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furnishing instruments to a portion of the observers, as the rules of the United States Service prevent their furnishing outfits to observers at less distance than fifty miles from each other.

It is expected that during the present winter we will secure as many observers as the present regulations will allow within the boundaries of the state.

CHEMICAL WORK.

The work thus far done by the chemists consists of analyses of many ores, minerals, and mineral waters from various portions of the state, and a special study is now being made of the residue from lignite after distillation. This has been undertaken to ascertain what the probable commercial value of such residual products would be, and the practicability of using them in the conversion of lignite into a merchantable fuel.

An examination and study is also being made of the various soils of the state, especially those of the Panhandle and the Pecos valley. The latter comprise both arable and alkaline soils, and their analysis, together with that of the water of the Pecos River, will certainly be of great value in the proposed irrigation movements.

None of the chemical work has progressed far enough to be reported in detail at this time.

REPORTS OF GEOLOGISTS

Prof. Streeruwitz reported for duty on the 29th of September, and at once began his preparations for field work. His instructions were simply to make a careful investigation of the mineral and agricultural resources of so much of the territory lying between the Rio Grande and Pecos rivers as he found practicable in the short time at his disposal. His report is referred to for particulars of his operations. Among the valuable results of his work is demonstration of the fact that the numerous valleys between El Paso and Fort Davis, which are now little better than deserts from lack of water to support vegetation, are in reality of fertile soil, as well protected as those in the vicinity of El Paso, and fully as suitable for grape and fruit culture, and that it is entirely feasible, owing to the natural formation of the country, by building dams at suitable locations, to reclaim and render fertile a considerable portion of these now useless valleys, and that the annual rainfall is amply sufficient to furnish water for this purpose.

His examinations and the specimens he sends of his own collecting from the mountain ranges in his district are sufficient to prove that they are mineral bearing districts of very considerable richness, and that it is highly important that a much more detailed examination be made of the entire district, and a report issued showing its true value as mineral land.

Prof. Cummins reported for duty on October 2nd, and shortly after took the field, with instructions to make a section of the Central coal formation, determining the number of seams of coal which exist in it, the approximate thickness of each, together with the character and thickness of the associated rocks; and also to investigate several localities where minerals of special value were supposed to be, and to make such observations on the conditions favorable to obtaining artesian water as was possible in this limited time.

The inclement weather of November interfered with his work to a considerable degree, but the results as presented in his report, incomplete though it be, give us a clearer and more exact knowledge of that part of our great central coal fields than has ever before been presented. If we take into consideration