiskville and other localities in Travis County, and still others southwest of the Colorado. Similar springs are found in Burnet and other counties in the older rocks.

The deposits which have been examined most fully are those of Anderson County east of Palestine, where there is an asphalt bearing sand. This appears to be due to the oxidation of the residuum of oil left in the sand. Here they are of unknown and somewhat uncertain extent, as they are apt to run into an oil bearing sand. This is possibly the case with many of the deposits of East Texas.

In Uvalde County there are several outcrops of bitumen impregnating both sandstone and limestone. Of the former, Mr. Owen says (First Report of Progress, page 72): "This oyster bed is underlaid by eight feet of black asphaltum sandstone, from which in warm weather the asphaltum exudes and forms small pools" This is on the Nueces River fourteen miles southwest of Uvalde. The stratum here described is continuous. The stratigraphical position is some thirty feet below the San Tomas coal vein (that which is worked above Laredo), and Mr. Owen states that the sandstone occurs at nearly every locality where its stratigraphical position was exposed. The connection of this asphaltic material and the coal seam mentioned over an area exceeding one thousand square miles opens one of the most profitable fields of fuel industry in Texas.

Analyses of these asphaltum sands give an average of fourteen per cent asphaltum. Beds of similar sands are known in Jack, Montague, Martin, and other counties. Analyses gave the following percentages of bitumen:

• Montague County, 8.90 to 10.20.
• Martin County, 10.72.

The asphaltic limestone found in Uvalde County, specimens of which are in the Museum, is richer in asphaltum than any of the sandstones, the average of three analyses giving 20.35 per cent of bitumen. This gives it the same composition as the best grade of asphaltic limestone gotten in the Val-de-Travers, Switzerland, of which the famous asphalt streets of Paris are made. It is a natural mixture of asphaltum and limestone in the best proportion for good road making.

OIL.

Oil is often an accompanying material when the tar springs and deposits

 

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of bitumen are found in the Timber Belt and Eagle Ford beds. Thus, in the counties of Sabine, Shelby, Nacogdoches, San Augustine, Anderson, Grimes, Travis, Bexar, and others, oil in small quantity has been found. Most often, it is true, the quantity has been too small to be of much economic importance, but in Nacogdoches County one of the fields has had considerable development and the results are satisfactory. Besides these deposits there are others in the Carboniferous region, where small quantities of oil are secured in wells and springs which appear to have a larger quantity of the lighter oils connected with them. The only places at which oil is at present produced are Nacogdoches and San Antonio.

NACOGDOCHES OIL WELLS.—In the vicinity of Chireno, Nacogdoches County, a number of oil wells have been bored, many of which became producers. A pipe line was run connecting the wells with the railroad at Nacogdoches, and shipments of oil have been made from time to time. This locality produces only a lubricating oil, but it has the property (through absence of paraffine) of withstanding very severe cold, and is therefore of high market value for railroad use where such oils are needed.

SAN ANTONIO OIL WELL.—Mr. Geo. Dulnig, when boring on his place for water, at a depth of three hundred feet struck petroleum, and subsequently, in another boring at some distance from the first, came upon it at two hundred and seventy feet. The flow is only about twenty gallons a day, but is continuous and regular. The oil is a superior article for lubricating purposes.

GAS.

Another economic product accompanying these beds of bitumen and oil is Natural Gas. Its existence has long been known in Shelby, Sabine, and adjoining counties, and it was found in well boring in Washington County and elsewhere many years ago. Within the last two years fresh borings have been made in the vicinity of Greenvine, in Washington County, and the flow of gas found to be of considerable amount. It has been found near San Antonio at depths of from four hundred to eight hundred feet, and also at Gordon and other places in the Carboniferous area. No attempt has yet been made to bring it into use, or even to fully test the character or extent of the fields thus far determined.

 

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FERTILIZERS.

Under this heading might well be included everything that can be applied to a soil for its amelioration or the increase of its fertility. This would therefore, in its widest application, embrace even the addition of sands to clay soils of such sticky character as our famous black waxy. The deposits, however, which will be mentioned here are Apatite, Bat Guano, Gypsum, Glauconite (or Greensand Marl), Chalk Marl, Limes, and Clays.

APATITE.

This mineral, which is a phosphate of lime, has as yet only been found in very small quantities in Texas. Its value as a fertilizer is due to its contents of phosphoric acid, and if it can be discovered in any quantity will be of very considerable value in connection with the greensand and other marls in sandy lands low in that essential element. Phosphate of lime is also the chief constituent of bone, and any deposits of this character will also prove of value. As yet known no deposits rich in phosphatic material have been found in Texas.

BAT GUANO.

As a fertilizer Bat Guano occupies a place second to nothing, except it be the Peruvian guano. Its great value as a fertilizer is due to its salts of ammonia, potash, and phosphorus. It is found in caves in Williamson, Burnet, Lampasas, Llano, Gillespie, Blanco, Bexar, and other counties of Texas in great quantities. It varies greatly in quality. Many of the caves are so situated that water has access to the beds, and parts of the valuable salts of ammonia are dissolved and carried off. In others, fires have by some means got started and immense bodies of the guano burned. Many analyses have been made from different caves, and large quantities of it have been shipped, but the present lack of railroad facilities in the vicinity of the deposits has prevented their successful working.

Analyses of guano from Burnet and Gillespie counties gave a value of over $50 per ton.

GYPSUM.

As a top dressing for many crops Gypsum is of great use, and when ground for this purpose is known as land plaster. Ground Gypsum is also an excellent deodorizer.

 

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Texas is abundantly supplied with this material. Not only does it occur in immense deposits in the Permian Beds west of the Abilene-Wichita country, but all through the Timber Belt Beds it is found along the streams and scattered through the clays as crystals of clear selenite, often miscalled "mica" or "isinglass." It is of all degrees of purity, from the pure selenite to an impure gypseous clay. So far it has been little used for this purpose in Texas.

GREENSAND MARL

This marl is a mixture of sand and clay with greensand, and often contains quantities of shells. Greensand, or glauconite as it is often called, is a mineral of green color composed of silica (sand) in chemical combination with iron and potash, and usually contains variable quantities of other substances. This marl also contains more or less phosphoric acid, and the shells furnish lime. Where it occurs in its original and unaltered condition it is of a more or less pronounced green color, due to the color of the greensand in it. Where it has been subjected to chemical action the greensand is gradually decomposed and the iron unites and forms hydrous oxide of iron, or iron rust. This alteration gives rise to a great variety of color in the different beds of the material. When it is fully altered in this way it forms the red or yellow sandstone so much used in East Texas.

Numerous analyses have been made of these marls, both in their original and altered conditions. They contain, in all the samples tested at least, lime, potash, and phosphoric acid, just the elements that are required to fertilize the sandy soils and to renew and increase the fertility of those that have been worn out. These elements occur in the marl in variable amounts, and less in the altered than in the unaltered material. In nearly every instance, however, the amounts were sufficient to be of great agricultural value to every field within hauling distance of such a deposit. It often happens, too, that these beds of marl lie in closest proximity to the very soils on which they are most needed, and all the farmer has to do to secure the desired results is to apply it as a fertilizer.

If any proof is wanted of the adaptability of these marls, and of their great value on just this character of soil, it is shown in New Jersey, where exactly similar conditions exist In that State there were large areas of pine land soils which were, like ours, of little agricultural value because of the small amounts of potash, phosphoric acid, and lime contained

 

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in them. There were, however, large deposits of greensand marl adjacent to them, and its use has been of the highest benefit. This is fully attested both by the agricultural and the geological reports of the State. The late State Geologist, Prof. Geo. H. Cook, said of them:

"It gives lasting fertility to the soils. I have never seen a field which has once been marled that is now poor. One instance was found where poor and sandy land was marled more than thirty years ago and has ever since been tilled without manure, and not well managed, which is still in good condition. Fruit trees and vines make a remarkable growth and produce fruit of high flavor when liberally dressed with this marl."

This is testimony that can not be doubted, and although the greensand marls of East Texas are not as rich as those of New Jersey, they are nevertheless rich enough to be of the same use to our lands. Nearly two hundred thousand tons of greensand marls are used yearly in New Jersey.

The first requisite to the best results is that the marl should be powdered as finely as possible before spreading it on the land. The greensand decomposes and is dissolved very slowly, and the finer it is powdered the more rapid will be its action. It should also be spread evenly and uniformly over the ground. It is ordinarily wet when first dug, but after a certain amount of drying it can be easily pulverized, or it can be dried more rapidly and rendered more friable by the mixture of a small amount of quicklime with it It could also be improved by composting it with barnyard manure or guano. Owing to the difficulty with which the greensand is dissolved the effects are not always so apparent the first year, but it is a lasting fertilizer, as is shown by the quotations given above.

The amount required will of course vary with the composition of the soil and the quality of the greensand. From three to ten wagon loads per acre would perhaps be the usual amount required, although some soils might need even more.

CALCAREOUS MARLS.

Lime is already used to a large extent in agriculture, and will be used more largely still. Its uses are to lighten clay soils and to make sandy soils more firm, while sour soils or swamp lands are sweetened by its application. In addition to this the chemical action brought about by its presence in the decomposition and rendering soluble of other

 

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constituents of the soil is very great, so that its action is both chemical and physical. Its use is perhaps most beneficial when composted with organic manures or the greensand marls.

When the calcareous marls are soft enough to be easily powdered they may be applied as they are, and in this condition the action of the lime is much more gradual and of longer continuance. When they exist as harder rocks they will have to be burned before applying them.

Among the rocks of the Cretaceous series are many deposits which are especially adapted for use in this way. Localities are numerous in the divisions known as the Austin chalk and the Washita limestone which will afford a soft material well suited for the purpose.

It often happens that in the greensand beds themselves there are large deposits of fossil shells still in their original form as carbonate of lime. Where these occur the marl is of great value, as it contains that which will render it most valuable on such sandy lands as need it.

CLAYS.

Some of the Clays of East Texas will prove of value as fertilizers on account of the large amount of potash they contain—as high as five and six per cent in certain cases. While it is true that much of the potash is in chemical combination with silica, and therefore only soluble with difficulty, if composted with quicklime this substance will be rendered more soluble and prepared for plant food.

FICTILE MATERIALS.

Texas has not yet begun to take that place among the manufacturers of pottery and glassware which the character, quality and extent of the materials found within her borders render possible. For pottery making there exist clays adapted to every grade, from common jug ware and tiling through Yellow, Rockingham, C. C., White Granite or Iron Stone China, to China or Porcelain of the finest quality. Glass sands are also found of a high degree of purity, and many other materials of use or necessity in the manufacture of these various grades of goods are found here.

While the subject of clays has not yet received the attention that it is proposed to give it, numerous specimens have been secured and analyzed, with the result of proving the facts as stated above

Among the clays of the Division known as Coast Clays are some that will answer for the coarser stoneware, such as jugs, flower pots, drain

 

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tile, etc., and others which from their refractory character are well adapted for the manufacture of charcoal furnaces, and possibly of sewer pipe.

The Fayette Beds, as was stated in their description in the First Annual Report, contain beds of light colored clays, many of which are pure white. These beds of clay not only underlie and overlie the middle beds of Fayette Sands, but are also found interbedded with that Series. The excellent qualities of these clays were first stated by Dr. W. P. Riddell, of the First Geological Survey of Texas under Dr. Shumard. His specimens were obtained from the Yegua, in Washington County, and in the vicinity of Hempstead. Since that time many analyses have been made of clays of various portions of these beds, and while some of them are too high in alkalies or fusible constituents, others are well suited to the manufacture of all grades of earthen ware below that of porcelain, or French china as it is called. Clays of this character have been secured in various localities from Angelina to and below Fayette County.

There are beds in the Fayette Sands that will be of value in glass making. Some of the beds are composed of clear angular quartz grains without tinge of iron, having only an occasional grain of rounded red or black quartz.

In the Timber Belt Beds there are other clays and sands well suited to the manufacture of earthenware and glass. Most of the beds of pottery clays of this Division examined so far in Eastern Texas are, however, only suited for the coarser grades of earthenware, but in Grimes and Robertson counties (and possibly in others as well) clays of higher grade are found.

In Robertson County, not far from the town of Mexia, there is a deposit of sandy clay which is readily separated by washing into a kaolin of excellent quality and a perfectly pure quartz sand. This kaolin has been tested practically and produces a good porcelain.

Potteries have been erected in various parts of the State within the limits of the Fayette and Timber Belt beds for the manufacture of common earthenware, flower pots, etc., and several are now in successful operation. Among localities of potteries may be mentioned Lavernia, Wilson County; Athens, Henderson County; Kosse, Limestone County; Burton, Washington County, and others.

 

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KAOLIN.

In addition to the kaolin already mentioned in Robertson County, kaolins of excellent quality are found in Edwards and Uvalde counties. These are pure white in color, somewhat greasy to the touch, and are infusible in the hottest blow pipe flame. Being practically free from iron, they are adapted to the making of the best grades of china. They are free from grit and every other objectionable impurity. A comparison of the analyses of these kaolins with those of established reputation will more fully show their value. The analyses of the Texas specimens are by Dr. Everhart, of the State University:

Of the other materials needed in the manufacture of pottery we have deposits of feldspar well suited for glazing; gypsum for the manufacture of plaster of paris for moulds; clays suitable for the saggers, and cheap fuel in abundance.

BUILDING MATERIALS.

BUILDING STONE.

The variety and widespread occurrence of the rocks of Texas suitable for construction is so great that it will be impracticable to allude to them in any other than general terms. They will therefore be grouped under general headings.

GRANITES.

Granites occur in widely separated portions of the State. The first locality is what has been termed in our reports the Central Mineral Region, the second is in the extreme west, or Trans-Pecos Texas. The granites of the first or Central region are of different colors. The best known is the red granite, such as was used in the construction of the Capitol building. The color is red to dark reddish-gray, varying from fine to rather coarse grain in structure, and susceptible of high polish.

 

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The outcrop of the granite, which can be quarried to any desired dimensions, covers an area of over one hundred square miles.

There is a quarry now in operation on the portion from which the granite was taken for the building of the Capitol, on account of which it was originally opened, the material used having been donated by the owners, Col. Norton, Dr. Westfall, and Geo. W. Lacy.

Beside this particular granite there are many others in this region. which will prove as useful. In the northern part of Gillespie County there is a brownish granite of very fine grain which takes a beautiful polish; and in addition there are found in various portions of the region granites varying in color from light to dark gray which are well adapted for building purposes, and in some instances will prove of decided value for ornamental and monumental purposes

The granites of Trans-Pecos Texas, like those of the Central Mineral Region, are well suited both for building and ornamental purposes The western granites, however, lack the variety of color which is found in those of the Central Region, being for the most part a lighter or darker gray, the felspar being very light colored in all of them. They are adjacent to railway transportation, however, as the Southern Pacific Railway passes very near their outcrop in the Quitman Mountains and directly by them in the Franklin Mountains, near El Paso, and will sooner or later come into market

PORPHYRIES.

Among the most beautiful and indestructible of our building stones we must place the porphyries. Their hardness, however, and the difficulty of quarrying and dressing them, often prevent their taking the place in actual use that their good qualities would otherwise secure for them, but where the elements of durability and beauty are sought their worth must be properly recognized.

Porphyries of almost every shade and color abound in Trans-Pecos Texas. There are in the Museum specimens taken from the outcrops in the Quitman Mountains alone which are readily divisible into twenty or more shades. These vary through light grays, yellows, reds, purples, and greens to black, and their polished surfaces are especially rich. The quantity and accessibility to railroad transportation must prove sufficient inducement for their development.

 

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MARBLES.

The deposits of the marbles, like those of the granites, are found both in the Central Mineral Region and in Trans-Pecos Texas. In addition to these deposits there occur in numerous places limestones more or less altered from various causes which are locally called marbles, and are sometimes both beautiful and useful when properly dressed. Among such deposits may be noticed what is known as the Austin Marble, a stratum of the Cretaceous which has been altered until its fossils have been changed to calcite. The body of the stone is when polished of a light yellow color, and the tracings of the contained shells in pure calcite, which gives a very pretty effect, although their fragile character detracts greatly from the usefulness of the stone. Other deposits of similar semi-marbles of various colors are found among the Carboniferous limestones of the northern portion of the State. The marbles and semi-marbles of the Central Mineral Region are the altered limestones of the Silurian and older beds, some of which are of fine texture and capable of receiving an excellent polish. The marbles of the Silurian beds found in San Saba, Burnet, Gillespie and other counties, which are known as " Burnet Marbles," are both of solid color and variegated. They are found in beautiful pink, white, buff, blue, and gray shades, and although not true marbles are well adapted for many uses.

The marbles belonging to what are called the "Texan Beds," a formation older than the Silurian, are, however, real marbles. They are found near Packsaddle Mountain, Enchanted Peak, and in the Comanche Creek region of Mason County. They are often snowy white in color, of even grain, and among the deposits are found strata of medium thickness. They are not, however, as extensive as the deposits of the semi-marbles.

In Trans-Pecos Texas marbles belonging, as is supposed, to the same geologic age, exist in great abundance, and for beauty in color can not be surpassed.

From the Carrizos to the Quitman Mountains outcrops occur in the vicinity of the railroad of marbles which are certain at no distant day to become the basis for great commercial industry. They are found banded or striped and clouded as well as pure white. They are fine grained, and can be quarried in stone of almost any dimensions. Some of them when polished will rival the Aragonite or Mexican Onyx in delicacy of coloring.

 

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LIMESTONES.

The limestones of Texas which are suited for building purposes are abundant and widespread in their occurrence. The Cretaceous formation which covers fully one-fourth of the entire area of the State abounds in limestone well adapted for structural purposes. In addition to this we have the limestones of the Carboniferous, Permian, and Silurian systems, so that the total area is largely increased.

The limestones of the Cretaceous occur both in its upper and lower divisions. In the Austin chalk there are beds which furnish excellent stone which is quarried for use in many places, but a large portion of it is too chalky and not firm enough for general use. The best limestone of this formation is that contained in the Fredericksburg and Washita divisions of the Lower Cretaceous.

These limestones are of color varying from white to yellow, very rarely darker, and are often somewhat soft when first quarried, becoming harder on exposure.

Among the materials of the Clear Fork division of the Permian formation are some even bedded limestones of square fracture, fine even grain, and good color, that will prove valuable as building material. These were observed in the northwestern part of Shackelford County, and will also be found north and south of that locality along the outcrop of these beds. Seymour and Ballinger show buildings constructed of these limestones.

SANDSTONES AND QUARTZITES.

The sandstones are fully as widely distributed as the limestones, being found in nearly all districts in greater or less quantity.

In the Fayette sands are found beds of indurated sands of light color which have been used in various localities along their line of outcrop for building purposes. Rock has been quarried from these deposits from many localities, principally at Rockland, Tyler County; Quarry Station, on the Gulf, Colorado, and Santa Fe Railroad; Rock Quarry, on the Houston and Texas Central Railway, in Washington County, and in various parts of Fayette, Lavaca, and other counties to the southwest.

In the Timber Belt Beds the altered (and even the unaltered) greensand marls are sometimes so indurated as to be used for building purposes. In addition to which many of the hill-cappings of sandstone, which at times replace the iron ore, are valuable building stones.

 

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In the Cretaceous area north of the Colorado River there are no sandstones of any particular value so far as our examinations have extended.

The area of the Central Coal Field abounds in excellent sandstone for building stone, some of which has been extensively quarried and used in the construction of buildings from Dallas west to Cisco. It is of good color, quarries well, and presents a handsome appearance in the wall. It is so generally found in this district that it is impossible to name the localities.

In the Permian there are some sandstones which will be of wide application in the buildings of the State. East of Pecos City, at Quito, on the Texas and Pacific Railway, a company has recently opened a quarry in a compact, well jointed red sandstone which is probably of Permian age. It is of a beautiful red color, uniform in texture and color, easily worked yet durable, and in every way adapted to the best uses in building. The company in boring a well at the place have passed through more than one hundred feet of this red sandstone, thus proving its unlimited quantity. It will compare favorably in every way with the sandstones formerly imported into the State for the fronts and trimmings of buildings.

Beyond the Carrizo and Diabolo Mountains there is a fine grained red sandstone which is destined to be one of the finest building stones of the State. It is a little darker in color than the Quito stone, finer grained, firmer, of even texture, and will lend itself to almost any character of decoration.

In this Trans-Pecos Region there are many other sandstones and quartzites which will in time come into use for structural purposes.

SLATE.

The two areas in which the older rocks are found both give promise of furnishing slate suitable for roofing. In the Central Mineral District several localities have been examined which on the surface give indication of furnishing good roofing slate, and in the vicinity of the Car rizo Mountains, El Paso County, similar indications are found.

It will of course require some actual work in opening the quarry sufficiently to ascertain the condition of the material below the surface to fully decide the value of the deposits, but the indications are very favorable and warrant such an attempt at development.

Thus it is readily apparent that in building stone there is no lack of variety, as well as an ample supply of all that can be made useful.

 

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CLAYS FOR BRICK, TERRA COTTA, AND DRAIN TILE.

Clays suitable for brick making are found in all the different formations occurring in the State. All are not of equal value, and indeed the brick made from some few are quite inferior, but the majority produce good serviceable brick. The colors of the brick vary from yellow or cream color, such as are made at Austin, through various shades of browns and reds, according to the character of the clay. In Eastern Texas, as well as in the Carboniferous area, the brick are usually mottled from the amount of iron in the clays. Selected clays, however, in these localities produce brick of excellent color. The importance of this industry will be seen by the following statement of the aggregate of brick production for the year 1889, which was received from the operators of the brick kilns in answer to inquiries:

Brick burned during 1889, 95,000,000.

Many of the clays of the Tertiary examined during the past year are well suited to the manufacture of Terra Cotta and drain tile. These are found in the region covered by the Timber Belt Beds, as well as among the Fayette Clays. Those of the other areas have not yet been examined fully enough to determine their availability for these purposes, but it is probable that many Carboniferous clays will prove well adapted for them.

LIME.

As is well known, the lime made from the rocks of that horizon of the Cretaceous formation known as the Caprina Limestones (which is the most persistent bed of all the formation) is unsurpassed for quality. The fame of the Austin lime is well established. Other beds of the Cretaceous will answer well in lime making, although some of them contain too much clayey matter, or are otherwise unfitted for this use.

Lime is also made from the limestone of the other deposits, but none of these have been so successfully operated as those above mentioned. The reports received for 1889 gave a total production of 190,000 barrels.

CEMENT MATERIALS.

Cements are of two kinds, Natural, or Hydraulic, and Artificial, or Portland.

Natural, or Hydraulic, cement is made from certain clayey limestones, which, when burned and ground, have the property of setting or becoming

 

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hard under water. Portland cements are of similar character, but are made by artificially mixing the limestone and clays in the proper proportion.

Materials for both characters of cement exist in abundance within the State. The limestones of certain beds of the Cretaceous are argillaceous enough to make cement when properly calcined and ground, and the same properties are claimed for some of those found in the Tertiary, but our tests have so far failed to bear out the claim. Some of the limestones belonging to the Clear Fork Beds of the Permian might answer if the percentage of magnesia was not too great.

The materials for Portland cement are, however, more abundant, and the product of so much better quality as to render the natural cement a matter of comparatively small importance. The Austin Chalk is rather widespread in its distribution and adjacent to clays of almost any required grade.

The entire practicability of the manufacture of Portland cement has been shown by the two factories which have undertaken it, one at San Antonio, the other at Austin. The former supplied much of the cement used in the erection of the present Capitol building, and as the reports of it by Gen. Gilmore show, it was of very excellent quality.

The works at Austin are now under way, and it is proposed to increase their capacity.

PLASTER PARIS.

Plaster Paris is produced from gypsum by driving out the percentage of water which is chemically combined with it. Its manufacture on any desired scale is entirely practicable in the Permian region of Texas, where many beds of gypsum of great purity occur.

SANDS FOR MORTAR, ETC.

Sand for mortar, plaster, etc., is found in many places. The Cretaceous is perhaps the area in which it is scarcest, and it can be brought in from either side. The locations will be more fully discussed in the descriptions of counties.

METALS AND ORES.

IRON.

Probably the most important of our ore deposits are those of iron, which in various forms are found in many parts of the State.

 

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Beginning at the Louisiana line with a breadth of nearly one hundred and fifty miles, stretching southwest in a gradually narrowing belt and probably fading out in Caldwell County or just beyond, there is found a series of hills of greater or less elevation which are capped with ferruginated material, varying from a sandstone with a small amount of oxide of iron in the matrix, to limonite ores of high grade. Of this division only a few of the counties of East Texas have been fully examined, but enough has been done to show the probability that the greater amount of workable ores of this belt lie east of the 96th meridian, although there may be localities west of that line at which ores of value occur. These ores are associated entirely with rocks of the Tertiary and later periods.

In the Cretaceous no iron ores of any consequence are known except in the extreme west, where deposits of ochre seem to occur in connection with strata belonging to the Fredericksburg Division of the Lower Cretaceous Series.

There are only a few ores of any value found in the Carboniferous area, and those of the Permian are not of much importance.

The Central Mineral Region, however, contains, in connection with its deposits of older rocks, large deposits of very valuable ores, including magnetite, red hematite, and various hydrated ores.

Finally, in Trans-Pecos Texas, Iron ores of the hematite and magnetic types are found in veins of considerable thickness.

Thus it will be seen that the distribution of the ores is general, extending entirely across the State from east to west.

The ores of East Texas all belong to the class of limonites, or brown hematites. They have been divided according to their physical structure, due to the manner of their formation, into three general classes:

• 1. Laminated Ores.
• 2. Geode, or Nodular, Ores.
• 3. Conglomerate Ores.

To which it may be necessary to add a fourth, Carbonate Ores.

The origin and character of these different classes of ores were discussed in the First Annual Report, and the results of our further studies will appear in this Second Annual Report. In brief these are:

LAMINATED ORES.—These ores are brown to black in color and vary in structure from a massive to a highly laminated variety in which the laminæ vary from one-sixteenth to one-quarter of an inch in thickness, frequently separated by hollow spaces, and sometimes containing thin seams of gray clay. The average thickness of the ore bed is from one

 

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to three feet, although it may exceed this in places. This class of ores is most extensively developed south of the Sabine River.

The ore bed is generally underlaid by a stratum of greensand marl from ten to thirty feet in thickness, and overlaid by from one to sixty feet of sands and sandstones.

NODULAR, OR GEODE, ORES.—These ores, which are best developed north of the Sabine River, usually occur as nodules or geodes, or as sandy clay strata. These were described at page 76 of the First Annual Report, as follows:

"It generally occurs in nodules or geodes, or as honey-combed, botryoidal, stalactitic, and mammillary masses. It is rusty brown, yellow, dull red, or even black color, and has a glossy, dull, or earthy lustre. The most characteristic feature of the ore is the nodular or geode form in which it occurs. Some of the beds are made up of these masses, either loose in a sandy clay matrix or solidified in a bed by a ferruginous cement. The ore lies horizontally at or near the tops of the hills, in the same manner as the brown laminated ores to the south of the Sabine River. The beds vary in thickness from less than one foot to over ten feet, the thicker ones being often interbedded with thin seams of sand. The ore bearing beds are immediately overlaid by sandy or sandy clayey strata."

CONGLOMERATE ORES.—These were described, at page 81 of the First Annual Report, as quoted below:

"The variety of ore included under this head consists of a conglomererate of brown ferruginous pebbles one-quarter to two inches in diameter and cemented in a sandy matrix. Sometimes a few siliceous pebbles are also found. The beds vary from one to twenty feet thick, and are generally local deposits along the banks and bluffs and sometimes in the beds of almost all the creeks and streams in the iron ore region just described. Sometimes they cap the lower hills. They are generally of low grade, but could be concentrated by crushing and washing out the sandy matrix. They usually contain more or less ferruginous sandstone in lenticular deposits, and are much crossbedded."

The investigations of the Survey in East Texas show an aggregate iron bearing area of one thousand square miles. This is not all a solid bed of commercial ore, but the area within which commercial ores are known to exist. If even one-fourth be taken as productive iron land, and the bed be estimated at two feet in thickness, both very safe estimates, we have a total output of fifteen hundred million tons of iron ore.

 

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The quality of the ores vary from those adapted to the manufacture of steel, or "Bessemer ores," to those of low grade.

CRETACEOUS IRON ORES.

The ochres of the Cretaceous are found in Uvalde and Val Verde counties, and probably elsewhere. From analyses they appear to be of very high grade, but no examination has yet been made of them by the Survey.

CARBONIFEROUS IRON ORES.

A great quantity of hematite ironstone is reported to occur in the beds adjacent to the Waldrip-Cisco Division, which, if it equal the sample analyzed, is a very valuable ore. It will be found described on page 215, First Annual Report

IRON ORES OF THE CENTRAL MINERAL REGION.

These ores are of three classes, Magnetites, Hematites, and Hydrous ores, each of which has its own place and mode of occurrence. The Magnetites lie in the northwest trend in the Archaean rocks, which for practical purposes may be confined between "northwest-southeast lines drawn through Lone Grove town upon the east and through Enchanted Rock upon the west. This blocks out a district twenty miles wide, and extending perhaps thirty miles in the direction of the strike. Within this field, however, various structural features have prevented, in many places, the outcropping of the iron bearing system, so that probably two-thirds of the area is not in condition to yield ore without removing thick deposits of later origin. Assuming that one-third of the territory, in scattered patches, will show the Fernandan beds at surface or at depths that may be considered workable from an economical standpoint, it must be understood that only a small fraction of the thickness of these strata is iron ore. Keeping in mind also the folded condition of the rocks, it is evident that the chances for mining will be dependent largely upon the character of the erosion, it being premised that the iron bed, if such it be, is not very near the top of the system to which it belongs."

The general section of this system of rocks shows that the magnetite, sometimes associated with hematite, occurs in a bed usually about fifty feet thick at a definite horizon in it. The investigations of the Survey"

---

First Annual Report, p. 348.

 

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show that there are several belts within which valuable deposits are known or may be discovered.

The most eastern of these is the Babyhead belt, and the outcrops follow a line bearing southeastward, west of Babyhead Postoffice and Lone Grove, and coming out southward very near the Wolf crossing of the Colorado River. Probably the best exposure of this belt is in the Babyhead Mountains, and its northern boundary does not cross the Llano County line. To the southeast good results may be expected as far as Miller's Creek.

A second belt west of this occupies the area between Packsaddle and Riley mountains, and stretches northwestward by Llano town toward Valley Spring. Ores of value have been found in many places in this belt, the surface indications of the underlying beds of magnetite being hematite or limonite.

The third, or the Iron Mountain belt, is that on which the greatest amount of work has been expended, and in two places in it large and valuable masses of magnetic iron have been exposed. The bed is most persistent, and can be traced for miles. At Iron Mountain a shaft has been sunk down the side of the iron outcrop to the depth of fifty feet, and a cross-cut of twenty-two feet cut in the lead. The quantity of magnetite and hematite exposed here is very great. About three miles south of Llano City considerable prospecting has been done by drilling with diamond drill, and also opened by a shaft, disclosing iron almost identical with the Iron Mountain product.

The most western of these belts lies between the Riley Mountains and Enchanted Rock in the south, and possibly having a greater width to the northwest. While it is covered in places by later rocks, the indications are good for the discovery of important masses of iron ore in it.

In quality the magnetites are high grade Bessemer ores, being low in silica, phosphorus, and sulphur, and very high in metallic iron.

HEMATITES.—These ores seem to be chiefly derived from alteration of the magnetites. They usually crop out along portions of the northern border of the magnetite area, and are chiefly segregations in sandstone, and although none of the exposures have yet been worked, valuable deposits will be found following the trend of the magnetite beds. These segregations are to be found chiefly in the red sandstone of the Cambrian system. They will be of value as Bessemer ores.

THE HYDRATED IRON ORES.—The ores included in this variety embrace many different varieties These appear almost exclusively in

 

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veins, for the most part in the older rocks. While they are not abundant enough to sustain any industry by themselves, they may become valuable in addition to the other iron ores.

PROSPECTS OF THE IRON INDUSTRY IN TEXAS.

Taking the iron ore deposits of the State as a whole, and considering their wide distribution, their excellent quality, their relation to fuel supply and other necessaries for smelting and manufacturing them, no doubt can remain of the magnitude which the iron industry is bound to assume in this State, and that Texas is destined to become one of the great iron and steel producing centers of the world.

COPPER.

The copper ores of Texas are of two characters. Those of the Central Mineral Region and Trans-Pecos Texas occur in veins, while the ores of the Permian area are found as impregnations and segregations in the clays.

THE PERMIAN COPPER ORES.

The copper ore of this division was first described by Capt. R B. Marcy in his report on the exploration of Red River in 1852, when he found specimens of it in Cache Creek.

In 1864, Colonel J. B. Barry sent a party with Indian guides to Archer County and secured a considerable amount of ore, which was shipped to Austin and part of it smelted and used for the manufacture of percussion caps for the Confederacy, under the superintendence of Dr. W. De Ryee. After the war several attempts were made to develop these deposits, but lack of transportation facilities and the fact that the high grade ore bodies were in pockets and irregularly distributed prevented the success of the undertaking. Still later General McLellan and a strong company made an effort to utilize the deposits of Hardeman and adjoining counties, but it seems that the true nature of the deposits were not fully appreciated, and the result was the same as those of earlier date.

As has been stated, these ores occur as impregnations or segregations in the clays at certain definite horizons in the formation. They are not in veins, therefore, but in beds, and are not to be mined by sinking shafts to lower depths, but more after the manner of coal deposits. There are three (and possibly a fourth) of these horizons, one in each division of the

 

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Permian. The Archer County deposits belong to the lower or Wichita beds, the California Creek bed to the Clear Fork beds, and the Kiowa Peak stratum or strata to the Double Mountain beds. The general manner of occurrence is the same in all. The ores are found in a bed of blue clay from three to four feet thick. It is sometimes found in a pseudomorphic form after wood, in which case the oxide of copper has replaced the material of the woody fibre in the same manner as is done by silica in ordinary petrified wood. In other places it occurs in rounded nodules of different sizes, "like potatoes in a bed," as it is graphically described. In addition to this the stratum of clay is impregnated with copper to the extent of forming a low grade ore in places. Analyses from various localities of average specimens of these copper clays yield from 1.6 to 4.5 per cent of copper. In any successful attempt to utilize these ores the work must be undertaken with a view of recovering the copper from the copper clays by lixiviation as the principal object. The extent of the deposits and amount of copper contained in them in places seem to warrant this character of development, and the probability of finding many rich pockets, such as have been found in nearly all the workings so far attempted is additional inducement for the erection of such works. Some of these pockets have yielded as much as six thousand pounds of ore assaying sixty per cent copper.

The general lines of the outcrop of copper clays are as follows: The lower bed appears at Archer, and from there northeast to the mouth of Cache Creek, the original place of discovery. The next bed is found in a line running from Paint Creek, in Haskell County, northeast through the northwestern part of Throckmorton County, and crossing Baylor County west of Seymour, and Wilbarger County east of Vernon into Indian Territory.

The upper bed appears at Kiowa and Buzzard Peaks, and passing through the northwestern part of Hardeman is finally found on Pease River west of Margaret.

COPPER ORES OF THE CENTRAL MINERAL REGION.

In this region copper ores are known principally from the surface indications of carbonates and sulphides, which are found in outcrops and scattered through the rocks in various localities. The principal outcrops are confined to the Babyhead District, extending westward from the Little Llano to the head of Pecan Creek. A few others are found

 

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still further westward in Mason County, and some in Llano, but all are apparently connected with the same series of rocks.

The ores at the surface are largely carbonates, both Azurite and Malachite occurring, but the latter predominating. Tetrahedrite is more or less common, and sometimes carries considerable silver. Chalcopyrite is also present in small quantities, and in some places Bornite occurs.

The various prospecting works which are scattered through this area, beginning at the Houston and Texas Central Railway diggings on the east, includes many trial shafts and pits sunk by Capt. Thomas G. McGehee on Little Llano, Yoakum, and Wolf Creeks, Hubbard Mining Company on Pecan Creek, others by the Houston Mining Company on Wolf Creek, and the Miller Mine also on Pecan. Further west in Mason County similar prospecting works are found. In addition to these some prospecting has been done in the vicinity of Llano, and also southeast of that city. Specimens taken from the different localities by different members of the Survey assayed all the way from one per cent to forty-five and six-tenths per cent copper, in silver from nothing to 107.8 ounces per ton, and of gold from nothing to one-fifth ounce.

There have been several attempts at development, but there are no mines in successful operation at present The work that has been done on the different outcrops has not been carried sufficiently far, nor has it been of such a character, as to make it possible to speak with certainty regarding the existence of extensive bodies of copper ore in the district What has been done, however, taken in connection with the outcrops and assays, and our knowledge of the geological formation of the country, suggests the accumulation of ores of considerable importance below, and will justify a much larger expenditure for the purpose of developing them than has yet been made.

COPPER ORES OF TRANS-PECOS TEXAS.

The ores of this district have been known for many years, and considerable prospecting has been done on them. There is, however, only one mine in operation at present—the Hazel Mine in the Diabolo Mountains, near Allamore, El Paso County. This mine is situated at the foot of the Sierra Diabolo on a lime-spar lead cutting through a red sandstone. The principal ore is copper glance or sulphide of copper, at times carrying a good deal of wire silver, and occasionally rich pockets of grey copper. This pay streak runs in a vein from a few inches up to ten feet in width, in a gangue of strongly siliceous limestone, which

 

 

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is also impregnated with the ore. The width of this gangue is in some places as much as thirty-five feet, and the material is a low grade ore of about fifteen dollars per ton.

In the Carrizo Mountains and further south in the Apache or Davis Mountains are other good copper prospects, in addition to the many outcrops in the Quitman Mountains and Sierra Blanca region which show copper at the surface.

LEAD AND ZINC.

While many finds of lead ore have been reported in many portions of the State, all those outside of the Central Mineral Region and Trans-Pecos Texas have proved to be merely float specimens. In the Central Mineral Region the lead ore occurs sparingly in veins in the older rocks, under similar conditions and within the same area as marked out for the copper ores, but it is principally found in the rocks of the Cambrian or Silurian age under circumstances similar to that in which it is found in Missouri.

Perhaps the most extensive "digging" on any of the veins of galena was that of the Sam Houston Mining Company, who worked in the Riley Mountains. This shaft, which followed the irregular course of the vein, was one hundred and sixty feet or possibly more in depth. There was a string of galena, sometimes widening out and sometimes almost entirely missing, but enough ore was not secured to satisfy the owners and work was stopped.

The deposits which occur in the horizon of an age apparently corresponding to that of the Missouri galena ores have been prospected, chiefly in Burnet County. The principal work is at Silver Mine Hollow. The galena is not only scattered through the sandy, ferruginous vein material, but is found abundantly in the adjacent dark gray to green magnesian limestone. Its original source is probably the "cavern limestone" of the Silurian, but up to the present time there has not been sufficient development to make it possible to speak with any degree of certainty regarding the exact locality of the ores.

No zinc ores at all are known in the Central Mineral Region.

In Trans-Pecos Texas ores of both lead and zinc are very abundant and contain silver and gold in variable quantities. The prospects of the Quitman Mountains and vicinity are the best known. These mountains are crossed by numerous vein outcrops and indications of ore, and wherever prospecting holes have been sunk there are promising

 

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indications, and even distinct veins of lead carrying silver, most of them at least having traces of gold. Occasionally, also, tin is present. "The outcrops are generally composed of iron silicates, with probably some carbonate and oxide of iron, usually containing a little silver; a few feet below the surface the copper stain begins; deeper down the quantity of copper increases and traces of lead appear with the copper. This becomes stronger the lower the shaft is sunk, and shows zinc and bismuth in greater depths." The zinc sometimes amounts to thirty per cent of the whole, and even pure argentiferous zinc ores are found. One fact observed is that on the northeast slopes of the mountains uranium is found in connection with the ores, while on the southwest slopes this metal gives place to molydenum even on the same vein traced across the crest of the mountain.

There are a number of shallow prospect holes scattered over this region, but very few of them reach a depth of fifty feet.

Several mines have, however, made shipments of ore, the principal shippers being the Alice Ray and Bonanza mines, both of which are on the same vein. Their ores have an average value of $60 to $65; but owing to the fact that they contain twenty-five to thirty per cent of zinc and that the El Paso smelters are not prepared to properly treat such ores, it has not been found possible to work them profitably after paying for roasting the zinc out of the ores in place of receiving pay for it The Bonanza is the best developed mine in the Quitman range. The lead runs about east and west, dipping almost vertically in a contact between granite and porphyry. A shaft ninety-five feet deep is sunk to a drift below, running on the vein and about three hundred and fifty feet in length, which shows a seam of galena from two to ten inches in thickness. This carries an average of about thirty ounces of silver, although it sometimes reaches as high as sixty ounces, to the ton. The shipping average of this ore is about thirty per cent of lead, twentyfive to thirty per cent zinc, and thirty ounces of silver to the ton, and about five hundred tons have been shipped. From the drift a winze is sunk one hundred and ten feet deep.

On the Alice Ray claim, at a distance of three thousand feet from the Bonanza, a tunnel is run into the same lead. This mine is five thousand and ninety-five feet above the sea level, which, when compared with the deepest body of the Bonanza, shows an ore body four hundred and fifty feet in hheight by about four thousand feet long. The ore body of the"

---

First Annual Report, p. 221.

 

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Alice Ray, like that of the Bonanza, is a well defined vein of galena, running from two to eight and ten inches in width.

There are many other valuable prospects in this district, which are more fully described in the reports.

Beside the ores ofthis district, ores are found in districts on the east and south. The Chinati region is, however, the only other one in which much prospecting has been done. Here there are a great many prospecting shafts, as well as some well developed mines. The ore on the river side is galena, the outcrops being strongly ferruginous streaks, similar to those of the Quitman Mountains. Some outcrops show carbonates and sulphides containing both bismuth and silver. An assay of one of these outcrops gave silver ten ounces, bismuth three and five-tenths, lead forty and five-tenths per cent. On the eastern side the contacts between the porphyries and crystalline limestones are very clearly marked, and it is on these that the most satisfactory prospecting work has been done. These yield both fine milling silver and galenas.

In the other ranges examined to the south and east similar ores also exist, but they are at present so difficult of access that little work has been done on them.

GOLD AND SILVER.

The precious metals occur in connection with the ores of copper, lead, and zinc, as has already been stated under those heads. They occur also in a free state. Small amounts of free gold have been found by panning in the Colorado River and in some parts of Llano County, but the amount found is too small for profitable working. Native silver has not yet been reported. In Trans-Pecos Texas, however, the conditions are more favorable, and there are two mines now working a free-milling silver ore in Presidio County, and many trial shafts have been put down in the surrounding region. In the Quitman Mountains some of the quartz and ferruginous outcrops show traces of gold, and by using the pan colors of gold are frequently found in the gravel and sand. A small piece of quartz found near Finlay assayed eleven ounces of gold to the ton. Taking this evidence, with the general geologic features of the Quitman and surrounding mountains, the presence of gold is established, although the probable quantity is still uncertain. Free gold has also been observed in certain ores received from Presidio County.

The best developed mine in this region is generally known as the

 

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Shafter or Bullis mine, and is owned and operated by the Presidio Mining Company, who are now working two mines—the Presidio and Cibolo. In the former, which was discovered in 1880, the mine consists of pockets and bunches of ore of irregular shapes and sizes, generally isolated from each other, imbedded in a limestone country rock, thus forming chamber deposits.

The Cibolo has the same general character, but, in addition, has an ore body situated in a well defined fissure, and is a contact deposit. This company work their own mill and ship their product as bullion. The mill, which is of ten stamps of the common California pattern, is located on a hillside, so that the ore from the crusher falls to the automatic feeder at the stamps, from which the pulp is lifted to the amalgamaters. The amalgam is freed from the excess of quicksilver by straining, as usual, when retorted and fused. This mill averages from thirty to thirty-five tons of ore per day, which yields from forty to forty-five ounces of silver per ton. The motive power is an eighty-horse power engine. There is an ample water supply in Cibolo Creek to permit an increase in the size of this mill and the erection of others as well, and there is also good opportunity to build storage reservoirs along it. There are other locations being worked up, many of which promise good returns, and there is no doubt that this district must soon become one of the centres of the mining industry in Texas.

IMPORTANCE OF THESE INDUSTRIES.

From the foregoing description of the occurrence of copper, lead, zinc, silver, and gold, it is clearly evident that we have in Texas deposits of the ores of these metals which are abundant in quantity and of sufficiently high grade to fully warrant the claim so often made of our great resources in this direction. The work of the Survey has established the connection and relations existing between many of these ore deposits and the rock materials enclosing them. It has proved the continuity of the veins over considerable distances. It has proved and asserted the value of the ores, and stated the certainty of profitable returns from systematic and intelligent prospecting and mining. It has pointed out places at which prospecting could be carried on, and in some special instances has given advice to those at work. The ores are here. They are abundant enough and sufficiently rich to justify the rapid and extensive development of our mining industry, but this development is hindered, not only by lack of transportation facilities and proper reduction

 

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works, which may be remedied by private enterprise, but also by the uncertainty of land lines and other things which can and should be changed by legislation. Until the locations of land lines are definitely settled, and the prospector has some assurance that after his work in developing a mine he will be secured in its possession at a reasonable cost, and not be called upon for a heavy royalty, or even have to give up his work entirely, little will be done. The State has millions of acres of University and other lands in Trans-Pecos Texas. By a generous policy toward prospectors and settlers (for much of it will ultimately be made agricultural land if proper assistance is granted), this land can be made to bring its proper revenue from taxation instead of lying untaxed as at present.

TIN.

The occurrence of tin was reported, doubtfully, in the Central Mineral District last year, and it was also found in connection with lead ores in Trans-Pecos Texas. In November, during the examination of specimens collected by members of his party, Dr. Cornstock found some excellent pieces of Cassiterite, or Oxide of Tin, and made a special trip to decide the reality and manner of its occurrence. This resulted in the discovery that it occurred not only as Cassiterite, but in small quantities in connection with other minerals in the rocks of a certain portion of the Burnetan System extending from the western part of Burnet to the eastern part of Mason County, a distance of fifty miles, and having a width of eight to ten miles. In this belt the-tin ore has been found at four or five localities. It occurs in a quartz of somewhat banded appearance, and when pure may often be recognized by its weight, being of greater specific gravity than the iron ores.

Near the divide between Herman Creek and tributaries of the San Saba River, in Mason County, are the remains of two old furnaces, and considerable slag which carries tin in little globules scattered through it.

While it is impossible to speak positively of the probable quantity of ore, the indications are favorable for its existence in amounts sufficient to be of economic value.

In Trans-Pecos Texas tin was found by Prof. Streeruwitz in connection with some of the ores of the Quitman Range.

MERCURY.

Like tin, this metal has been reported from several localities, but up to the present we have not succeeded in verifying any of the reports or of finding any traces of it

 

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MANGANESE.

The only workable deposits of manganese yet defined by the Survey are those of the Central Mineral Region. These deposits are both in the form of manganese ores and of combinations of iron and manganese ores in different proportions.

The Spiller Mine, south of Fly Gap, Mason County, is the only known occurrence of the manganese ore on an extensive scale anywhere in the region, although surface croppings were traced, which seemed to indicate companion belts to the one which has been opened at the locality mentioned.

The ore is rather siliceous psilomelane, with patches of pyrolusite and more or less black wad, filling cavities and crevices in the vein, which is three or four feet wide. The ore seems to lie as an interbedded vein, and numerous borings were made on it with a diamond drill, presumably for the purpose of prospecting in the direction of its dip. Manganese ores are found under similar circumstances in the region between Packsaddle and Riley Mountains, and specimens are reported both from Gillespie and Blanco counties.

Manganese also occurs as an ingredient of the various limonitic ores, and in one instance such an ore was found to contain as much as eleven per cent of this metal in the form of dioxide. These deposits, however, are not likely to prove of much economic value.

BISMUTH.

Bismuth occurs in small quantities in connection with the ores of the Quitman range, and in one vein examined in the region of the Chinati Mountains as much as three and one-half per cent of this metal was found in the ore (galena).

ABRASIVES.

BUHRSTONE.

In the Fayette Sands are found stones of excellent quality for use as millstones. In Jasper and other counties millstones which have given perfect satisfaction in use have been cut from certain horizons of these sands.

GRINDSTONES.

Certain sandstones in the Carboniferous and older formations furnish"

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First Annual Report, p. 345.

 

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excellent materials for grindstones, but up to the present they have only been utilized for local use.

WHETSTONES.

No whetstones have yet been manufactured in Texas, although excellent material exists for such a purpose. The Fayette Sands probably furnish the best of the material, and some specimens from Fayette County are now in the Museum. Other material suitable for the purpose is found in the Central Mineral Region and in the Central Coal Field.

INFUSORIAL EARTH.

Several localities of deposits of this material are known in Hopkins, Leon, Polk, and Crosby counties. Very little has been mined for shipment.

ORNAMENTAL STONES AND GEMS.

Among the gem stones may be mentioned Beryl, Smoky Quartz, Rose Quartz, Silicified Wood, Garnet, Agate, Moss Agate, Amethyst, Jasper, Sardonyx, Tourmaline, and others.

QUARTZ.

The clear white variety, which is known as "crystal," is sparingly found in masses of a size suitable for use. Clusters of crystals are found which form handsome ornaments, but the greater part are stained or milky.

SMOKY QUARTZ.—The Central Mineral Region produces fine crystals of smoky quartz of deep color. Barringer Hill, Llano County, is one of the best localities.

ROSE QUARTZ.—Beautiful shades of rose quartz are found in Llano and Gillespie counties.

AMETHYST.—Gillespie County furnishes some amethysts of fair color, but the deeper colored ones have so far been found only in the Sierra Blanca or Quitman region.

THETIS HAIR STONE.—This variety of limpid quartz with fine needles of actinolite scattered through it is found in the northern part of Gillespie County, near Enchanted Rock.

BERYL.—Some very large fine crystals of beryl have been found in Gillespie County, and occasionally in Llano County.

 

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GARNET.—Garnets are abundant both in the Central Mineral District and in Trans-Pecos Texas.

Fine cabinet specimens showing both large and attractive crystals are in the Museum, but no systematic work has been done in working the deposits. There are several colors—brown, black, and green—and they occur in abundance. Among the localities may be mentioned Clear Creek valley on Burnet and Bluffton road, Babyhead, King Mountains, and similar areas in Llano and Gillespie counties; in the Quitman Mountains, and other localities in Trans-Pecos Texas. In Llano County fine crystals are also found of Idocrase, or Vesuvianite, which is near the garnet in character.

TOURMALINE.—Black tourmaline is abundant in certain granites of Llano County, and will be useful for all purposes for which it can be employed, although there is no prospect of specimens of value for cabinet purposes being found.

CHALCEDONY.—Some fine specimens of chalcedony have been found in Travis County in the neighborhood of the disturbances caused by the Pilot Knob eruption. They also occur in Presidio County and other portions of West Texas.

CARNELIAN.—Carnelians have been found in the vicinity of Van Horn, El Paso County.

SARDONYX.—Beautiful specimens of sardonyx are found in the Trans-Pecos region in El Paso or Jeff Davis counties. A number of specimens are now in the Museum.

JASPER.—In this same region are found handsome varieties of plain and banded jasper, but, like the other deposits, there has been no attempt at development, and only a few specimens have been collected by persons happening on them. Pebbles of jasper are also abundant in the drift as far north as the Staked Plains.

AGATE.—The occurrence of this beautiful stone has been mentioned in the former reports of this Survey. It is found abundantly in several parts of West Texas and occasionally in the river drift of the Colorado. In West Texas they are found in a schistose material and scattered over the surface in large quantities, from fragments to boulders of considerable size. The colors are rich, and the banded and fortification agates show beautiful bandings and stripes. Moss agates are also plentiful, and there is ample room for the establishment of an industry in this material, even if they are only collected for shipment abroad. The average price paid for rough agate for manufacturing purposes at Idar,

 

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Oldenburg, Germany, one of the principal manufacturing cities of this material, is about twenty-five cents per pound, and the beauty of the varieties occurring in Texas would add materially to that price.

PUDDING STONE.—Of equal beauty with the agates are some varieties of metamorphosed pudding stones brought from the lower mountains by Prof. Streeruwitz. They take fully as fine a polish, and the variety of color and shape of the inclusions are very pleasing.

SERPENTINE.—Some of the serpentines of West Texas will be valuable as ornamental stones. So far no "precious serpentine" has been found, but some of the red and green varieties will come into use as the region is developed. Central Texas also affords varieties which may be utilized.

SILICIFIED WOOD.—While the greater part of the silicified wood of the State is not of much value as an ornamental stone, there are certain horizons in the Fayette Beds in which the wood has been opalized and presents a pleasant variety of color and banding. These will probably be used quite largely for various purposes in ornamental work so soon as their beauty is properly shown.

PEARLS.—Texas is one of the principal pearl producing States of the United States. Mr. Kunz,-in "Gems and Precious Stones," mentions one from Llano valued at ninety-five dollars, which was sold in New York. The pearls are found in the Unios, or fresh water mussels, which abound in the Colorado, Llano, and Concho rivers, and many other streams in Texas. They have been collected in large numbers, and in collecting them great numbers of the shell fish have been destroyed. In order to avoid this wholesale destruction, and leave the animal to propagate more valuable progeny, Mr. Kunz recommends that instruments similar to those used in Saxony and Bavaria be introduced here. One of these is a flat iron tool, the other a pair of sharp pointed pliers, both fashioned for the purpose of opening the shells for examination without injury to the animal, which, if no pearl is found, is replaced in the shoal.

ALABASTER.—Alabaster of fine grain and translucency occurs both among the rocks of the Cretaceous formation and in the gypsum region of the Permian. Its uses in vases and statuary are well known, and material suitable for any of these purposes can be secured in any desired quantity.

REFRACTORY MATERIALS.

Refractory materials, or those which will stand very high degrees of heat without injury, are of the highest importance in manufacturing.

 

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They enter into the construction of all furnaces for iron, or steel, or pottery, or glass, or the various other products of high temperatures, and are an absolute necessity in the proper development of such manufactures. Of such substances fire clay is doubtless the most important The essentials for a good fire clay are not so much the proportions of silica and alumina, although the larger the percentage of silica the greater its refractory power seems to be, but its freedom from materials such as lime, soda, potash, magnesia, or oxide of iron, which could unite with the silica and form a glass, and thus cause fusion.

FIRE CLAYS.

Of our Texas fire clays only two or three have had any decided or extensive trial. These are from the beds found in Henderson, Limestone, and Fayette counties. The first two are found in connection with the Timber Belt Beds, the third in the Fayette Beds. In use the brick made at Athens from the Henderson County clay have proved to be of excellent quality. They have stood the severe test of the iron furnace at Rusk and of some of the lime kilns, and are highly recommended for their good qualities. The brick from the beds of Limestone County are also of good quality, and proper care in their manufacture will make them fully equal to any. The Fayette Clays which have come under my notice, which are classed as fire clays, seem to be somewhat high in fluxing constituents, but more careful selection of the clays may entirely obviate this difficulty.

The fire clays are found usually in connection with the lignite beds, and in the Central Coal Field directly underlying the coal seams. They are therefore found scattered over a wide area of the State, but only a few of them have been examined by the Survey. These are nearly all from Eastern Texas, and were collected during the past field season. While they have not yet been fully studied, numerous analyses have been made, and it is found that many of them are too "fat," or contain too much alumina for use in the state in which they are dug, but require a large mixture of sand to correct the excessive shrinkage that would otherwise take place in drying them, amounting in some specimens to one-fourth of their original bulk. Others, however, are of excellent quality, and careful selection of localities for mining will yield very favorable results, and clays be secured suitable for brick for furnaces, kilns, ovens, fire boxes, retorts, saggers, and the many other similar articles.

 

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GRAPHITE, OR PLUMBAGO.

In the Central Mineral Region are deposits of limited extent of an impure graphite in shales and schists. In view of the larger deposits of pure material in other localities it is not probable that this will be of much value.

SOAPSTONE.

This highly infusible stone, which is used as firestone in stoves, hearths, and furnaces, is found in large quantities. One of the best exposures is about two miles south of west from Smoothing Iron Mountain, and the most favorable districts for its further occurrence are that between House and Smoothing Iron Mountain and the King Mountains, and to the west of that area in Llano and Mason counties; also southeast in Llano, Gillespie, and Blanco counties. As a lining for furnaces and other purposes which do not require a very firm texture this material is fully adequate, and it can be cut or sawed into blocks or masses of any desired shape, with a perfectly smooth surface if desired.

MICA.

While mica is a very abundant mineral in both the Central and Trans-Pecos regions, it is not commonly of such transparency and size as to be commercially valuable. Specimens are in the Museum, however, from both localities which combine these requisites, and it is entirely probable that workable deposits may be found. It is used in stove fronts, lanterns, etc., also in the manufacture of wall paper and as a lubricant.

ASBESTOS.

Asbestos has often been reported from the Central Region, and many specimens have been received bearing that name. Upon examination this is found to be fibrolite, and may answer for many purposes for which asbestos is used as refractory material, but not for the finer uses of the manufacture of cloth, etc.

ROAD MATERIALS.

Among the various materials suited for road making are the large gravel deposits which are found in many portions of the State; some of the quartzitic sandstones which occur in.the Fayette Beds; the eroded flints of the Cretaceous; some of the firmer limestones of the

 

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lower divisions of the Cretaceous and the Carboniferous areas; the basalt of such areas as Pilot Knob in Travis County; some of the sandstones or siliceous iron ores of the iron region of East Texas; the granites and other tough rocks of the Central Region are especially valuable, and similar rocks and the quartzites and porphyries of West Texas will also prove of value when transportation charges will admit of their use.

The occurrence of asphaltum in various portions of the State has already been noticed, and its use as paving material is well known.

For the construction of sidewalks, in addition to the material above mentioned, flagstones are found in various localities.

MATERIALS FOR PAINTS.

GRAPHITE has already been mentioned under refractory substances.

OCHRE.—This is a hydrated oxide of iron, usually containing more or less clay or sand and giving various shades of yellow, red, and brown. The most valuable is that which on preparation furnishes the color called Indian red. Ochres are found in connection with the geode and nodular ores of East Texas, forming centers of the geodes, and also deposits of limited extent. It is reported at many localities in the area covered by the Timber Belt Beds. In the Cretaceous area good ochres occur in Uvalde and Val Verde counties, in the latter of which one locality has been developed to some extent and the material shipped. Other deposits have been opened and worked very slightly for local use in different parts of the State.

BARYTES is found in Llano County, but has not been put to any use at all as yet.

OTHER ECONOMIC MATERIALS.

SULPHUR.

Specimens of native sulphur of a high degree of purity have been received from Edwards County, but up to the present no detailed examination has been made to ascertain its quantity or the condition of its occurrence.

SALT.

Like many of the other valuable deposits of Texas, the occurrence of the salt is widespread. Along the coast to the southwest are lagoons or salt lakes from which large amounts of salt are taken annually. Besides the lakes along the shore many others occur through Western

 

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Texas, reaching to the New Mexico line, while northeast of these in the Permian region the constant recurrence of such names as Salt Fork, Salt Creek, etc., tell of the prevalence of similar conditions. In addition to the lakes and creeks from which salt is secured by solar evaporation we have also extensive beds of rock salt.

That which is at present best developed is located in the vicinity of Colorado City, in Mitchell County. The bed of salt was found by boring at 850 feet, and proved to have a thickness of 140 feet. A vein of water was struck below it which rises to within 150 feet of the surface. This is pumped to the surface and evaporated, and the resulting salt purified for commerce.

In Eastern Texas there have long been known low pieces of ground called "salines," at which salt has been manufactured by sinking shallow wells and evaporating the water taken from them. At one of these, Grand Saline, in Van Zandt County, a well was sunk, and at 225 feet a bed of rock salt was struck, into which they have now dug 300 feet without getting through it Many other similar salines are known in Eastern Texas and Western Louisiana, and the great deposits of rock salt developed at Petit Anse and Van Zandt under practically similar circumstances is certainly warrant enough for boring at the other salines for similar beds. Some of these localities are in Smith and Anderson counties.

In the Carboniferous area many of the wells yield salt water, sometimes strong enough to render them unfitted for any ordinary purpose, but no attempt has been made at their utilization. There are also brine wells in limited areas in Central Texas.

ALKALIES.

The source from which the salts of potash and soda can be obtained in Texas are:

The alkali lakes, where there is a large percentage of sulphate of soda (Glauber salts) deposited by the evaporation of the water. Its impurities consist of some sulphate of lime, or gypsum, and common salt.

THE BAT GUANO.—Nitre, or saltpeter, was made from this material during the late war, but the necessity for its manufacture ending, it was abandoned.

ALUM.

The best material for the manufacture of alum is found in the clay of the lignitic portion of the Timber Belt, or Fayette, Beds, which contain both pyrites and lignitic matter. Nearly all the material used in

 

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the production of alum in this country is imported. Special attention will be given to the search for proper clays for this purpose during the next field season.

STRONTIA.

Two minerals having this earth as a base (celestite and strontianite) are found in the lower magnesian rocks of the Cretaceous of Central Texas. It is found at Mount Bonnel near Austin, and in the vicinity of Lampasas, and can be expected to occur wherever the proper horizon of the Cretaceous rocks containing it are found at the surface. It is not only used in the form of nitrate for fireworks, but also in the manufacture of sugar.

EPSOMITE.

Crystalline masses of Epsom salts are found in the same series of beds that contain the strontianite and celestite. It is extremely doubtful, however, whether it can be made commercially valuable.

THE ARTESIAN WATER CONDITIONS OF TEXAS.

Artesian water is rain water which has fallen on some porous bed or stratum of earth and has followed the sloping course of this bed between other beds, which were sufficiently impervious to confine it until it has found an opening to the surface, either natural or artificial, at a lower level than its original source, through which it rises and flows off. When this opening is a natural one it is a spring; when artificial it is an artesian well.

The artesian water conditions of a region are dependent upon its geology, topography, and its rainfall. The geologic conditions are that there shall be a continuous porous stratum enclosed between two strata that are impervious. Topographically it is necessary that the exposed portion of this porous stratum—the "catchment" basin—be at sufficient elevation above that of the mouth of the wells to force a steady flow of water by hydrostatic pressure; and finally the rainfall must be sufficient within the area covered by the catchment basin to secure the steady supply of water. Unless all of these conditions be favorable there can be no constant supply of flowing water obtained.

"

---

The conditions of artesian wells were fully discussed by Prof. T. C. Chamberlin in the Fifth Annual Report of the United States Geological Survey. A brief statement of the main features, compiled from this valuable article, was published in the First Report of Progress of this Survey, pp. 21-28.

 

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For the purpose of this discussion, Texas is readily separable into three divisions:

• 1. The Gulf Slope, . . . . . . Cenozoic.
• 2. The Central Basin, .. Paleozoic.
• 3. The Western Mountain System,

The area covered by the Gulf Slope includes all the region east and south of the western and northern boundary of the Grand Prairie plateau, which stretches southward from the Red River to the Colorado, and thence westward to the Rio Grande. In area this comprises fully one-half of the State and by far the most thickly settled portion.

The Central Basin includes all that portion of the State west and north of the Grand Prairie, extending to the Gaudalupe Mountains on the west.

The Western Mountain System covers the remainder of Trans-Pecos Texas.

The Gulf Slope is in a certain degree a continuation of the topographic and geologic features of the States east of us which border upon the Gulf, but in some ways its differences are as pronounced as its resemblances. Thus, with the exception of a little marshy ground in the southeastern corner there is none along the entire coast. Differences in amount and character of rainfall and of temperature have also resulted in the production of a somewhat different topography, especially toward the Rio Grande, and the soils of certain formations are of far greater fertility than those derived from rocks of similar age in the other States, owing to peculiar conditions of formation.

The different sediments which now appear covering the surface of this area were laid down by the waters of a great sea, which in its present restricted basin we call the Gulf of Mexico.

Beginning at the coast in low and almost level prairies the ascent is gradual towards the interior, in many places not exceeding one foot per mile for the first fifty miles. Through this comparatively level plain, which comprises the exposure of the strata embraced under the general name of "Coast Clays," the streams move sluggishly in tortuous channels, and for the most part through an open prairie country, the only timber being along such water courses and in scattered motts or islands. As we pass inland this is succeeded by other belts which, having been longer subjected to erosion, show a surface more and more undulating as we recede from the Gulf. The ascent is also more rapid, and some elevations of as much as seven hundred feet are found, as at Ghent

 

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Mountain, Cherokee County, but such are unusual south of the Grand Prairie. This character of country is continuous from the Gulf to the western scarp of the Grand Prairie, east of the Brazos River. West of the Colorado River the undulating country ends at the foot of the southern scarp of the Grand Prairie, which is a line of elevations known as the Balcones, from the top of which the Grand Prairie stretches away north and west to the Rio Grande. The eastern portion of these belts is heavily timbered, but throughout the greater portion—west of the 96th meridian—the quantity of timber rapidly decreases and the prairie conditions become almost universal. The general elevation east and south of the Grand Prairie is less than five hundred feet.

The Grand Prairie itself is a great plateau, preserved in its present extent by the resistence to erosion afforded by its capping of limestones, and is a marked topographic feature of the State. Beginning at Red River it extends in a gradually widening belt to the south, until its western border meets the Colorado in Lampasas County, from which point it is contracted rapidly until it finds its narrowest exposure in crossing the river in Travis County north of Austin. From this point west it broadens rapidly, until it is merged into the mountainous Trans-Pecos region. Its height above the country on either side is variable. On its eastern border, from Red River to the Brazos, there is not that abruptness of separation which distinguishes it at other places from the upper and lower formations. In the northern portion this plateau begins with an elevation of from six hundred to twelve hundred feet above sea level. West of the Colorado its northern edge reaches a height of twenty-three hundred feet in the ridge which forms the divide between the water flowing into the Colorado and that flowing south. The southern border is, however, hardly ever more than seven hundred feet in height, and usually not so high. The western and northern edge of the Grand Prairie is, generally speaking, topographically higher than the eastern and southern, and the dip of the beds is very gentle toward the southeast.

The break between the Grand Prairie and the Central Basin region is equally as decided as that between the undulating country and "Balcone's country" on the south, and were it not for its intimate relations, geologically, with the Coastal Slope, the topographic features of the Grand Prairie would entitle it to be considered a division by itself.

Both topographically and geologically this area presents a gradual fall from the interior toward the Gulf coast, but the average slope of the

 

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surface toward the southeast is less than the dip of the strata in the same direction, and as there have been no disturbances of sufficient magnitude to complicate the geology, except the uplift which brought up the Balcones (and that of Pilot Knob and similar areas if it be later, as it possibly is), we find the outcropping edges of the beds of earlier and earlier age as we pass from the coast to the interior. These various beds are exposed in bands of less or greater width, which are, in a general way, parallel with the present Gulf coast The formations comprised in this belt are:

The relative position of these formations is indicated upon the map accompanying the First Annual Report.

The Coast Clays, which are the most recent of these, and which form a part of the present floor of the Gulf, are very impervious, variously colored, calcareous clays, which often form bluffs along the bay shores and river banks. The level belt of this formation varies from fifty to one hundred miles in width.

The Orange Sands underlying these are mottled red and white sands which are well exposed below Willis, on the International and Great Northern Railroad, and at other places.

The Fayette Beds, which underlie these, are made up also of sands and clays, but of entirely different character and structure. The sand greatly predominates, especially in the centre, where great beds of sand and sandstone and millstone grit occur.

The clays, instead of being massive, are usually thinly laminated and of very light color wherever exposed to the air, and are found both underlying and overlying the sands, as well as interbedded with them. They extend along the line of the Houston and Texas Central Railway from Waller to near Giddings. A study of these beds in the vicinity of Ledbetter showed nearly four hundred feet of sandy strata included between the two series of clays.

The dip of the strata toward the Gulf is not much greater than that of the surface of the country. For this reason the exposure of the sand

 

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bed on the surface is very wide—a circumstance of greatest importance, as it gives an immense catchment area for the rain water.

These Fayette Sands form a range of hills and give rise to the most striking topographic feature of the Coast region. Every river in its passage to the Gulf pays tribute to and is deflected by them. Many smaller streams have their course entirely determined by them, while the coast rivers, of which the San Jacinto and Buffalo are types, have their origin on their southern slope. At Rockland, in Tyler County, and along the various railroads that cross the area of these sands, as shown upon the map, typical sections can be seen. The base of these beds are sandy clays and sands, with some lignite.

The strata often contain carbonate of lime in appreciable quantities, and sulphur and gypsum are of frequent occurrence.

The Timber Belt Beds are composed of siliceous and glauconitic sands with white, brown, and black clays, and have associated with them lignite beds sometimes as much as twelve feet in thickness; iron pyrites, gypsum, and various bituminous materials also occur. Carbonate of lime is also widely disseminated throughout the beds, sometimes as limestone, but more often as calcareous concretions or in calcareous sandstones.

The Basal Clays are, as the name implies, beds of stratified clays and contain masses of concretionary limestone and large quantities of gypsum.

The Upper Cretaceous is composed in its upper members of great beds of clay somewhat similar to the Basal Clays above, which were doubtless derived from these. This is underlaid by the Austin Chalk, below which we find another series of clay shales overlying the Lower Cross Timber Sands.

The rock formation of the Grand Prairie belongs to the Lower Cretaceous series, and consists of a great thickness of limestones and chalks— magnesian, arenaceous, and even argillaceous in places—which is underlaid by a great bed of sand and conglomerate, known as the Trinity Sands.

We have in these formations, therefore, well marked and definite sandy or porous beds, which are enclosed by others practically impervious. Some of these are:

• The Orange Sands.
• The middle portion of the Fayette Beds.
• The Lower Cross Timber Sands.

 

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The Upper Cross Timber or Trinity Sands.

On the lower Rio Grande there occurs a sandstone known as the Carrizo Sandstone, the geologic age of which is not yet exactly determined, but which must be included among the other water-bearing beds.

That these belts are indeed catchment basins and fully capable of supplying the belts nearer the Gulf with flowing water has been amply verified by actual and successful boring. In the Coast Clay belt artesian water has been secured in many places, as at Houston and vicinity, at Galveston, at Velasco, at Corpus Christi, and at various other points. The shallowest of these wells is at Yorktown, De Witt County, where artesian water was secured at a depth of a very few feet. At Houston water is obtained in wells from one hundred and fifty to four hundred feet deep, and the water is practically free from mineral matter. At Galveston, fifty miles southeast, the wells are from six hundred to ten hundred feet deep, and yield water carrying salt, etc., in small quantities. The flow at Velasco is reported to be good, but at Corpus Christi it is highly charged with mineral matter. The quantity of mineral matter contained in the water seems to vary with the depth and distance from the outcrop of the catchment basin.

It can be stated, therefore, from our present knowledge that throughout the Coast Clay district artesian water can be obtained where the topographic conditions are suitable, but that it may be more or less impregnated with mineral matter leached out of the containing stratum.

While the Timber Belt Beds are not classed as artesian beds, it is nevertheless the fact that favorable conditions exist in numerous localities, and although no great flows have been secured, still flowing water has been found in several places; for example, various localities in Robertson County and at Livingston, Polk County.

The Lower Cross Timbers form the second catchment basin, but from their location have not been found to yield as good a flow as can be obtained by going deeper to the Trinity Sands.

The Carrizo sandstone outcrops along a line drawn at a point on the Nueces River south of the town of Uvalde to a point ten miles west of Carrizo Springs, and ten miles north of that point, on the ranch of Mr. Vivian, produces a stream of excellent water four inches in diameter from a well one hundred and seventy-five feet deep. This stratum of sandstone ought to be reached at Laredo at a depth of from five hundred to six hundred feet.

 

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The third and possibly best explored collecting area is that of the Trinity Sands.

This bed, the Trinity or Upper Cross Timber sands, is the base of the Lower Cretaceous system, and is the great water-bearing bed east and south of the Central basin. In its many exposures and from the material brought up from it in boring, its composition is shown to be clear white grains of quartz, slightly rounded to much worn, containing a few grains of red and black chert. It is for the most part practically free of soluble mineral matter, and the water derived from it is often of excellent quality. From its position, character, and extent, it forms a most important member in the geology of Texas. The water which falls upon the exposed edge of this belt is carried under the limestone of the Grand Prairie plateau, and part of it breaks forth in a system of great springs which extend from Williamson County by Austin, San Marcos, and New Braunfels, toward the Pecos. These springs are natural artesian wells, which owe their existence to the fault lines caused by the disturbances, already alluded to, which formed the Balcones. The remainder of the water continues its course below the overlying formations, and can be reached at almost any point east and south of the Grand Prairie to the border of the Basal Clays of the Tertiary. Wells are very numerous and vary in depth with distance from catchment area from one hundred to two thousand feet. They can not be named in detail here, but the principal boring has been at Fort Worth, Dallas, Waco, Austin, Taylor, San Antonio, and in Somervell, Coryell, Hood, and Bosque counties. These prove that artesian conditions exist, and there can be no doubt that wells bored in suitable localities will prove successful.

West of the Grand Prairie plateau we find the Central Basin region, which is principally occupied by strata of the Paleozoic formations. The eastern and southern border of this area is plainly marked by the scarp of the Grand Prairie. Its western border is not determined further than that in Texas it is terminated by the Guadaloupe Mountains in El Paso County. In its topography it shows a gradual elevation toward the west, most usually, however, in a series of steps which rise one above the other, having the ascent facing toward the southeast and a long gentle slope toward the west, the average rise being less than eight feet per mile.

At the edge of the Staked Plain, which is a newer formation superimposed upon these, there is an abrupt elevation of from two hundred

 

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to three hundred feet in places, and a continued rise toward the west to a height of three thousand one hundred feet. West of the Pecos the rise is much more rapid, being about fifteen feet per mile. The dip of the strata, which on the east is toward the northwest not exceeding forty feet to the mile, is reversed, that is, it is to the southeast, and brings the edges of the strata to the surface again after crossing the river. In the southeast corner of this region we find the Archæan area of Llano County, around which the upturned edges of the older Paleozoic rocks are exposed at a considerably greater elevation than that of the basin north of them, giving the overlying rocks of the basin itself a northward dip.

The western extension of this southern border has not been examined. We find the northern border of our basin in the Wichita Mountains in the Indian Territory, where the edge of the Silurian rocks is again exposed at a higher altitude than the interior portion of our region. This region is, therefore, of a basin form of structure, with the exposed edges of its lower members and the underlying rocks topographically higher on the northern, western, and southern borders than on the east or in the center.

The formations which occupy this basin, if we except some overlying Cretaceous and the Plains formation, are almost entirely confined to the Carboniferous and Permian systems. These consist of beds of limestone, sandstone, sands, clays, and shales, with coal, gypsum, and salt as associated deposits. The general dip of all the strata in the eastern portion of the basin is to the northwest, but its elevation along the eastern border is less than in almost any portion of it; consequently there can be little hope of finding artesian water from any catchment area on this side, although some of the strata (the lower sandstone and shales) are well adapted for carrying water, and where suitable topographic conditions exist do furnish artesian water. An instance of this is found in the flowing well at Gordon, but such cases are the exception and not the rule. The same series of sandstones and shales are exposed on the southeastern border, and the flowing wells at and around Trickham and Waldrip find their supply in them. The conditions are very favorable in the valley of the Colorado and some distance north between the 99th and 100th meridians for similar wells. The rocks of this age are covered by later deposits in the Wichita Mountains, and it is therefore impossible to judge of the possibility of their water-bearing character there. Similar rocks are exposed on the western border of this basin,

 

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in the vicinity of Van Horn and further north in the Guadaloupe Mountains. They are reached by a well eight hundred and thirty-two feet deep at Toyah, some seventy miles east of Van Horn. This well has an abundant flow. We have, therefore, in the lower members of the Carboniferous rocks of this basin water-bearing strata, the exposed edges of which on the southeast and west are sufficiently elevated to furnish artesian water to portions of the basins in their immediate vicinity.

We do not know what interruptions to the subterranean flow may exist in the way of dikes or fissures, and therefore the areal extent of this portion favorably situated can not be given until the topography and geology are better known. The quality of the water from every well thus far secured in this basin, which has its origin in this series of rocks, is highly saline, and it is safe to assume from this and from the character of the deposits that no fresh water can be obtained from this source. Therefore, if the supply be general over the entire region, it will only be adapted for limited uses. In addition to this, this waterbearing bed can be reached in the greater portion of the region only after passing through the entire series of Permian strata and those of the uppermost Carboniferous, amounting in all to two thousand or three thousand feet, or even more in places.

If there be any other hope for an artesian water supplyin this region the catchment area must be either in the pre-Carboniferous rocks of the Central Mineral Region and the Wichita Mountains or in the Guadaloupe and connected ranges. That such a catchment area exists on the south is fully proved by the powerful springs at Lampasas and in San Saba County, all of which have their origin below the rocks of Carboniferous age. Some of these springs, such as the Lampasas, have their vent through rocks of this period, but they belong to the very lowest strata, and the temperature of the water proves that it comes from still greater depths. All such water is highly mineralized, but much of it seems suitable for general uses after exposure to the air has dispelled the sulphuretted hydrogen. Others of these springs, like that at Cherokee, San Saba County, spring through rocks below the Carboniferous, and these furnish water of an excellent quality. The dip of these rocks is much greater than the overlying Carboniferous, and the water supply would therefore be rapidly carried beyond the depths of ordinary artesian borings. The conditions of outcropping strata are similar in the Wichita Mountains to those of Llano and San Saba counties, but we

 

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have no such evidence in the way of springs to prove their value, and no boring has been carried far enough to test the matter, although preparations are now under way to do so. No rocks of similar age have been observed in the Guadaloupes. We must therefore conclude that while the artesian conditions of the Central Basin are not unfavorable, the probabilities are against securing an adequate supply of water sufficiently free from mineral matter to be of use for general purposes (unless it be from the sandstones of the Guadaloupe Mountains, which would require sinking to impracticable depths in most places). All exceptions will be of purely local extent and will require much local topographic and geological work for their designation.

There still remains the area of the Staked Plains formation to be discussed, but our knowledge of its geology is too limited to permit anything but the most general statement. The upper portion of these plains is composed of strata of later Tertiary or possibly Quaternary age, underlaid by a conglomerate and sandstone of earlier date than the Trinity Sands, dipping southeast. It is this bed that furnishes the surface water of the Plains, and from it gush the headwaters that form the Colorado, Brazos, and Red rivers. The beds underlying this are probably Permian on the southern border, but newer formations may intervene towards the north. It is possible that this conglomerate bed may yield artesian water near the western border of the State, and I understand that one such well has been secured. It is my opinion, however, based on such knowledge as I can obtain, that the probabilities of artesian water on the Plains are rather unfavorable than otherwise.

It will require a considerable amount of work in western New Mexico to decide the matter finally.

The well at Pecos City most probably belongs to the series newer than that described under the Grand Prairie Region, and therefore gives us no clue to the area north of it.

The Trans-Pecos mountain district from the Guadaloupe Mountains to the Rio Grande consists of numerous mountain ranges and detached peaks which rise from comparatively level plains. These plains are composed of loose material which has been derived from the erosion of the mountains and sometimes has a thickness of over a thousand feet, as is proved by the wells along the Texas Pacific and Southern Pacific railways. The geologic formations of the mountains themselves consist of granites, sandstones, schists, and quartzites and Silurian, Carboniferous, and Cretaceous limestones. The whole area is faulted,

 

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broken, and cut by intrusive porphyries, basalts, granites, and other eruptives.

These conditions of structure prevent any other than a general unfavorable report on the district, although in certain localities conditions may, and probably do, exist favorable to the securing of artesian water.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.

It gives me great pleasure to be able to publicly acknowledge the kind assistance rendered the Survey by the press of the State in the notices printed of our First Annual Report and the publication of many extracts from it, as well as the special articles furnished them by this office, whereby many items of interest and value have been disseminated among the people more thoroughly than could have been done by means of the regular report.

The assistance rendered the geologists and their parties during their field work by the citizens of the various sections visited has been of greatest service, not only by the actual aid given, which was very great, but still more by the fact thereby evinced of their interest in and appreciation of our work.

The co-operation of the United States Geological Survey, the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey, and of Professors Heilprin, Hyatt, Cope, and Dr. Roemer have already been mentioned, and our thanks are due for it.

To those who have worked with me on the Survey and have given, each in his own field, their best efforts; who have cheerfully carried out the general plans of work as outlined by me; who with conscientious and continued labor, sometimes through hardships, and even at the sacrifice of personal advantages, have by their work brought out the great scientific and economic facts concerning the resources of Texas which appear in part in these reports, and which will mark an important era in the material advancement of the State; who have at all times shown me all courtesy—to all of these I express my deep appreciation of their kindness and return my most sincere thanks.

 

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GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF TEXAS.
REPORTS OF GEOLOGISTS
1890
.

 

 

REPORT OF MR. W. VON STREERUWITZ

AUSTIN, TEXAS, December 30, 1890
.

Mr. E. T. Dumble, State Geologist, Austin, Texas:

In accordance with instructions I left Austin the ninth day of May, to continue the field work in Trans-Pecos Texas. Arrived at Fort Davis I found the animals that were turned loose last February at Capt. Dolan's ranch, near Fort Davis, in very poor condition, owing to the want of grass, and more of water, in consequence of long lasting drouth. They were, in fact, so weak that it took six days to transport the nearly empty wagons to Torbert, a distance of only eighty-five miles. It took over two weeks of rest, with food and water, which last, through kindness of Mr. Martin, superintendent of this section, I could secure from the water cars of the Southern Pacific Railway, to restore the animals sufficiently for light service.

In Sierra Blanca Junction, where Mr. J. A. Taff joined me in the capacity of Assistant Geologist, I found Dr. R. S. Woodward, Astronomer of the United States Geological Survey, assisted by Mr. A. T. Davis, taking observations for the final determination of the 105th meridian.

Not having been able to organize my party, and as mentioned before being compelled to rest the animals, I offered our services to Dr. Woodward, since I knew the determination of the meridian, as well as other astronomical points—such as our base, mountain peaks, etc.—to be of the greatest importance for badly needed regulation of the surveys of the country west of the Pecos River, at the same time to locate as to latitude and longitude that part of this country which we had topographed during the last campaign.

The grass getting scarce around Torbert, and the water tank being nearly empty, I moved the camp to Rattlesnake Tanks, west of the Van Horn Mountains, on a spur of this mountain range. But the water of this waterhole was not only contaminated with the carcass of a dead cow, but running very low, and the grass very scanty, so I camped there only three days—long enough to make reconnoitering observations referring to eruptive rocks and crystalline schists, Mr. Taff sectionizing the Cretaceous strata. The animals were not yet in a condition to carry the needed water from the nearest point, the wells at Finney's ranch. I left Mr. Taff in charge of the camp, which I had moved to Finney's ranch, and went to Sierra Blanca to meet Dr. Woodward, leaving instructions with Mr. Taff to move the camp to about two miles west of Eagle Springs as soon as he was through with sectionizing the sandstone and limestone strata surrounding the northwest slope of the Eagle Mountains. A reconnoitering of the Green River Canyon had shown that neither in this canyon nor in some tanks along the more southwestern slope of the Eagle Mountains (Sierra Cola de Aguila) could any water be found.

 

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But the water of the Eagle Springs was so scarce that we again had to fall back for part of the needed water on a scanty supply of the railway tank in Torbert. So after Dr. Woodward and Mr. Davis had finished the computation for the determination of the meridian, and we had set the monuments (one near the intersection of the old stage road to El Paso with the Southern Pacific Railway on the north side of the railway, and one about one mile south of the first one), in the presence of Mr. Davis, Major Marmion, county surveyor of Presidio County, representing also Jeff Davis County, and myself, I removed the camp to a well in the flat on Glenn's Creek, where we found a sufficient supply of good water. But the scarcity of grass, as well as clouds of small gnats which nearly killed the animals, compelled me again to move the camp, which besides was a long distance from the points where observations were to be made.

Up to this time (July) it was impossible to secure the help of a topographer at the salary of last year. I left Mr. Taff with one team at Sierra Blanca Junction to work up the Cretaceous hills in the surroundings, and moved myself to the Bonanza district between the first (north) and the second (main) range of the Quitman Mountains. Here the party was joined by Mr. Ralph Wyschetzki, who had successfully worked with me as topographer during the last field campaign. After having worked up the Bonanza district, I moved the camp to the west side of the main range of the Quitman Mountains (formerly Sierra de los Dolores), where since the last rains I had found water in a drift of the Queen Ann prospect. From this camp Mr. Taff, who being through the work around Sierra Blanca and on the hills between this place and the Quitman Mountains, had joined the party, began to sectionize the strata of the Cretaceous hills on the west side, and the older limestones extending from the Quitman Mountains into the flat and into the Cretaceous Malone hills. I myself, with Mr. Wyschetzki, started the topographical work from the points from which we had left off work at the close of the last field campaign. Later Mr. Wyschetzki carried on the work assisted by one of the drivers until I secured the help of Mr. Leon Perl as assistant topographer.

I removed the camp about four miles down the mountains to the location of the Mule prospect, the last place on the mountain slope accessible by wagons, and we finished the geological and topographical work down to the Quitman Pass (formerly Puerta de las Lamentaciones). Rains and waterspouts had destroyed the old stage road and all other roads to and through part of the pass, and in order to take the east side of the Quitman Mountains and the pass I had to move round by Sierra Blanca, going to camp first at the foot of the Cretaceous ranges west of the Devil's Ridge, about nine miles southeast of Sierra Blanca, and later to near the east side of the Quitman Pass, where I left Mr. Wyschetzki in charge of the camp, and moved with Mr. Taff to an

 

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old shaft about three miles northwest of Eagle Flat Station, from where we began to work the Carboniferous strata and underlying older rocks of this part outlaying from the Carboniferous cliffs of the Sierra Diabolo.

After Mr. Wyschetzki had finished the topography of the Quitman Mountains through the pass, I directed his camp to Allamore, at the northeast slope of the Carrizo Mountains, where we connected the topographical work already done with the 105th meridian and began the topography of this mountain group. After this I joined Mr. Taff, whom I had directed to go to camp at the pass through the Carrizo towards the Hazel mine and the cliffs of the Sierra Diabolo, to compare the metamorphic rocks and brecciatic conglomerations with those farther west, near Eagle Flat.

Moving the camp farther towards the Diabolo Cliffs, and thence passing the Hazel mine to the Van Horn Pass, intending to take in the east side of the mountains south of the Sierra Diabolo proper. Here the wagon broke down on the rough road. I left Mr. Taff in charge of the camp and went to Toyah, where I took the old wagon left there by Mr. Tarr and sent the same, after some hasty repairs and makeshifts, for Mr. Taff, and being instructed to quit field work I hastened to make arrangements for the storage of instruments and camp outfit at the railway depot at Sierra Blanca, as the safest place in reach, and turned the animals loose at "Uncle Charley's" ranch, where I expect they will find enough water and grass to winter through.

Having put up rock piles on the level of many horizontal curves at the points at which we left off work, the topographical work (the indispensable base for geological observations in Trans-Pecos Texas) can easily be resumed.

There are many difficulties to be overcome besides the want of reliable maps; as for instance, the excessive metamorphoses of older deposits, destroying and obliterating all organic remains—metamorphoses evidently due to forces and influences of varied character, acting at different periods and under different conditions. Another difficulty is that even if we could neglect the work referring to the economic features, the observations can only be made by sacrificing much time in hunting or waiting for grass and water in one or the other locality, or by putting in the field more expensive outfits for carrying water, etc., than I had at my disposal. Some of the difficulties will be removed by the triangulation of the country along the Rio Grande, which will be started this winter by a United States Coast Survey party, and which will establish a number of points connected with our Texas base and with each other, enabling the geologist for west Texas to work at such points where at different seasons of the year water can be found. We can therefore leave out temporarily the large flats without losing the connections, and study the relations of the mountain ranges and groups closer to the Rio Grande independently from each other.

 

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But before we can arrive at safe final conclusions with regard to the older rocks, the study not only of this part of the West Texas mountains, but also those of Mexico, New Mexico, and Arizona, will be required; they belong to the same system, and can and will be understood only after careful comparative study of the whole system.

As far as the economic part is concerned, it can be safely said that the mineral resources, if developed, will put the mountainous country of West Texas on equal footing with the best mining districts of the United States, and that the variety and excellent quality of the building stones and the facilities to transport them to railways are hardly equalled anywhere in the United States.

From observations of the climate continued during two summer and two winter seasons, from the general lay out of the ground and the quality of the soil, I came to the conclusion that the conditions for a future use of the soils for agricultural and horticultural purposes are anything but hopeless. True it will take time and money, but it will be done as soon as the drawbacks which I mentioned in my last and this year's reports, and the prejudice which stamps Trans-Pecos Texas as a valueless and hopeless desert, shall be removed.

Hundreds of thousands of acres of public school and university lands are located in the country west of the Pecos River, and it is in the interest of the public in general not only to ascertain but also to acknowledge publicly the value of this part of the State, by taking legal steps to remove drawbacks and to facilitate the development.

W. VON STREERUWITZ,
Geologist for Trans Pecos Texas.

REPORT OF MR. THEO. B. COMSTOCK.

AUSTIN, TEXAS, December 31, 1890
.

Hon. E. T. Dumble, State Geologist, Austin, Texas:

SIR—Herewith is respectfully submitted the administrative report of the work performed since April 1, 1890, under my direction as Geologist of Central Texas.

In accordance with your instructions, I joined Mr. Cummins in the field early in May, and made with him an exploration of a district in Indian Territory (the Wichita Mountains) for the purpose of gaining a better understanding of certain difficult problems relating to the structure of the Central Mineral Region. Devoting a few days only to this work, I returned to Austin

 

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and prepared at once to resume field work in my own district. Your general instructions to "complete the survey of the Central Mineral Region, including the outlying pre-Carboniferous strata, and such exposures of the Carboniferous as may lie within this area or adjacent to the same upon the east and south," have been carried out as fully as possible in the limited time which could be allowed for the work. The field has now all been explored, by far the greater part in sufficient detail for the construction of a geologic map; but as the area is very much greater than we had supposed, and the facilities for travel in the dry season are rather limited, I have been unable to present a report which can be regarded as final in any permanent sense. We were in the field but three months this year, as against five months in 1889. With a larger party, the equipment was reduced from motives of economy, rendering the executive duties more onerous and giving less available time for the geological work.

The field party was organized as follows:

• Theo. B. Comstock, in charge.
• J. C. Nagle, Topographer.
• Charles Huppertz, Geological Aid.
• H. B. Jones, Compassman.
• J. F. Clark, Contact Runner.
• H. H. Harris, Rodman.
• R. A. Thompson, Rodman.
• Harry Foster, Hostler.
• Frank Tuttle, Cook.

Upon the return from the field, September 2, the party was disbanded, Mr. J. C. Nagle and Mr. R. A. Thompson being retained for office work. Mr. Thompson left me to attend the University before the end of September, and soon after Mr Nagle received well merited promotion to the responsible charge of the Department of Civil Engineering and Physics in the State Agricultural and Mechanical College. Mr. Frank S. Ellsworth, at present engaged as general assistant, began work October 23, 1890. Mr. G. V. Skelton has been employed since December 5 as draughtsman.

The region traversed the past season is very largely made up of Silurian rocks at surface, and these afford comparatively few economic minerals, but we have been able to trace out the principal ore belts and to study the limits of the fields in which the mineral resources abound. The map which accompanies my report for 1890 gives all details of structure and distribution which have been collated to date.

The method of survey adopted has been somewhat different from the plan followed in 1889, but in essential features it is the same. Each day's work was arranged by myself, the topographers, field assistants and camp men

 

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having routes and duties assigned so as to bring all together again at night, usually in a new camp. In 1889 we made sixty-six camps, whereas in 1890, owing to the difference in the country and the lack of subsistence except what we carried, I was compelled to keep my whole force constantly within reach, and to have the headquarters almost daily in motion. We therefore made seventy-four camps in 1890 in a little more than three months.

The work performed by individual members of the party is credited below:

MR. JAMES C. NAGLE.—While the topographic work has necessarily been subsidiary to the geologic, the areas traversed and the maps constructed having been in accordance with methods and designs of my own selection, it is but just to state that the execution has been entrusted to Mr. Nagle from the beginning. I have constantly given every detail such oversight as was requisite in order to be able to assume responsibility for the accuracy of the results, but the credit for such accuracy, and for the utmost faithfulness in the performance of every detail of an exceedingly onerous task extending over sixteen months, is due my assistant, whom I also owe frank acknowledgment of many generous courtesies which were not demanded by his position. The topographic portion of the map appended to this report will clearly attest the justice of what is here written of Mr. Nagle's field and office work, but it is proper to add that a very large part of the office work of 1890 has been done by him without expense to the State.

MR. CHARLES HUPPERTZ.—The duties assigned my chief geologic aid were various, but mostly of a character which necessitated skill, endurance and abilities of special character as an independent observer and collector. Mr. Huppertz's notes form, in many instances, a part of the basis upon which important conclusions rest. I have satisfied myself most fully of his reliability and accuracy, and desire here to express my appreciation of his valuable services.

All the other assistants performed their duties well, and bore uncomplainingly the vicissitudes of an unusually trying season. Mr. Jones was employed in meandering streams and tracing special geologic boundaries. Mr. Clark was for the most part engaged in keeping the record of the geology within easy reach from the topographer's transit lines. Both these young gentlemen are undergraduates of the University of Texas, and in their work have reflected credit upon that institution. The rodmen and campmen have my thanks for their unflagging zeal and faithful performance of every duty.

Referring to the maps and my full report for a more detailed account of what has been done in connection with the economic geology of the region, I will only add a general statement of the manner in which the whole has been accomplished, in order to give an idea of its thoroughness and accuracy.

The small sketch map of transit and section lines illustrates the courses of

 

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the profiles taken by the topographer with the solar transit (Gurley's). The large map has been constructed from the vertical and horizontal angles observed along these lines at short intervals, the intervening topography having been sketched in. In a few instances (over small areas which could not be covered by our lines in the limited time allowed us), the topography has been worked in from the sheets of the United States Geological Survey, but in every case of this kind I have personally gone over the tracts and satisfied myself that those portions of the sheets are reliable, or I have had the inaccuracies corrected by special work with the compass. The result is a topographic map much more accurate than any hitherto published, and one which is suited to the correct delineation of the geology as far as we have been able to carry our studies. The monuments of the United States Geological Survey Geodetic Corps have been placed with precision, and these have furnished valuable checks upon our work. The field notes, including the geology, were all plotted first upon the scale of one thousand and forty feet to the inch, reduced by pantograph to 1/62500 , and this again reduced in the office to 1/125000 and carefully drawn for further reduction by photography, the engraving being upon the scale of 1/250000 or three and nine-tenths miles to the inch. The geology was worked up in detail along the transit lines, which were usually laid out with reference to the structure, and many complicated areas were thus studied minutely. Contacts of the different terranes have been instrumentally run as far as has been possible, and details of this character which can not be given from actual knowledge are shown upon the map in broken or dotted lines. Subsidiary topography was also largely worked out by the compass.

The geologic conclusions tentatively announced by myself in the First Annual Report are mostly confirmed by subsequent work in the field.

Besides the results announced in my accompanying report, there remains a large amount of partially elaborated material, and some which is in a more advanced stage of preparation, but which could not be arranged and edited in time to appear therewith. A series of thin slices of our crystalline rocks is being made in the laboratory, and some exchanges with other workers have given us a fair beginning in this department.

The fossils obtained from the Cambrian, Silurian, and possible Devonian strata have been given a preliminary examination, but little more can be done with them until more complete collections can be secured. A table of the minerals of my district, with ample notes of localities, modes of occurrence, special characteristics and economic relations, is so far advanced that its publication as a Bulletin might be feasible at an early date.

The recent discovery of tin ores by myself necessitated a special trip to Llano and Mason counties in November. With Mr. Ellsworth as assistant, I

 

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made a careful exploration of a tract which we had previously been obliged to neglect, devoting a week to its study. The results of this examination are embodied in the main report.

Again I must acknowledge the welcome interest taken by the citizens of my district in our work, and the constant aid and encouragement rendered by hundreds whose names it is impossible to give. There has not been one instance of anything but courteous and generous treatment by all whom we have encountered in several thousand miles of travel through the region.

Allow me to assure you, personally, of my appreciation of all that you have done to render light the burdens of a comprehensive Survey. No small share of what has been accomplished is due to your unwavering support and indulgent treatment in both the field and office.

Very respectfully,

THEO. B. COMSTOCK,
Geologist for Central Texas.

REPORT OF MR. W. F. CUMMINS.

AUSTIN, TEXAS, December 31, 1890
.

Hon. E. T. Dumble, State Geologist, Austin, Texas:

DEAR SIR—In compliance with your request I herewith hand you a report of the field work done by myself and assistants since January 1, 1890. Previous reports have embraced the work done up to that date. When the previous report was written we were encamped at Dockum, in Dickens County, at the foot of the Staked Plains.

The weather turned very cold, my men got sick with "la grippe," and it being impossible to get feed for the stock for some distance after leaving this locality, I abandoned the project of making another complete section across the Permian formation from this place, as I had intended.

I made such observations in that vicinity as was possible without moving camp, going in one instance up Blanco Canyon as far as the south line of Floyd County.

After supplying ourselves with provisions and feed for the stock we began our return trip, going northeastward, crossing the head of the north fork of of Croton Creek, to the head of the south fork of the Big Wichita River We traveled down the north side of that stream to the old McKenzie trail. Crossing the river at that place, we kept down the south side of the river to Benjamin, the county seat of Knox County. This is the first place at which we

 

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could get feed for the stock after leaving our camp in the vicinity of Dockum. From Benjamin we traveled over the broad plateau between the Brazos and the Big Wichita rivers to Seymour, the county seat of Baylor County. A few miles west of Benjamin we left the gypsum formation, having been in it since reaching Kiowa Peak on our outward trip, except the time we were camped at Dockum.

We began a line of levels at Flat Top Mountain, six miles north of Seymour, in Baylor County, and ran eastward to Wichita Falls, for the purpose of getting the thickness of the Wichita Beds of the Permian. The profile is shown in another part of this Report. We found the top of the Wichita Beds to be near the eastern line of Baylor County, at the place where our line of levels crossed the county line.

From Wichita Falls we returned to Baylor County and traced the line of contact between the Wichita and Clear Fork Beds of the Permian to where the line of contact reaches the Brazos River, and which is probably the most southern extension of the Wichita Beds. The point at which we reached the river is a few miles west of the mouth of Spring Creek, and of the northeast corner of Throckmorton County.

From thence we went down the river to the line of contact between the Permian and Coal Measures, and then turned northeastward, tracing the line of contact between these two formations to Red River, near the northwestern corner of Montague County.

We went to Henrietta, in Clay County, where I was joined by Dr. T. B. Comstock, of the Survey, who came for the purpose of making a hurried reconnaissance of the country in the vicinity of the Wichita Mountains in the Indian Territory. We took the direct road to Fort Sill, crossing Red River at the mouth of the Big Wichita River. Our route lay up the east side of Cache Creek to Fort Sill, where we reached the contact between the Permian and the Silurian and granitic rocks. We went from there along the southern base of the mountains almost directly westward for fifteen miles, then turning northward through a gap in the mountains we passed through the range and found the Silurian resting upon the granitic rocks on the north. ern side of the range. We turned southwestward and crossed the North Fork of Red River into Greer County, near the town of Navajoe. From this place Dr. Comstock took the stage for Vernon, while I turned eastward along the Fort Sill road, recrossing the North Fork of Red River and Otter Creek; then turning southeastward to the head of Deep Red Creek I continued down that stream to its confluence with the Cache Creek, and thence down that stream to the upper Henrietta road, and thence south, crossing Red River and Big Wichita River to Henrietta, having been gone about two weeks.

From Henrietta we went southward to the west fork of the Trinity River,

 

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in Jack County, for the purpose of tracing Coal Seam No. 7, which outcrops in that vicinity. We went along the line of outcrop as far eastward as Mr. Cooper's place, on the southeast quarter of section No. 2, made for the Southern Pacific Railway Company, file No. 2879. We then turned southwestward along the line of strike and traced the coal seam by its outcrop, passing near the town of Gertrude, Flat Top Mountain, and the mouth of Coal Creek to Belknap.

From there we returned to the point on the Brazos River, near the mouth of Spring Creek and near the eastern line of Throckmorton County, where we had found the contact between the Permian and Coal Measures, for the purpose of running a line of levels and making a complete section across the Coal Measures. We began the line near the mouth of Camp Creek and ran southeastward, passing through the towns of Belknap and Graham in Young County, Finis in Jack County, Mineral Wells in Palo Pinto County, Millsap in Parker County, to a point on the south side of the Brazos River near the west line of Hood County and near the town of Buckner.

At Rock Creek, five miles east of Mineral Wells, we had crossed Coal Seam No. 1, and traced it by its outcrop both northeastward and southwestward along the line of strike for several miles in each direction. From Buckner we went westward to Gordon, passing the town of Santo, for the purpose of tracing Coal Seam No. 1 from where we had left off following it southwestward on the occasion just mentioned. We traced the coal from hill to hill, passing the old Gordon mine, the towns of Gordon and Thurber, and to the Bridgefarmer place eight miles south of Strawn, where the seam is overlaid by the higher part of the formation and Cretaceous.

We turned north, and recrossing the Texas and Pacific Railway line at the Coal switch, and thence to the town of Palo Pinto, and then northwestward to Eliasville, in Young County, where we again took up the work of tracing Coal Seam No. 7 from Belknap, where we had left off that work on a previous occasion. We traveled from there southwestward, passing Carbondale, Crystal Falls, and the mouth of Sandy Creek, and thence up that creek to Cisco, where the seam passes entirely out of sight under the newer beds.

We then traveled west along the line of the Texas and Pacific Railway to Putnam, and thence south, passing over the high Cretaceous hills to Pecan Bayou, where we again found the Carboniferous formation.

In order to get a complete section across the Central Carboniferous field, and to secure data by which to correlate this part of the formation with that north of the Cretaceous belt just mentioned, we turned up Pecan Bayou and found the line of contact between the Carboniferous and Permian to be at the head of the bayou, near the western line of Callahan County. At this point we began a line of levels and ran southeastward down the bayou to Brownwood,

 

101

and thence southward along the upper or western San Saba road to the town of San Saba, where we reached the base of the formation in this part of the State. We then turned eastward along the strike, of the San Saba Sandstone to the head of Lynch Creek, in Lampasas County, and thence to the town of Lampasas, where the survey practically ended.

The outfit was sent to Austin, where the wagons and camping outfit are stored and the horses and mules properly cared for.

At this place I will briefly refer to a few facts which will be presented in greater detail in the body of the report herewith submitted.

In the brief time which I had for the examination of the beds in the vicinity of Dockum, and which in the First Annual Report, 1889, I called the Dockum Beds, I could not get enough material by which to definitely determine the horizon to which they belong, but am of the opinion that they are the same as the Shinarump beds of Hayden, a member of the Triassic formation in Arizona. The beds constituting the upper part of the Staked Plains are of a later date, and are without doubt Tertiary. In these I found only fragments of vertebrates, and not enough to definitely determine the horizon to which the beds belong. A more detailed examination of that part of the country is required to determine any of the stratigraphic relations.

I still see no cause for changing my opinion that all the strata from the Coal Measures to the Dockum beds belong to the Permian. I think this will be fully proven by the facts collected on this expedition, as will be shown in the body of the report. I have made as large a collection of fossils from the several beds as it was possible to make in the time at my disposal for such purposes.

The two complete sections made across the Carboniferous, one along the Brazos River and the other along Pecan Bayou, have enabled me to correlate the strata of the Carboniferous south of the Cretaceous belt that extends across the country just below the Texas and Pacific Railway with the beds in the northern part of the State.

The highest and lowest beds of the Carboniferous occur in the southern part of the field, while only the intermediate ones are found in the extreme northern part.

Both the workable beds of coal are in the northern division, while only No. 7 is found in the southern division.

The relation of the several beds will be shown in the body of the Report.

Mr. N. F. Drake has been in charge of the topographic work, and to his efficiency in that branch of the service, and in making observations of the stratigraphic relations of the different beds, I am indebted for the completeness of the sections published elsewhere in the Report.

W. F. CUMMINS,
Geologist for Northern Texas.

 

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REPORT OF MR. J. B. WALKER.

AUSTIN, TEXAS, December 31, 1890
.

Mr. E. T. Dumble, State Geologist:

DEAR SIR—In accordance with your letter of instructions of June 6 assigning to me for the field season the counties of Panola, Shelby, Nacogdoches, and Rusk, I herewith transmit notes of the observations made.

The object of the field work in the counties named was to examine the quality of the iron ore deposits and define the boundaries of such ores as would probably be of immediate economic value, with "such observations on the character of the surrounding geologic formations as the time (summer, 1890) will permit." The quotation from your letter of instructions.

The want of reliable geographic maps, and the fact that no contour maps of this section exist, together with a paucity of local names for many of the "mountains," as they are locally called, and the difficulty of finding persons acquainted with the boundaries of headright surveys, has rendered exact outlining of the ore beds within the allotted time an impossibility, but sufficient data has been obtained to show the location and approximate extent of the beds of iron ore most suitable for manufacturing purposes, while other ob. served facts will tend to assist in determining the character and relations of the strata to each other, and the period of the formations as a whole.

The plan of operations consisted in selecting the county seats respectively as central localities, and from these centres radial loops or excursions were made into the different parts of each county, mainly in search of iron bearing beds, and casually noting any facts bearing on the stratigraphy of the country that came within my observation. It was in this way only, as it appeared to me, that the three thousand four hundred and ninety square miles of territory in my district could be approximately covered in the stated time.

In conclusion, allow me to express my indebtedness to you for many useful suggestions and courtesies received, and to the many hospitable and public spirited citizens of the counties in my district for the interest manifested in the Survey, donations to the Museum, and the time they cheerfully gave to accompany me on many local journeys in the heat of summer.

Very truly yours,

JOSEPH B. WALKER,
Assistant Geologist.

 

103

REPORT OF MR. J. H. HERNDON.

AUSTIN, TEXAS, November 7, 1890
.

Hon. E. T. Dumble, State Geologist:

DEAR SIR—In accordance with your instructions of June 8, for me to undertake the study of Smith County and make a report on its geology, with especial regard to its economic features, I took the field on June 22 and made a rapid reconnaissance of the county, which has an area of nine hundred and fifty-seven square miles, and necessarily took a long time in order to get a general idea of its geology. This was followed by a systematic study of the county in detail.

I made Tyler my headquarters, and rode over the whole county on horseback, and have succeeded in mapping out the iron ore beds, pottery clays, lignites, and other economic products. My aim has been to present the economic features of the county in such a shape that they may readily be grasped by all, in the hope that by leaving out the details of stratigraphy, which have been discussed at length by other geologists, that this brief report would meet the wishes of those most interested in developing the mineral resources of the county.

I desire to express my thanks to Mr. R. T. Hill for valuable hints and assistance.

In conclusion, my thanks as well as my gratitude are due you for the personal interest you took in me by visiting me and giving me a fair start in my work. The valuable instructions and methods of investigation which you imparted to me in those few days when you were with me, the perfect freedom and the many facilities afforded me in presenting this work, have rendered it a possibility.

Very respectfully,

J. H. HERNDON,
Chemist in Charge, Geological Survey of Texas.

REPORT OF MR. W. KENNEDY.

AUSTIN, TEXAS, December 19, 1890
.

Hon. E. T. Dumble, State Geologist:

DEAR SIR—The work assigned to me during last season is detailed in your letter of instructions under date March 28, 1890, as follows:

"The work to which you are assigned for the present is the continuation

 

104

of the mapping of the iron ore deposits of Eastern Texas. You will therefore proceed to Cass County, which is now partially finished, and complete it. Then make reconnaissance of Bowie County to determine amount of iron in that county.

"In addition to the mapping of these ores, you will make such observations in the clays and lignites as you are able to do, thus preparing yourself to take up their study in detail as soon as the present work is completed."

With the view of carrying out these instructions, I left Austin on the morning of the 29th March, and on arrival at Queen City began the work of mapping the iron ores of Cass County. The greater part of the month of April was unfit for field work, owing to the flooding of the streams due to an excessive rainfall. Another cause of delay in the finishing of the work of surveying Cass was the failure of my predecessor, Mr. A. G. Taff, on account of his serious illness, to supply me with his note book or a copy of his notes. 1 was not supplied with a copy of Mr. Taff's notes, or other details of the work performed by him, until late in the season, and after I had resurveyed and mapped the greater part of the district over which Mr. Taff had already gone. On receipt of Mr. Taff's notes I did not visit the few remaining points where he had been, but confined my attention to such parts of the county as had not been already visited. In the preparation of the report Mr. Taff's notes were used for the few places not visited by myself.

In addition to the mapping of the iron ores in Cass County, all the known deposits of clay of any known, or which might eventually prove to be of any value were visited and examined, and the same course was also pursued with respect to all known lignite outcroppings. As the geological structure of the county was also under consideration, as many natural sections from stream cuttings and washouts, as well as sections from the cuttings along public roads and railways and from wells, as possible were measured and the general topography of the county ascertained as correctly as possible with the instruments at my command and by the aid of profiles of the railways intersecting the county. Some of these sections and levels are given in my report, and the others are on file pending the complete topographical survey of the whole of that part of the State. A map of the county on a scale of one inch to the mile, containing the meanderings of the streams and bayous corrected, is now in course of construction and will be completed shortly.

From work along the Sulphur River and a few trips made into Bowie, it was seen that the existence of iron ore in that county was at best problematic, and the proposed reconnaissance into Bowie was abandoned.

On the completion of the work in Cass County I proceeded according to your instructions to Harrison County.

No work had been done previously in this county, and, with the exception

 

105

of a visit to Hynson's Springs, had not been visited by Dr. Penrose in his reconnaisance of East Texas. Owing to better facilities in the form of roads and other means of transportation from place to place, the work of surveying and mapping the iron ores, clays, and lignites of Harrison County was carried on with much greater celerity than was possible in Cass, and the work was completed in a much shorter period of time. The work in Harrison County was finished by the 10th of October.

The character of the work performed in Harrison County was similar to that done in Cass County. The iron ores were examined and mapped. All the clay and lignite exposures were visited and examined and described, and the general geological and topographical structure of the county worked in detail as far as possible. Many natural as well as other sections were measured and recorded, and many elevations from railway profiles and barometric readings were obtained As with Cass, some of these sections and elevations appear in the report, while the others are held pending fuller investigations and the correlation of the several deposits.

No attempt has been made to correlate these deposits, or to assign them to any position in the geologic scale. They have simply been considered as forming parts ot Penrose's Timber Belt Beds.

After the completion of the work in Harrison County, I spent a few days in the vicinity of Jefferson, Marion County, examining the clay deposits and greensand marls of that region.

During the month of October a reconnaissance was made of Gregg County, with the view of ascertaining the existence, probable extent, and quality of the iron ore of that county, with the intention, if found necessary, of making a complete survey of Gregg County some time during the next season.

Field operations were finished in the beginning of November, and since that time I have been engaged in the office, working out such portions of the reports as could not be done while in the field.

Numerous specimens of iron ores, ferruginous sandstones and clays, with some greensand marls, were obtained during the course of the work and forwarded to Austin from time to time. All necessary analyses of these have been made, and some of the clays have been submitted to practical fire tests with the view of determining their refractory qualities. Some of the other clays have yet to be tested.

In conclusion, allow me to thank you for your advice and personal assistance during the course of the work.

Very respectfully,

WM. KENNEDY.
Assistant Geologist.

 

106

CHEMICAL DEPARTMENT.

REPORT OF MR. J. H. HERNDON.

AUSTIN, TEXAS, December 14, 1890
.

Hon. E. T. Dumble, State Geologist:

DEAR SIR—I have the honor of herewith laying before you a brief report of the character and amount of work done in the Chemical Laboratory of this Survey during the period embraced between January 1 and December 13, 1890. During this time six hundred and fifteen analyses have been made by Mr. Magnenat and myself. These analyses have been made especially with a view to show the economic value of the various ores and mineral resources of Texas. From the results obtained in the laboratory and reported to you it will be seen that no State in the Union is more blessed in mineral resources than Texas, and when once intelligent home and foreign capital begin to develop these resources, our State will make a gigantic stride towards progress and civilization which will give her the first place in the Union in wealth, power, and population.

The tables of analyses which I have given below only show the most important work done, of which a record has been kept. A large amount of work has deen done in the laboratory, such as testing of minerals, qualitative work, special assays, and the like, of which no record has been kept by me.

In the table under the head of assays sometimes as many as four or five different determinations have been made, so I have reported all analyses of zinc, lead, copper, antimony, and bismuth ores along with the assays, as in these ores silver and gold is always called for. In this short Report I can not discuss our ores at length, and can only hint at their possibilities.

The East Texas iron ores will make a fine grade of iron, and I have the asassurance of prominent railway men who have tested them, that car wheels made from the iron are longer lived and wear better than those manufactured in any other State. These ores mixed with the requisite amount of magnetic ores of Central Texas will make a fine grade of steel. In the Central Mineral Region we have a fine grade of Bessemer ores unsurpassed by any in the world.

In Edwards County is found a pure white kaolin that will make the finest grade of porcelain ware, and in Eastern Texas clays are very abundant that can be utilized for manufacturing coarse pottery of every description, and a few that will make good fire brick. Our gold and silver ores assaying from one to eleven hundred ounces of silver and from one to ten ounces of gold to the ton. The manganese ores of Mason and Llano counties are very fine.

 

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The lead ores assay as high as eighty-five per cent of metallic lead, zinc ores fifty-six per cent of zinc, copper ores seventy-eight per cent of copper. Bismuth, tin, antimony, molybdenum are found in small quantities.

Analyses made in the laboratory of the lignites of Texas have been compared by you with the German lignites which are used for making briquettes and coke, and shown to be superior to them both as fuel and as steam generators.

The fertilizers (Greensands) of Texas are not so good as those of New Jersey, yet can be used with great profit on our poorer lands. In fact, there is hardly a mineral of economic value that is not found in our State.

As to the monetary value of the work done by the Chemists in the Laboratory during the year, at present I can only give approximate figures. Counting each analysis as valued at $20, which is a very low figure, as most of the ores will far exceed this estimate if regular prices were charged, it will amount to more than $12,000. At the end of the year, if a careful estimate of the work is made, I have not the slightest doubt but that it will exceed $25,000.

Below is a table showing the amount and character of work done during the year:

 

108

Very respectfully,

JOHN H. HERNDON, Chemist in Charge.

 

109

CHEMICAL WORK OF THE SURVEY AT THE LABORATORY OF THE AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL COLLEGE.

Mr. P. S. Tilson, during the seven months of his connection with the Survey in 1890, made sixty-nine examinations of soils, clays, and iron ores which were divided as follows:

 

 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, INSURANCE, STATISTICS, AND HISTORY.
PAPERS ACCOMPANYING THE ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF
TEXAS
FOR
1890

 

 

REPORTS
ON
THE IRON ORE DISTRICT
OF
EAST TEXAS.

 

 

 

 

PART I.
A GENERAL DESCRIPTION
OF THE
IRON ORE DISTRICT OF EAST TEXAS.
BY E. T. DUMBLE.

INTRODUCTION.

That part of Texas of which the following pages treat is situated in the northeastern corner of the State, being the territory lying east of the 96th degree of longitude and north of the 31st parallel of latitude. From this area we exclude, as being non-iron bearing, the portion north of Sulphur Fork, and also the northwestern corner, in which the black waxy prairies of the Cretaceous are the prevailing formation.

In this district, so restricted, there are nineteen counties: Cass, Morris, Marion, Upshur, Wood, Harrison, Gregg, Panola, Smith, Van Zandt, Rusk, Cherokee, Henderson, Anderson, Houston, Nacogdoches, Shelby, Sabine, and San Augustine, containing in the aggregate 14,430 square miles. In each of these counties iron ore exists in greater or less quantities and of varying qualities.

Ores of similar character are reported from other counties west and southwest of this area, but our investigations have not extended further than the limits stated.

As will be seen by reference to the accompanying map, the iron ores are very unevenly distributed through this region, and as we have mapped them cover an area of about 1000 square miles. The scale, however, on which the map is published is such that n:any of the deposits which are really valuable do not appear at all, owing to their comparatively small size. In addition to the map, the boundaries and location of the ore deposits are given in detail in the various reports, so far as it has been possible to define them.

"

---

It has not been found possible to complete the work in this district in as detailed manner as was intended. In Gregg, Sabine, Morris, Houston, and San Augustine counties no attempt has been made to do detailed work, and we have had to content ourselves with a reconnaissance of them for the purpose of ascertaining the presence or absence of workable deposits of ore. In four counties only have we gone over the subject as thoroughly as we intend working the entire area. For these reasons the present must only be considered a partial report.

 

8

In order that the work might be completed more rapidly, there have been several geologists in the field, and the reports on the separate counties are given as made by them.

HISTORICAL.

The existence of beds of iron ore in the eastern part of this State has been known almost from the time of its first settlement.

In a new country, where supplies had to be brought from great distances by the slow methods of transportation in use at that time, it was only a matter of course that the abundance of wood for charcoal, the purity of the ore, and the probability of a remunerative market at home should prove sufficient inducement for men of enterprise to engage in its manufacture. Such was the case; and some time in the fifties Mr. J. S. Nash erected a small furnace in Cass County. Of this furnace Dr. B. F. Shumard states, in 1859, that "it was erected several years since." This was the first attempt to utilize these ores of which we have any knowledge.

The investigations of the Geological Survey under Dr. Shumard, which were carried on during the year 1859, proved that the ores were not confined to Cass County alone but were very abundant. He says:

Until the commencement of the present survey, it was not known that we had workable deposits of iron, except in one or two localities. But our labors have demonstrated the important fact that we have a vast iron region in the eastern part of the State, embracing considerable areas in Cass, Harrison, Rusk, Panola, Smith, San Augustine, and Shelby counties. The ore deposits belong to the tertiary era, and consist chiefly of hematites and limonites, of which there are several varieties. We have also found in this district extensive beds of carbonate of iron.

According to Dr. G. G. Shumard, Cass county alone is capable of supplying a number of furnaces with an abundance of excellent iron ore for many years. The ore occurs here in regular layers, which sometimes obtain a thickness of fifty feet. The only iron furnace our State can boast of is located in this county. It was erected several years since by Mr. Nash and has been in nearly constant, and I believe profitable, operation up to the present time. The ore is mined near the furnace, and the kinds preferred are a porous variety of hematite, termed by the proprietors "honeycomb ore," and "

---

Such descriptions as are written by myself are of counties examined by Dr. Penrose and the iron ore localities mapped by Mr. G. E. Ladd. These are written from the notes of Dr. Penrose, to which the results of my own examinations are added in places. Much of the other matter contained in this report is taken either from the former published reports on this region by Dr. Penrose or from his notes, which are admirable in their clearness and detail. Quotations not otherwise credited are from Dr. Penrose's writings.

First Report of the Geological and Agricultural Survey of Texas. B. F. Shumard, M. D. This report is reprinted as an appendix to "A partial report on the Geology of West Texas." Dr. G. G. Shumard. Austin, 1886, pp. 142, 143.

 

9

compact brown hematite. The pig metal and castings produced from these ores are of excellent quality and command a high price in the market.

Our detailed examinations in Rusk county have developed the occurrence of almost inexhaustible deposits of workable hematite, similar to that found in Cass, while our general surveys in Cherokee, Nacogdoches, and the other counties above enumerated have convinced us that further explorations will reveal there also the existence of equally extensive accumulations of this important element of State wealth.

Other deposits of iron occur in the tertiary strata in the middle division of the State, but so far as our observations have been carried these ores are inferior to those found in the East. In the counties of Caldwell and Guadalupe, examined by Dr. Riddell, are heavy deposits of iron ore, but they contain such a large proportion of silex, in the form of sand, as to render them generally unfit for profitable smelting. We have fair workable ores from Bastrop and Llano counties, but further researches are necessary before we can give a positive opinion respecting their value.

Dr. Riddell's analysis of an average specimen of the honeycomb variety from the Nash mines yielded the following result:

Dr. Riddell's analysis of a specimen taken from an extensive ore deposit in Rusk County, about four miles east of Sulphur Springs, gave:

The specimen analyzed represents a variety that is very common through. out the iron region of this part of the State.

This is the first clear statement which we have of the character, extent, and age of these ores, and, although the actual thickness of the beds is much below that claimed for them, it is nevertheless sufficient to fully warrant the conclusion of a practically unlimited supply.

The extra session of the Eighth Legislature, in 1861, which suspended the Geological Survey, showed the value of its work by the following:

Joint Resolution Concerning Iron Foundries in the State of Texas.

WHEREAS, There is in the counties of Marion and Cass, in this State, an inexhaustible supply of iron ore; and, whereas, foundries are at this time in successful operation in said localities, fostered by the enterprise of the citizens of Texas; therefore,

1. Be it resolved by the Legislature of the State of Texas, That the government of the Confederate States of America is hereby respectfully invited to consider the propriety and importance of establishing in said localities a foundry and manufactory for the manufacture of ordnance and arms for the Confederate States.

 

10

2. That the Governor is hereby requested to cause a copy of this joint resolution to be transmitted to the delegates of this State in the Congress of the Confederate States, to be by them laid before the government of said Confederate States; and that this joint resolution take effect and be in force from and after its passage.

Approved April 8, 1861.

In response to this invitation the Confederate Government took charge of some of the furnaces already in operation and ran them for the purpose indicated. Others were erected in various localities, and gun barrels and other supplies and munitions manufactured. Effort has been made to secure the official records of the operations of these furnaces, but the volume of Records of the Rebellion in which they will appear is not yet published.

In addition to the works erected in this way a few others were constructed by private capital. In this way the total number of furnaces was somewhat augmented, although the total output of iron was comparatively small on account of the small size of the works.

The iron made at the small bloomaries, from the rich ores of the region, was very malleable and tough, and the traveler of to-day finds many articles in daily use among the farmers, in the neighborhood of these old bloomaries, which, they will tell you, were made directly from the ore at the "foundery," as they always call them.

The Ninth Legislature, in 1863, reorganized the Military Board, which was composed of the "Governor of the State, who shall be ex officio President of the Board, and two other members, who shall be appointed by the Governor." This Board was given control of all public works and supplies, and empowered "to aid producing within the State by the importation of articles necessary and proper for such aid.".

They were authorized to erect iron works by the following Act:

An Act to Provide for the Manufacture of Iron by the Military Board.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Texas, That it shall be the duty of the Military Board to erect and put into operation one or more furnaces and forges and other suitable works for the manufacture of iron, to be located at such place or places as may be selected by said Board.

SECTION 2. That all iron manufactured by said Board, or under their direction, not needed for the defense of the State or in the performance of their duties, shall be sold to the people, according to such regulations and on such terms as said Military Board may establish, and the proceeds of such sales paid into the Treasury of the State.

SECTION 3. That one million dollars, or so much thereof as may be necessary, be and the same is hereby appropriated for the purpose of carrying into effect the provisions of this bill.

SECTION 4. That this act take effect from and after its passage. Approved December 16, 1863.

Among the special laws passed by this Legislature was one incorporating the Texas Iron Company, of which J. S. Nash, James Alley, William Nash,

 

11

H. P. Perry, Josiah D. Perry, and others were the charter members, approved March 5, 1863.

Under this incorporation the Nash furnace was continued in operation, and pig iron and castings were manufactured at it.

This same session of the Legislature passed a general law offering as an inducement to manufactories a section of land for each one thousand dollars invested in the erection of such manufactories. The Sulphur Fork furnace was the first to take advantage of this law.

SULPHUR FORK IRON COMPANY.

This company was incorporated under an act of the Legislature entitled "An Act to incorporate the Sulphur Fork Iron Company," approved December 4, 1863.

On June 15 the company was organized with nineteen stockholders. The shares were valued at one thousand dollars each, and among the stockholders was the State of Louisiana, which owned fifty-two shares.

The furnace was built of brick and was thirty-four feet square and thirty-six feet high. In addition to the furnace stack, the entire plant was of substantial construction, and consisted of large coal shed, engine room, molding room, steam saw and grist mill, machine shop, and necessary dwellings, etc., for operatives. This furnace was located on Horton's headright, just west of Springdale.

The daily capacity of the stack was eight tons, and the articles manufactured were pig iron and hollow ware. These works continued in operation until the first of April, 1865, when they stopped running.

The value of this plant, as determined by a commission appointed for the purpose of determining how many sections of land were due them under the law mentioned above, was $97,500.

HUGHES FURNACE.

The erection of this furnace was begun in 1859, but the manufacture of iron was not undertaken until two years later. It was located about one and a half miles southeast of Hughes Springs, in the southwestern portion of Cass County. From the best information now obtainable it had a capacity of twenty tons daily.

Mr. Hughes built the furnace, but never operated it, as the Confederate Government took charge of it soon after its erection, under the invitation extended them by the State of Texas. Under government management a very large amount of pig iron and castings were manufactured, and at the close of the war the furnace was continued in operation for a short time by the Federal authorities.

 

12

YOUNG'S IRON WORKS.

About eight miles southwest from Jacksonville and three miles from the Neches River was located one of the most extensive iron works of its time in the State. It was generally called by the name of the president of the company owning and operating it, "Young's Iron Works.".

The smelter was of the most substantial construction, built of selected brown sandstone, which abounds in the vicinity. Its outside dimensions were a square of thirty-four feet at the base, and it had the same height. This smelter was operated successfully for a time and pig iron and castings manufactured, but the explosion of the boiler and killing of one or two men thereby interrupted the work for a time, and the close of the war caused its final stoppage. Everything was put in order and left to await the building of a railroad to the furnace. Dr. Young secured the charter for the Houston and Great Northern Railroad, which was projected to run just by the side of the works, and the building of the road was begun, but before twenty miles of it had been constructed Dr. Young was killed in an accident. Nothing further was ever done with this furnace, which is still standing.

PHILLEO'S IRON WORKS.

"South of Rusk about eight miles, amid pine clad hills, and at a perennial stream of clear water, is Philleo's Iron Works, where ore was smelted on a large scale during the war, at the close of which smelting was suspended and only the foundry business continued; hence the works are now in a very dilapidated and decaying condition. During their operation three hundred men were employed."

THE NECHESVILLE BLOOMARY.

Dr. J. B. Bussey, of Timpson, furnishes the following account of the bloomary located near Nechesville, Anderson County, in which he was personally interested.

In the year 1863, Col. Chas. Bussey, father of Dr. Bussey, and Mr. Joseph P. Griggs began to erect works to make iron. They began with one twenty-five-horse power engine, using the ordinary fan blast. They soon found that this would not answer, and that it would be necessary either to enlarge the plant or stop operations. About this time Dr. J. B. Bussey returned from the army, and thinking that it was a good, investment, took a third interest in the works. Another engine was bought, additional sheds were erected, and two tub bellows, or blowing cylinders, were made; in fact, almost an entirely new bloomary plant was erected.

With this plant it was expected to manufacture from three to four thousand"

---

Dr. S. B. Buckley, First Annual Report, etc.

 

13

pounds of iron daily, and operations were continued until a production of about fifteen hundred pounds daily was reached, and new fire places were being added as rapidly as possible. Perfect success seemed an assured fact when the works were burned, as is supposed, by an incendiary.

The production of this bloomary was only fifty thousand pounds all told. The ore was taken from a mountain a mile north of Nechesville, and was of the "curly" variety. As nearly as could be determined it worked nearly sixty per cent The iron produced from it was of superior quality. The fuel used was pine charcoal, burned in the vicinity.

THE MONTALBO BLOOMARY.

This bloomary, which was situated about ten miles south of the Nechesville works, was in operation at the same time. It was located on the south bank of Mount Prairie Creek, some eight or nine miles north of Palestine. This was one of the plants operated under the management of the Confederate Government. From the iron smelted there gun barrels and other munitions of war were manufactured.

THE KICKAPOO BLOOMARY.

A short distance north of the Nechesville bloomary, in the vicinity of Kickapoo, the Confederate Government began the erection of a bloomary of the same character as the others scattered over the adjoining country, but, so far as can be ascertained, it was never completed.

THE McLAIN, OR LINN FLAT, BLOOMARY.

This bloomary was located in the northern part of Nacogdoches County, about twelve miles from the town of Nacogdoches and six miles from Linn Flat. It was constructed and operated during the latter part of the war, and at the cessation of hostilities work was stopped. According to Dr. Buckley, 150,000 pounds of hammered iron bars were made here in the eight months during which it was worked. These works suffered the same fate, that of fire, that befell most of the others.

Besides the furnaces and bloomaries already mentioned, another was begun by the Confederate Government a few miles east of Nechesville, in Cherokee County. The war ended before it was in running order, however, and it was abandoned.

KELLEYVILLE FURNACE.

This furnace was erected in 1869 by G. A. Kelley. It was located five miles north of Jefferson, and was put into blast in 1870. In 1882, owing to"

---

First Annual Report of the Geological and Agricultural Survey of Texas. S. B. Buckley, State Geologist, p. 19. Houston, 1874.

 

14

financial embarrassments, it was sold to the Marshall Car Wheel and Foundry Company, which company changed the name of the establishment to "Loo Ellen" furnace, and continued to run it until 1886, when, owing to the fact that the Car Wheel and Foundry Company could not use all the iron made, and the dilapidated condition of the furnace, it was blown out.

The stack was originally square, but was changed to a round in 1874. Bosh, nine feet; height originally, thirty-four feet, but afterwards raised to forty-five feet, and its capacity was ten tons per day.

Fuel used was charcoal, while for flux limestone was gotten from Dallas.

The iron produced was hot blast charcoal soft foundry iron when made by Mr. Kelley. That made by the Car Wheel Company was a hard iron, especially suitable for chilled castings, such as car wheels, etc., that being the character of iron wanted by the company.

Mr. Kelley reports that the amount of flux needed was ten per cent of weight of ore. Fuel, one hundred and thirty-three bushels of charcoal to produce one ton of metal. Cost of metal, $13 per ton. Ore averaged fifty-five per cent.

Mr. Kelley used a low pressure blast, the Car Wheel Company high pressure.

THE STATE FURNACE.

The aid afforded in the development of the iron industry of Eastern Texas by the building and operation of the "Old Alcalde " furnace by the State at the Rusk penitentiary can hardly be overestimated. By its careful management and successful operation it has fully demonstrated the workability and superior excellence of the ores which surround it.

From the biennial reports of the Superintendent of the Texas State Penitentiaries we get the following account of its construction and operation:.

The penitentiary was located at Rusk on account of the deposits of rich iron ores in the vicinity, and for the purpose of employment for convict labor for making iron, and at other industries growing out of it. The prison had no railroad connections, and could not be successfully organized and utilized as a prison until such connections were made. As soon as the Board was fully satisfied in regard to railroad connections, it had an examination made as to the character, quantity, and quality of the iron ore, with the view of having erected a blast furnace for making pig iron. Mr. G. A. Kelley, employed to make such investigation, reported very favorably, and the Board secured the services of Mr. E. C. Darley, of St. Louis, a furnace engineer, to furnish plans and estimates for a small furnace, and to superintend the construction of the same. The plans submitted and adopted are for about a twenty-five ton furnace, which is estimated to cost about $25,000. The castings, boiler, and part of the other machinery and material are on the ground.

The blast furnace was started in the latter part of February last, but the results from it were unsatisfactory, as it failed to turn out the quantity or quality of"

---

Biennial Report, November, 1880, to October, 1882, pp. 4, 5. Austin, 1882.

 

15

iron expected, the yield being only about eight or ten tons per day, when the furnace was expected, under proper management, to yield twenty-five or thirty tons per day. The trouble was attributed to various causes, but finally it was concluded that the furnace was not properly constructed, and that the bosh, or lower part of it, was not in the right shape to produce the best results. Hence, after a blast of about two months, it was blown out and the bosh changed. It was blown in about the first of June, and, it was claimed, made more and better iron, but still its workings were far from satisfactory, and it was banked and stopped about the first of September. .

The Nineteenth Legislature made an appropriation of $50,000 for the development of the iron industries at Rusk. I had been directed by your Board to employ an expert to visit Rusk and make an examination of the furnace, plant, iron ore, lime rock, timber, etc., and make report of the result of his examination. After corresponding with, and upon the recommendation of several leading iron men, I employed Mr. John Birkinbine, of Philadelphia, to make the examination His visit and examination was made about the first of June, 1885, and in July he submitted an interesting and exhaustive report, in the conclusion of which he says: "I have no hesitation in saying that you have a furnace plant better equipped than a majority of the charcoal furnaces in the United States. In fact, I do not think there are more than fifteen in the country which may be considered equal to it in all respects. The ore supply seems to be sufficiently abundant for the requirements of the present and near future, and the quality, as indicated by analysis made, will give you an ore richer than the average ores throughout the United States, and produce iron of good quality. You have unusual facilities for manufacturing charcoal cheaply, and of superior quality. You are unfortunate in having no supply of good flux immediately available, but this disadvantage is less than it would be in a furnace using mineral fuel. You can produce iron with an expenditure for labor no greater than the average at charcoal furnaces throughout the United States, and the cost of making pig iron at Rusk is less than the majority of the furnaces in the country. You are at a disadvantage in having but one railroad, and that a narrow gauge, but that may be overcome largely by the cordial co-operation of the officers, which, they assure me, you would receive. There seems to be a variety of industries which can be made to pay, and utilize a large portion of the pig iron produced in the furnace, but it is probable that you will have to, at least for the present, combine several of these to obtain satisfactory results, and afterwards, if the indications point to certain of these being most advantageous, the others can be dropped. With the large area of your State, its rapid growth, and increased demand for all manufactures of iron which accompany such development, there would seem to be a good opportunity for the transformation of such of the product of your furnace as you cannot sell into merchantable commodities.".

After the consideration of Mr. Birkinbine's report, your Board determined to make immediate preparation for starting the furnace, and authorized me to employ Mr. R. A. Barrett, of St. Louis, as furnace superintendent. Mr. Barrett had superintended the construction of the furnace, and had great confidence in making it perform all that had originally been promised. He came on at once and set about making the necessary preparation for its operation. He put in a new bosh, changing the shape of the same as originally constructed. We had a supply of coal on hand, taken in the settlement with"

---

Reports of the Superintendent and Financial Agent of the Texas State Penitentiaries for two years ending October 31, 1884, p. 12. Austin, 1885.

 

16

Comer&Fairis, and we procured lime rock from Coryell County, by the Texas and St. Louis Railroad, at a cost of about $4 per ton delivered. The furnace was started for an experimental test on the 30th of November, 1885, and ran, with splendid results, to the 10th of January, 1886, when the coal became exhausted, and it was blown out. The output of iron was seldom less than twenty-five tons per day, and frequently over thirty tons per day. From this blast the total yield was 1044 tons of excellent iron.

The furnace was again put in blast on the 1st of July last, and is now in blast, and the yield to date from this second blast is 3069 tons. Total output of the two blasts 4113 tons, which is worth at a fair cash valuation $16 per ton, or $65,808.

As to quality of the iron, I submit the following extracts from letters received from iron men to whom samples were sent:.

The Johnson Iron Works, New Orleans, says: "The sample of pig iron sent us has been used up in the manufacture of machine castings. The iron is of excellent quality and runs well in the mould. We would have no hesitation in using this grade of iron for any class of our work.".

Mr. J. L. Smyser, vice-president of Lithgow Manufacturing Company, of Louisville, Ky., says: "I thank you for the samples of iron just received. I want to say promptly that they have every outward evidence of being excellent; better than any irons being sold in this market. I am positively astonished that Texas is making any iron at all, to say nothing of its quality. If there is plenty of this iron, Texas would be a good place for a foundry.".

Mr. Paul A. Fusz, secretary of the Chouteau, Harrison & Valle Iron Company, St. Louis, writes Mr. R. A. Barrett, thus: "Your piece of pig iron came to hand to-day. The pig is the best I have ever seen from a charcoal furnace. It appears to be perfect.".

More than half of the yield of the furnace has been of the quality from which we have such flattering reports.

I can assure you that these results have been very gratifying, and they are due, to a great extent, to the skill and ability of Mr. Barrett, who has made but few pretentions, but has in a quiet, modest way performed much more than he promised. The results, too, demonstrate the fact that the former failure of the furnace was not attributable to a faulty construction, but to the want of proper management.

CONTRACT FOR CAPITOL CASTINGS.—It was very fortunate that soon after the determination to operate the iron furnace an opportunity presented to make a large contract for castings, which would consume a large amount of the products of the furnace. On the 26th of October, 1885, a contract was made by your Board with Mr. Gus. Wilke for a large amount of the cast iron work for the new Capitol; principally columns, with their pedestals, bases and caps, and the castings for the dome of the building. The prices agreed upon were 2 ¾ cents per pound for the columns, bases, etc., and 4 cents per pound for dome castings, delivered in Austin. The estimate of the amount of castings is about two million pounds, which at an average of 3 3/8 cents is is $67,500. The work to be performed was difficult, but Mr. R. A. Barrett, our furnace manager, agreed to take general supervision over it, which he has done, and his services in this respect, as in others, have been invaluable to us. It took considerable time and outlay of money to get our foundry and machine shops properly equipped for this new character of work. A good foundryman had to be employed; also an experienced, skillful pattern maker. All of this was done as soon as possible, and we now have probably the best equipped foundry south of St. Louis. The foundry department is under the immediate charge of Mr. Frank Kavanuagh and the pattern shop under Mr. R. Flachs,

 

17

both competent, good men. The character of the work in the foundry has necessitated the employment of a citizen moulder, Mr. Ed. Robinson. With this exception the work is all done with convict labor. We have made and shipped under this contract the columns, pedestals, bases, and caps for the first, second, and third stories of the Capitol building, amounting to 609,860 pounds, and are now at work on the fourth story castings. The work so far done is in Austin to show for itself, and has been pronounced excellent by all who have seen it. The contractor and Capitol Commissioners have expressed themselves as well pleased, both with the material and workmanship.

The castings for the dome will be of a different character of work and more difficult to execute, but I have full confidence in our ability to do it. The margin for profit in this contract is not large, but three objects will be accomplished: 1. The consumption of the product of the furnace. 2. The employment of a large number of convicts within the walls. 3. The training of a large number of convicts into skilled moulders. In addition to the foregoing advantages, the display of our work from iron manufactured in the State will be a splendid advertisement, both for the State and our prison industries.

THE PIPE FOUNDRY.—Mr. John Birkinbine, before alluded to, discussed in his report the various industries connected with the manufacture of pig iron which might be carried on with convict labor. He says: "The manufacture of cast iron water and gas pipe would consume a large quantity of iron, but would use a small amount of labor per pound of metal, and would require more expensive appliances than the manufacture of car wheels; but with the rapid growth of Texas, and the fact that no iron pipe of any amount are made nearer than St. Louis, Mo., or Birmingham, Ala., this specialty would seem worthy of careful consideration, as the contracts made would be with safe parties and in large amounts."

In the latter part of January last, when on your visit to Rusk, and after thorough discussion of the matter in all its phases, you determined to inau. gurate this as one of the industries for the Rusk Penitentiary, and directed me to proceed and have erected the necessary buildings and appliances for such foundry. 1 placed the work under the entire control of Mr. Barrett, who went to St. Louis to get the necessary information as to details of construction, to enable him to get up the detailed drawings and plans for the work. The work is of considerable magnitude, requiring much labor and material, and as a great deal of this material consists of castings (about five hundred and fifty thousand pounds), which had to be made in our own foundry, it has been somewhat delayed to avoid conflicting with our Capitol contract. There has been delay, also, in obtaining material from St. Louis, because of the strike. This material has recently arrived and we are rapidly finishing the other castings. The pipe foundry has been placed at the end of the furnace cast house, so that when the furnace is in operation we can use its product to a considerable extent for pipes without remelting, thus saving the cost of coke and the wear and tear of the cupola in remelting.

We have, however, fitted up cupola and blower, so that the pipe foundry can be operated when the furnace is out of blast. The appliances of this pipe foundry are first class in every particular, and it will be complete and ready for operation in a short time, and will utilize the labor of from thirty of fifty convicts.

From the number of inquiries constantly made about water pipe, I feel satisfied that the capacity of the furnace and foundry will be hardly sufficient to supply the demand.

"

---

Reports of the Superintendent and Financial Agent of the Texas State Penitentiaries, for two years ending October 31, 1886. Austin, 1886.

 

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The successful operation of the iron furnace, reported in my biennial report of 1886, has continued up to the present time. The furnace has not been operated constantly, having had to blow out two or three times for repairs and coal. The product in the two years is reported at about nine thousand tons; the amount on hand twenty-six hundred and fifty-four tons. During the two years there has been sold 6540, and consumed by the foundries at Rusk prison 2389 tons. The records show during the last two years there have been used in producing pig iron 18,903 tons of iron ore, 4523 tons of limestone, 1276 cords of wood, and 1,207,761 bushels of charcoal.

The iron turned out is kept up to a high standard as to quality. Until a few months ago the product was altogether hot blast iron, but recently there has been some demand for cold, or rather warm, blast iron to make car wheels, and a large lot of this kind has been made to supply this demand, and it is giving excellent satisfaction.

The success of this furnace has accomplished one object of its erection, viz., the development of the iron resources of Eastern Texas, and has thus induced capital and enterprise to come from abroad and invest in similar enterprises.

The town of New Birmingham has been located and is being built up within two miles of the penitentiary, one or more new furnaces are to be erected, and other enterprises contemplated and promised, which will all, directly or indirectly, benefit the industries of our prison, especially if better transportation facilities are thereby induced.

THE WATER PIPE FOUNDRY.—This was completed and put in operation after the date of my last report. It is an excellent plant, and from it has been turned out a large quantity of excellent pipe, ranging in size from three to twelve inches in diameter.

I can not say that we found such a ready sale for water pipe as anticipated, from the fact that high railroad rates have operated against us. With a much more favorable rate, recently obtained, we can no doubt find ready sale for all we can make.

The pipe foundry gives employment to about seventy-five convicts. .

The record for the past two years is but a continuation of the success which has attended it under its present management, and pig iron of most excellent quality is made, besides large amounts of iron pipe, etc.

NEW FURNACES.

In addition to the furnaces mentioned, others are now completed or in process of erection at New Birmingham and Jefferson. One, the Tassie Belle, has just been put in blast at New Birmingham, and is reported as working very successfully.

TOPOGRAPHY.

The fundamental idea of the topography of this district is that of a comparatively level plateau, which has risen gradually and slowly from beneath the waters of the Gulf, in which the various beds of clays and sands of which it is composed were deposited. Its present varied surface; hills spreading out in"

---

Reports of the Superintendent and Financial Agent of the Texas State Penitentiaries, for two years ending October 31, 1888. Austin, 1889.

 

19

table lands, or solitary cones or buttes, or often presenting only a vista of gentle undulations; valleys, which are in places only steep-sided ravines, but further on widen out into pasture land and farm and meadow; and the lower lying river bottoms, often miles in width, through which the sluggish rivers wind their way in tortuous channels, spreading out here and there into lakes; these are all carved out from this ancient table land by erosive action, assisted in some measure by the later submergences to which it has been subjected. So far we have found little evidence of any disturbance of the strata which cannot readily be referred to the action of just such agencies as are now at work over the entire region. Faults are not uncommon, but usually they are of slight extent, and are in most cases certainly only due to sub-erosion or induced by the drying and shrinking of the strata. These causes are ample, also, to explain many of the numerous benches which may be observed in various places.

THE HIGHLANDS.—This table land was not confined by the limits given to the district, but stretched into Arkansas and Louisiana on the northeast and east, as well as still further to the southwest. By far the larger portion of it which remains in this part of Texas is to be found in a series of plateaus or flat topped mountains, mesas, and buttes, beginning in the southern part of Cherokee County, running north and northwest, and spreading across the Neches into Anderson County and east into Rusk and Henderson. Southeastward areas are found'in Nacogdoches, Sabine, and other counties. Northward they extend into Smith County, beyond which their identity is lost; the other highlands, although originally parts of the same table land, lacking the distinguishing marks of these principal remnants.

These plateaus have, in almost every case, "their summits capped by a horizontal or nearly horizontal bed of iron ore or sandstone, and to this covering they owe their existence, it having protected them from the erosion which has worn down the surrounding country. The hills, locally called 'mountains,' sometimes occur as small flat-topped hills—the butte and mesa of the west—and in others spread in broad plateaus, sometimes covering an area of twenty or thirty square miles, deeply cut by the steep-sided canyons, and often showing an almost perpendicular slope.".

The highest points now remaining of this old table land are parts of the flat-topped hills of Cherokee County, which have an extreme altitude of six hundred and sixty feet. From this the elevation decreases in all directions, sinking in some places to or even below the three hundred feet level. Four hundred and fifty feet is probably the extreme variation of elevation in the entire district.

" These are the uplands of this portion of the State, and possess a soil far different from the surrounding lowlands, and a climate excellently adapted

 

20

to the cultivation of fruit. In fact, such lands are now among the greatest fruit districts of Texas, and bid fair to be a worthy competitor of the California fruit country.

"Gent Mountain, in the western part of Cherokee County, is a beautiful example of this plateau country. It comprises over twenty square miles of area, is largely underlaid by iron ore, capped by a sandy soil, and thickly covered with oak and hickory. From its summit, looking south and west, can be seen the lowlands of the Neches River bottom, and beyond the rolling country of Anderson County. To the north can be seen Gray's Mountain, Grimes Mountain, Ragsdale Mountain, and many other iron clad hills. To the east looms up a similar range, constituting the iron ore plateau of Rusk and New Birmingham."

The soils of these table lands are of a gray sandy character, and are underlaid by clay subsoil, often stained red by iron. "The gray surface soil blends into and is doubtless derived from the red subsoil, to which it owes its agricultural value."

THE LOWLANDS.—Surrounding these highlands we find large areas from which erosion has removed the beds of iron ore or sandstone and the great bed of greensand that immediately underlies these, and has brought to view the numerous and varied beds of clay and sands upon which they were originally deposited. These form the lowlands, the gently rolling and undulating portion of the region. The lowland soils are of three kinds: red clayey, red sandy, or mulatto. "These soils are extensively represented in East Texas, and form some of the richest lands of the region. They are not sharply divided from each other, but gradually blend together. They are underlaid by the clay and sandy strata of the Timber Belt beds, and owe their color to the decomposition of glauconite and other iron bearing minerals.

"The 'mulatto' soils are of a brownish red color, and are generally the result of the decomposition of the large glauconite beds of the region, and as they contain the fertilizing ingredients of that mineral, they are very productive. Next to the river bottom lands, they are the most productive soils of East Texas, and are extensively developed in Anderson, Smith, Cherokee, Rusk, Gregg, Harrison, and other counties.".

While there is no doubt that the entire region has been submerged more than once since its first emergence, the evidence seems to prove that the principal drainage channels established in Quaternary times, or possibly earlier, continue to be the principal ones of today.

In Texas the primary systems of this region are those of Red and Trinity rivers. These have their source far west of this region, and their channels cut deeper into the underlying beds than do those of the rivers of later

 

21

derivation, such as the Sabine and Neches. In the northern portion of the area the main rivers flow a little south of east; further south their courses are more nearly south. In the first case they belong to the drainage system of Red River and its adjacent lake system, while in the latter case the drainage is towards the Gulf.

"The Red River rises in the eastern slopes of the Staked Plains, in Northern Texas, passes through the Red (gypsiferous) Beds, the Paleozoic rocks, and the great Cretaceous area of Central Texas, and finally deposits in East Texas a sediment composed of materials from these regions, in the form of a highly calcareous red silt. The Trinity rises in the Carboniferous rocks of Northern Texas, but far east of the Staked Plains, and passing down through the Cretaceous prairies becomes charged with calcareous matter. Hence its sediments, though often calcareous, do not have the red color of Red River. The Sabine rises still east of the Trinity, while the smaller rivers, such as the Neches and Angelina, rise in the timber region, and the character of the sediment of them all varies with the region they rise in and flow through.

"Though traces of gravel and river silt are found along the rivers, and sometimes reach down to the water's edge, yet all of them may be said to flow in channels cut in the older sediments, as such strata crop out at very frequent intervals along their courses. In this respect they resemble the Mississippi, in connection with which a similar statement has been made by Humphreys and Abbot. .

"All of the Texas rivers are navigable to a greater or less extent, and until the introduction of railroads an extensive shipping business was carried on in transporting the cotton production of the region. Of course the amount of freight that could be carried depended on the high or low condition of the water. Now, however, boats rarely go up them for any considerable distance, as the journey takes a long time on account of the currents in the rivers, and, consequently, competition with railroads is impossible. The Sabine was formerly navigated for three hundred miles from its mouth, while cotton boats capable of carrying one thousand bales made regular trips up the Trinity to Green's Landing, in the northwestern part of Anderson County.".

The rainfall is very considerable throughout the district, being greatest during the winter and spring, and the erosion is proportionally extensive. The soft, unindurated character of much of the material composing the geological formations of this region are very favorable to the percolation of water, and springs are very abundant in every portion of the district. This soft condition of the materials also renders the work of erosion the more easy and rapid.

These agencies are steadily continuing the work which has already sculptured"

---

"Report on the Physics and Hydraulics of the Mississippi River," by Capt. A. A. Humphreys andLieut. H. L. Abbot, 1861.

 

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the country into its present contours; the fall and rush of surface waters wearing away the exposed beds of sands and clays; the springs by their slower but more continuous action performing the part of sub-erosion, and undermining and breaking down many hills and plateaus that would otherwise stand unimpaired on account of their more impervious coverings.

This region is heavily timbered. On the south is the terminus of the long leaf pine belt of the South Atlantic and Gulf States, which to the north gives way to the short leaf pine, the oak, the gum, and the hickory.

STRATIGRAPHY.

The iron ore region of East Texas, as here defined, is underlaid for the most part by strata of Tertiary age. In only a few places are there exposures of Cretaceous strata, and when they do appear as inliers they belong to its uppermost members, and are accompanied by salines.

"The uppermost part of the Cretaceous and the base of the Tertiary strata are both composed of soft clay and sand beds, which succumb readily to the weathering action of the atmosphere, and consequently the line of separation is often impossible to locate exactly. The uppermost beds of the Cretaceous in Texas and Arkansas are composed of sandy and 'glauconiferous' strata, sometimes reaching a maximum thickness of three hundred feet. These have been termed the 'glauconitic' division by Hill. They vary in composition from beds of pure siliceous sand to beds composed entirely of glauconite, and between these two extremes are found all gradations in the relative proportions of the two materials. These beds are the equivalent of the Ripley Division of Alabama, and probably are the Southern representative of the 'Fox Hills' Beds of Nebraska. The 'glauconitic' deposit becomes more argillaceous towards its base, and gradually runs into a great deposit of calcareous clay over twelve hundred feet thick, and characterized by large quantities of Exogyra ponderosa. This bed represents the 'Exogyra Ponderosa Marls' of Hill's Upper Cretaceous section, and underlies a large part of the great prairie region of Central Texas. These Upper Cretaceous beds dip gently to the south and southeast, and formed the Texas shore line of the early Tertiary sea. Upon their much eroded surfaces were deposited the Eocene clay and sandy strata which underlie East Texas.

"The Tertiary deposits of East Texas, overlying these Cretaceous strata, consist of a vast thickness of sand, clay, and glauconite beds, in some places characterized by great quantities of lignite, and in others by beds of littoral fossils. In fact the whole series represents a succession of coastal, subcoastal, or brackish water deposits, alternating with marine deposits of a littoral character, and between these two extremes we find all gradations. The lagoon

 

23

or subcoastal deposits compose by far the greater part of the series, and the marine strata represent slight and temporary submergences of the coastal area.

"The Tertiary strata strike in a general northeast and southwest direction, approximately coincident with the coast, and dip gently toward the east or southeast at an angle varying from 0 to 5 degrees. This dip, however, is very irregular and undulating, and no estimates of thickness of strata based on it can be relied on. In fact, a northerly or northeasterly dip is of no uncommon occurrence, though it is simply a local phenomenon.

"This variable character of the dip, however, does not require the supposition of a disturbance or upheaval of the strata for its explanation. It is doubtless due to the natural sinking and warping in a great thickness of soft beds. In fact, it would seem a most unnatural thing to see several hundred feet of soft clays and sands, covering an area of many thousand square miles, lie horizontally when they were exposed to the influence of atmospheric agencies. The unequal expansion and contraction of strata of different constituents, due not only to heat but to the drying out of the beds, would alone account for much or all of the warping that is exhibited throughout the Tertiary country. Besides, the chemical action that has gone on in these beds is probably also accountable for a part of the variable dip. Faults are of frequent occurrence, and are to be accounted for on the same principle as the variations of dip. They are rarely over eight or ten feet in throw, and play no important part in the features of the country. Jointing is also a very common phenomenon throughout the whole of the East Texas region.

"Estimations of thickness of the Tertiary strata of this region are attended by peculiar difficulties, as the dip is too variable to be relied on in such estimations. The strata are rarely exposed in such a way as to show any considerable thickness of any beds, and reliable records of well-borings are very scarce. It seems possible, also, that much of the Tertiary area may have grown by a gradual encroachment of the land on the sea by a process of accretion, such as is seen in many places on the Atlantic coast to-day, and that it does not always require the supposition of a submergence. .

"For the sake of convenience in description, the Tertiary strata underlying East Texas have been divided as follows:

"

---

The estimates of thickness given are simply approximations, and are intended more to show the relative size of the different divisions, than to represent absolute thickness.

 

24

"Sufficient data have not as yet been collected to warrant an attempt at a detailed correlation of all the Texas Tertiary with that of the other Gulf States, and therefore the various strata are provisionally divided as above. The classification depends, first on their lithological character; and secondly, on the very different and very characteristic topography that each of the three divisions gives to the country underlaid by it. The Basal or Wills Point Clays underlie a narrow strip of rich rolling prairie region, east of and parallel to the great Cretaceous prairie of Central Texas. The Timber Belt sands and clays underlie the great timber region of East Texas. Throughout the whole of the Eocene area no evidence of any considerable break in deposition can be seen. The lagoon and marine deposits appear to have alternated with each other in an unbroken series. Frequently there are found in one bed fragments of the stratum that underlies it, but no great amount of erosion of these lower beds appears to have taken place, and the little that has gone on is simply what might have been expected to accompany a gradual transition from one kind of deposition to another. The paleontological evidence on this point, though as yet somewhat meagre, all tends to show a gradual and almost continuous deposition from bottom to top of the series, and the few breaks in the fauna that have been observed can probably all be explained by the i