REPORT OF MR. W. H. VON STREERUWITZ.

INTRODUCTION.

AUSTIN, TEXAS, January, 1892.

Mr. E. T. Dumble, State Geologist:

DEAR SIR—In obedience to your instructions, I took the field in West Texas, May 15, 1891, to proceed with the topography of Trans-Pecos Texas, and to study the geological and particularly the economical features of this part of the State.

I organized my party with Mr. Ralph Wyschetzki and Konrad Girsewald as assistants, securing the other necessary help in the only way possible to engage it in the west—the first best men willing to take employment. To engage cook or drivers in the east would not only be too expensive on account of traveling expenses, but inexperienced eastern men, with few exceptions, are not of much use in the unsettled extreme west, where familiarity with camp life, knowledge of the country, and aptitude and willingness to undergo hardships of any kind are the principal conditions of usefulness.

Having met Mr. Goode, of the United States Geological Survey, with two topographical parties in the field to work up the country between the 31st and 32d degrees of latitude, and 105th and 106th degrees of longitude, I took advantage of this, stopped the topographical parties inside of these boundaries, and commenced to work up the mineral district of the Carrizo mountains and southern part of the Sierra Diabolo, with the Hazel mine and numerous outcrops and indications and a few prospects on silver-bearing copper ores. I mapped part of the country, and took a number of sections which will materially assist in the determination of the very extensive field of the crystalline schists and their relation to the plutonic and volcanic eruptive rocks, as well as of the superimposed sedimentary strata.

I could not effect an extension of the sections to the Guadalupe range, and thus eventually connect them with the mountains north of the 32d degree of latitude, since my wagons and animals, which had been in service under very trying circumstances since the beginning of the Sur- vey, had become worn out to such an extent that I dared only risk short trips, and could not go far from the railroad on account of the scarcity of water.

I therefore reconnoitered the Wiley mountains, and later the northern portion of the Van Horn mountains. After placing the animals (three horses and two mules) with the wrecks of the water and baggage wagon and a well-worn ambulance (the relic left by Mr. Tarr in Toyah) with the camp outfit at Phinney's ranch, disbanded the party and started on with Mr. Wyschetzki and Girsewald for Austin, on the fourth of October.