Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-11-26

med .e pursners having grass for their ami
mails. A war party had, q few days previously,
passe along, and for many miles the fire was
raging round us. As far as the eye could wit
ness all was in blaze, and a night appeared
ike q vast amphitheatre of Illuminated cities.
This is not one OF the least of the beauties OF
the Prairies. 1t was not unfrequent to hnd
large isolated patches untouched through chan
ges of wind, and upon which we encamped,
sutferi0g but little inconvenience from want OF
forage for our animals. A narrow space pre-
viously burned, or an ordinary road. will often
stop the progress of the flames. The prairie
fires are not, therefore, of any consequence, as
far as any injury they might be supposed to
do railway"
Ia referring to the probability of procuring
water from the nature of the ground, and the
difficulties attending the circuitous route by
"Marcy's route" Col. Gray thus happily re-
marks
"a road over the plain from the Mustang
Springs west lis miles, even without water,
would be far better after it is beaten down. /
feel confident however that Su6terrGReaR
springs ezist throughout the Llano Estacad0,
and soater soM be had by sinking a0elLs any
Where on this line If that should fail to be the
case, then depressions with sufficient drainage
exist where reservoirs can be made at little
expense to hold any quantity collected in the
rainy season; such as nature seems to point
out in the dry region near the head of the Gulf
of California, where we found vast natural
tanks containing many hundred thousands of
gallons. Col. Gray's predictions have proved
correct, for Captain Pope has not only found
water, but good water, and ia aHeThduStt6le
Notwithstanding regular Subterranean
Springs"
We have some very interesting items in con-
nection with Capt Pope's expedition
From the Pecos River he proceeded due
east Is miles, and then sank his first well. The
country seemed to the eye perfect level, but
instrumental observation showed a rise of
about 600 feet in distance of thirty five miles;
and from that point, which may be termed the
summit of the plain" it continues, with
gradual descent eastwardly, to the hills from
whence run the head waters of several of the
forks of the Colorado river.
In sinking the wells Capt Pope found no OBJ
struc6ons from the geological foundation. IL is
composed of alternate strata OF indurated clay, and
cretacious marls of every variety of color, easily
penetrated, but of sufficient hardness and cohesive
ness to prevent the walls of the boring from fall
ing in.
The first stream of water was struck at distance
Of 500 feet and it to the height of 10 feet in
the tubing. The second stream of water was
struck at depth of Gal feet, and rose 400 feet in
the tubing, or about so feet higher than she first
stream. At this period of his labors, the material
which had been brought, gave out, and, winter
was approaching Capt. Pope went into winter
quarters on the banks of the Rio Grande.
Having received fresh supplies, he returned to
the Llano in the Spring, and in April last resumed
his labors there. Having by his former trial de-
monstrated the existence of abundant water beneath
the surface, he went FIVE miles eastward from the
first WE'LL and there sank the second, striking the
same streams he encountered in the first; reach
ing a depth of $50 feet he encountered another
stream, which rose in the tube 75O feet. At this
point the material was again exhausted. The small
appropriation made by Congress for the expert.
ment, had been expended and Capt Pope was
compelled to suspend his operations.
The results Of the work have been eminently
successful and it is to be hoped that Congress will
make another appropriation to continue the work.
Any sum of money reasonably adequate would be
an Insignificant equivalent for the vast benefits
tain to result from the sinking of the wells. The
absence of water on the Llano. Estacado forms a
complete barrier to travel between the western
towns of Louisiana and Arkansas 10 New Mexico
and the Mesilla Valley, along the sgd parallel By
a route shorter by hundreds of miles than any oth1
err The Grama Grass, with which the Llano is
covered, is the most nutritious grass for cattle
known, and is equally good in winter as in sum-
mer. The Mesquite Root furnishes an abundance
of fuel This remarkable root may be termed a
subterranean forest Its stems penetrate the earth
to distance Of seventy-fve feet in depth, with
ramifcations similar to the branches of tree, and
with clear and hard wood stem from five to eight
inches in diameter. 1t also makes excellent charcoal
aud Capt Pope has brought to Washington SAM
pies of it for the examination of the department.
Another abundant source of agricultural wealth
has been brought to light by the abOrs of Captain
Pope, in the great beds OF cretaceous mari which
he has discovered. These marls are excellent fer
tlizers, and may be compared to great subterra.
mean deposits of guanO. Exposed to acids they
effervesce aud show abundance Of lime in them.
These discoveries, when developed, will confer up
on the vast and now worthless Staked Plain, great
values and think that Congress are in duty bound
to furnish means, amply adequate, to Captain Pope
to return and finish the work which promises so
rich reward
Capt Pope and Col Gray have, Independent of
the vast benefits procured the country in dispell-
ing the popular error of supposing the Staked
Plain to be worthless desert, introduced into the
physical geography of our country a new and inns
portant feature.