The native American., 1839-07-06
From the Houston Morning Star.
GEOLOGY OF TEXAS.

It ia we'll known to the world that all outcrop
of the primitive strata extends fro m Terra de.
IFuego. northwardly TO the un known regions OF
the Arctic circle. 1t is to these portions Of the
exterior lamna Of our planet, and TO dluval
and alluyial beds derived from them, that we
are indebted for the supplies of useful and pre-
cous metals, such copper, silver, gold and
pat mum. Inermixed with the sand and pebbles
from the streams flowing through the latter
regions of mineral wealth we often meet with
nexhaushe stores of gold dust, and the eye is
not unfiequently greeted by the sparkle of the
real diamond. All tourists admit that these dis
|tricts are generally doomed to perpetual drought
and sterty, yet impartial nature has lavished on
them almost exclusively, not only gold and jewels,
but all that is ornamental and useful in Pyrotech-
Iny Medicine and the Arts
In our progress from the coas! of the Atlantic and
Gulf of Mexico to the interior Of the American
continent we soon lose sight of the more recent
depostes of clay and sand, with usual subslra-
um of mari of greater or less depths ON the sur
face, and trace our steps through the calcareous
SERIES beds of slate, shale and sandstone to those
Of argiacious oxide ofiron and fields of hiluminous
coal. The loltier bluffs Of water courses, ravines
| Of the hills and planes; bat more than all. the
escarpmcnts Of mountain masses present an in
strnc,ve volume. where we are enabled to read
the facts here enumerated, and history Of the
changes under gone by the terrestrial surface be-
fore and since the creation of man.
| In our march westward, we are soon apprised
| by display of transition, states and limestone
with trlobte enclosed, of the proximity Of more
interesting mineral localities. AS far as phiIoso-
phical research has extended towards the Him
malas Of ASIA the Mountains of the Moon in AZ
RIGA, and the Rocky Mountains of North Anne
rica results have been obtained in perfect analogy
with those detailed; but with reference to the
Ural Of Russia, the Andes, Cordileras and Ap-
palachan chains Of North and South America,
with the gold and silver limits of Mexico and the
United States of the North, we have sufficient
p silive and practical information to justify rea-
sonable hopes of success in the prosecution Of our
inquiries into the hidden treasures of WESTERN
TEXAS.
A geological exploration of those vast mineral
|deposites of the western highlands will be forth
with instituted; conducted and supported by in
divldua enterprise, but with all possible assistance
from the government. Il will be escorted by a
guard of nearly 100 men, infantry and artillery.
Able, active and experienced officers, already dis
tnguished for skill and bravery in the Texian re-
volutionary war, are already engaged TO conduct
the military escort, and the scientific departments
Of geology, Chemestry, Mneralogy, and Botany
are already nearly filled.
A more completely satisfactory expose OF the
object and character of this expedition will, in a
few days, be offered to the public, with preamble
and articles forming the constitution Of the com
pany. ]. L. D.