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North of the line of outcrop of this coal field there is no possible chance of discovering it within the counties examined in 1891 by the writer.

BUILDING MATERIALS.

Many of the Cretaceous limestones are tough and hard. Some are inclined to weather irregularly and others turn dark upon exposure, but some most excellent building material may be obtained by care in the selection. Clays for brick manufacture and some for the more refined uses of pottery are available in the region of basaltic eruption, although some of these are highly charged with iron. The ingredients of Portland Cement are abundant in certain parts of the Lower Cretaceous series, more especially along the border of the Central Mineral Region. Many of the limestones burn free to a good quality of quicklime, although some of them contain larger percentages of magnesia than is desirable. For certain ornamental uses the limited outcrops of basalt may be serviceable, and certain of the hard limestones can be utilized as marbles when polished. Road material of excellent quality and material for ballasting railroad tracks are very abundant.

CONCLUSION.

There can be no need of particularizing as to the special advantages of individual counties in a report of this general character. So far as agricultural advantages are concerned, there is little to be said of one section which will not apply as well to another, and such local pecu- liarities as have already been noted will serve to indicate the particular industry which can be best maintained at given points. The one fact which most impresses one who sees this stretch of country for the first time is the real abundance of water within easy reach over all but a small part of the region. A district often regarded as wild and unin- habitable is found, upon inspection, to be peopled by a sturdy class of settlers, who are already reaping a good harvest, chiefly from grazing, but with possibilities of a liberal reward from investment in agriculture, and prospective opportunities for not a little in a mining way. The recent growth of this section, as shown in the increased population, the organization of new counties, the building of wagon roads and project- ing of railroads, is based upon a substantial foundation of natural resources and it is not, therefore, surprising that orderly, law-abiding, home-making and progressive citizens have formed the very largest proportion of those who have entered upon the land. Nothing is now needed but the spread of a knowledge of the real situation to draw other thousands into a district which has, perhaps, more varied and attractive inducements than almost any other equal area even in the broad State of Texas.

Respectfully,

THEO. B. COMSTOCK,
Geologist for Central Texas.