Arkansas true Democrat., 1859-07-20
The Progress of the Geological Survey.

to what time Dr. Owen would be at cer- tain points, and as to what progress had been made thus far, we subjoin the follow N ing letters from Dr. Owen to the Governor, which will be found interesting:
 Camp, 20. from 4. Smith,
 .SeJostian O., Ark., 16th June, '59.l His Excellency, E. N. CaNwAy,
 Governor of Arkansas:
 S1R-Since my departure from Little Rock, the weather has been quite fabora- be for our Geological explorations through | Pulaski, Perry, Yell, and southern part of Franklin, (not examined last season, and we have progressed well with the work.
 Hardly single day has elapsed without our seeing some things of interest and practical importance.
 There is fair prospect of body ot iron ore of good quality~in the hills south of the Fourche in Pulaski county, about one or two miles south of Dr. Hallibur- l toms.
 We measured the height of the Pin acle in Pulaski county on the 3Oth of May. and found it to be ITO feet above the Arkansas river at the Natural steps, on that day, and 18l above low water at the same place. There is abundance of the finest quality of freestone, for building pur- poses in the mountain, but inaccessible, | (except the tumbled rock, without road which could, however, be made, without much expense on the north west To the east it is very precipitous and difficult of ascent.
 The Petit Jean Mountain is higher than the Pinacle; 800 feet above Jos. Evans plantation.
 There is a bed of coal which seems to be nearly co-extensive with this mouutain in its range through Perry county. Its thick ness is, where it has been seen, is from F to IS inches
 The Magazine Mountain, near the con fines of Perry and Yell counties, Is the highest range yet measured south of the Arkansas river, being 1405 feet above our camp of the 9th June, at McCrey's planta tion There is fine chalybeate spring in the mountain at an elevation of 1 1000 feet above our camp. There is also very fine saline chalybeate in the North Fourche range, three miles from Danville. It pos sesses greater de-oxidyzing powers than any chalybeate water 1 have ever tested, except one in Kentucky.
 The Dardanele Rock was 280 feet above the Arkansasas river on tho 9th of June.
 The strata of this range are highly in- clined having been heaved at very remote period of the earth's history, i. e., after deposition of the coal formation, so that the rocks now lie pitching, 10 deg. west of north at an angle of 40 deg One of the layers is most curiously and regularly che quered off by ferrugenous inhltrations, so as to present the appearance of mosaic pavement Hence, from one point in the Arkansas river, the outline of the rock pres ants the aspect of the profile of hu- man face
 The North Fourche le Fave Mountain, where the old Hot Spring road passes over it, leading to Danville, is about the same height as the Petit Jean range, being 800 feet above our camp of the Sth of June, at Capt. Howell's plantation. Its highest summit will reach at least 900 feet above the Arkansas river
 There is a gap about one mile to the east of the old Hot Spring road, which is only 630 feet above our camp of the 9th June.
 There is a bed of coal in the Magazine Mountain about 525 feet above its base, l foot in thickness.
 The Magazine range is supposed to be much higher at its western extension in S;ott county than where we measured it in .Yell county.
 There are five or six different layers of good carbonate of iron in the shale tow ards the base of the Short Mountain We have also seen more or less iron ore in the shales over the coal of the Hazelwood Prairie. The association of coal and iron ore near the confines of Johnson and Frank lin counties, as well as that in Pulaski county, will be we'll worthy the attention of the iron manufacturer Coal outcrops in great many places in the southern part of both Johnson and Franklin, ranging from eighteen to twenty-four inches. The thickness of the seams of coal appears to increase as we proceed westward.
 l have not examined any of the coals of Sebastian yet, but expect to proceed to this work to morrow.
 We have met with no serious accident.- We upset in the Narrows of the Little Nau- mele, without further damage than the breaking of one of the standards We have broken one leaf of spring. which we shall have repaired tomorrow at Fort Smith,
 Very Respectfully,
 Your Ob't sery't.