Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-09-19
MINERAL WEALTH OF TEXAS.
A River Of Petroleum Bel lleved to be
Flowing Through its Subter-
ranean Cavities.

In an article on the geology anC
mineralogy of Texas, published in the
Galveston News, the author, Mr.. N
A, Taylor, says:
In regard to the region west Of the
Pecos, | have this prophesy to place
on record: That the day will come
when it will develop great mineral
wealth. We have every reason tc
think so. No intelligent man has
ever penetrated that region without
being filled with this conviction; and
the more intelligent and observing he
is, is the stronger in this conviction
upon him. There is hardly a doubt
that the geological formation there is
but continuation of the rich miner
al-bearing system of Colorado, Neva-
da and chihuahua. The locks appear
the same. They contain silver, COP
per and lead. These rich, metallefer-
GUS rock, according to my observation.
always run IN great systems, and not
IN isolated protrusions. Thus we find
gold and silver in the great Rocky and
Andes range traversing the length OF
two continents. For this reason
have never entertained a lively hone
that much silver aud gold will be
found in the far isolated group of
Llano, etc. The mountains beyond
the Pecos fill every condition for the
expectation Of great mineral wealth.
Here the system of Colorado and the
Sierra Rica of Mexico meetand blend.
Being so rich elsewhere, why should
they not be even richer where they
meet and blend? | have no question
that they will eventually prove so,
and that those now utterly lonely
mountains will be filled with great
works and the busy camps of the
miners. Silver will be the principal
metal, though copper and lead will
abound. If all this be not so, | will
certainly prove a terribly mistaken
individual.
There is, 1 believe, river, SO to
call it, Of petroleum flowing through
the subterranean cavities of Texas.
| believe it ia kes its rise in the car
boniter0us strata north of the great
bend of the Colorado above Lam.
pasas. Thence it flows in a southeast
direction. The first indication knows
to me of this stream is in Burnet
county at the tar springs" where
petroleum covers the surface of the
water. Again it appears to the south.
east in Williamson county. Again, il
makes It's appearance at several points
IN the same direction in the unfre-
quented forests and thickets pene.
trated by the Great Northern railway
Further southeast it appears again
nine miles northeast of Sour lake in
Hardin county. At Sour lake il
appears again on most of the wells
and has covered the surface for a
considerable space with hard asphal-
tum. Again, some thirty miles south
east, 1t appears at Beaumont. Some
fifteen miles from that point an arm
OF 1t comes near the surface to Sabine
pass and throws considerable oil ON
the water. Below Sabine pass another
arm comes near the surface at what is
known as Oil bay on the gulf where
the water is so covered with the oil
that the waves have no effect. Even
when the gulf is on its heaviest
benders, the waters of this bav are
said to be perfectly quiet and peace.
able, and it is, therefore, a favorite
place Of refuge for coastlng vessels
when storm is threatened.
How do you know but that this
river of petroleum may not mass
through the subterrapean cavities nm
der the gulf, and be the same that at
last boils up in Trinidad, which makes
the great asphaltum lake? Along the
shores near Sabine bay it is also com
mon for chunks of asphaltum to be
thrOWn,Up by the sea. The river, ifit
be a river, has never yet been tapped
by the hands of man, and its great
supplies are doing us no coed exoent
in Trinidad, if it ba the same sal q t6st
rises on tho island. But It must be
rocplleoted that Texas Is vet from
some standpoints, an almost nnev
plored region. The less credit 70 6H 5Hr
politicians; i will not say Statesmen ST T'
1t would naturally be supposed tLat q
state so grand and spacious would
lead to and ahould have a grand
broad, elevated, and generous States
manship. But | have not seen il vet
On the contrary-but | desist let
us console ourselves with the re1ec.
tion Of Horace" If things are now
bad, they will not always be So y"
There Will be men living after ali Of
us now here are dead, and let us hone
that they will be more apprecistiye of
the gifts of the Creator and more an.
terprising to develOp thom than we
are,