Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1845-08-20

geological features, indicate that .hey
contain the largest quantities OF valuable
minerals, have been but little explored,
Except by the Spaniards soon after the es.
Enlistment of the missions of the sAlamo''
in Bexar; ''San JOSEF and "Codception' o
few miles below, on the San Antonio river;
and Espirito Santo,' near Goliad. A
: rich mine of sulphuret of lead has been
found on the San Saba, and a valuable cop
per-mine discovered near the Brasos, about
a hundred and fifty miles from & the falls''
on that stream. Saline springs and beds
Of coal are found in the vicinity Of the
Great Salt Lake, through which the Bra.
SOS flows. The billy country abounds
win beds of excellent iron ore, and valn-
aoie quarries of freestone and limestone
BEDS OF Ignite and salines, and sulphur
springs, are found in these sections; also
GYPSUM which is frequently remarkably
transparent, In the form of sienite. Near
line Colorado great quantities of siliceous
minerals are scattered over the surface /:
and, IN some places, upon hills, are so a.
bundant as to render the land almost ste.
rifle. They consist principally of rolled
pebbles OF flint, agate, chalcedonv, and
quartz. The level region affords hardly
any minerals worthy of notice. Indeed.
throughout its whole extent, scarcely a
stone can be found.
Texas affords an extensive and almost
unexplored field of investigation TO the
geologist. The small masses of gneiss
and granite that have been found on the
Colorado, in the billy region, indicate that
the primitive and oldest sedimentary rocks
may be found near the sources of that
stream. Ii we may believe TIE variations
OF the rangers and hunters upon the
frontier, there can be little doubt that this
country embraces all the varieties of pc.
illogical formations, from the primitive to
the most recent of marine and fluyiaiie
deposltes. The imperfect explorations
made, indicate that all the sedimentary
rocks OF this country have moi been sub.
Iected to any of those great revolutions
that have broken up and contorted the
rocky strata IN many other parts of Anne.
rlca, but have been gradually deposited in
tranquil sea, and as gradually lifted up
from It's bed by some process of nature
1
this opinion, have been confined TO The
tertiary and recent secondary formations.
Along the coast series of superficial ac-
foundations extend inland from The coast,
decreasing in thickness as the distance
from the sea increases. The bones of the
mastodon, and variety of fossils, are
tound Embedded in this alluviaI formation
Shells, similar to those that are daily
thrown upon the gulf-shore, are found in
these deposites. These superficial accu.
mutations rest upoE coarse sandstone.-|
In the higher portions of the undulating
region, the sandstone in some places pro-
trudes through the soil in irregular ridges.
evidently water worn, and resembling a
rocky beach. Large trunks of silicifed
trees, two or three feet in diameter, are
found lying against the ridges of this de-
scnPtIon, few miles east of Lagrange.
This sandstone varies greatly in texture.
In some places it is composed of coarse
sands and comminuted shells, and encloses
rolled slIiceous pebbles. In others, it is
quite fine-grained, and resembles freestone.
The diseases incident 10 the climate OF
Texas are few, and generally yield easily
to Judlcious remedial course. Intermit
tent and remittent fevers are the most
common disorders. These are induced by
the use of unwholesome food, or by con-
tlnued exposure to the sun. When to the
exposure is added great bodily fatigue, the
remttent fever assumes a congestivetype,
and IS exceedingly dangerous. Travel
lers, who rashly venture to cross the pra
lrles OF the country under the scorching
MONDAY sun, are liable to contratct this
disease. Those, however, who travel on.
~ during the early part of the morning,
and towords the close of the evening, are
seldom subjected to these attacks.
The people of Texas are remarkable |
for sobrlety and general morality. If the
description we'read of their recklessness.
vice, and crime, in 1887, 1898, and 1889
were true, then indeed has there been a
wonderful change wrought. The popua-
ton IS too sparse for the cause of religion
to suffer by the zeal of sectarians, and, as
the Sabbath morning breaks, they are all
found kneeling at the same rude altar, and
Offering up thsir hearts devotion to the |
same merclful God. All trace of the in
temperance and immortality produced by |
the great influx of worthless paper money
from the States is gone. The swindler
aud criminal have been driven from the |
country BY The force of public sentiment,
while their victims have recovered from
the degradation into which they had fallen.
The moral atmosphere is pure. As a
speople, the Texans may well be envied
for their virtues.
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sKIRrs.-The New Mirror says the la