The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1882-02-23

a Magnificent section ~ Coantfg- its 10.
geography nsdfmwpht 0eoioa, faioa
bio statistical Dntn,

geography. nSdfmWphs 0eoioat Vaiom
bio statistical buin,
Dallas county contains $1,000 acres 0i
land aud lies within what Is known M the
black waxy land" district. III bounded
on the west by Tarrant, on the south by
Ellis, on the east by Kaufman and Rock
well, and on the north by Collin and Denton
counties. Dallas city, the county seat, Is
situated on the east side Of the Trinity
river a few miles below the junction Of the
Elm aud West Forks, The West Fork en-
tiers the county near the center Of It's west
ern boundary and lows in an casterly
course to its junction with Elm Fork. The
Elm Fork enters the county near its north
western corner and runs i'll u soutnern
course to its junction with the west FORK.
After the confluence OF the two streams
they run southeast and go out ofthe county
near its southeastern corner. The East
Fork of the Trininity enters the county near
its northeastern corner and runs IN south
ern course along the eastern border of the
county and flows into the main
river near the southeast corner.
These three forks making one
stream gave the name Trinity to the river.
Topography-Taken as Il whole, Dallas is
a level county, and contains very little lana
that might not be put in cultivation. There
is a narrow strip of rough land bordering
on the river on lis south side, and along the
eastern side of Mountain creek, Il tributary
of the West Fork of the TriHity river, which
runs alongthe western boundary ofthe coun-
ty from the south. These hills rise to the
height of $50 feet above the valley, and are
covered with grass of luXuriant growth,
NATURALIZATION are some very fine
springs of excellent water in the county,
some of them atfOrding an abundance Of
water. Water is obtained almost anywhere
in the county at Il depth often to forty feet;
even on the highest lands i'll the county
it is an easy matter to get plenty OF water
ut a moderate depth. IL is a fact that water
is more easily obtained and at u lesser depth
ON the uplands than in the valleys. The
water is obtained along the valleys, IN the
beds of sand and gravel, while on the up
lands 1t is found in the shaly White rock,
or in assures in the rock. So far as | am
informed, the white rock, a whitish lime.
stone. has never been entirely penetrated
except at the artesian well near providers
spring, at the city of Dallas. The thickness
OF the white rock in Dallas county is sew
eral hundred feet. ,
G~eology-Thc geological . formation of
the county is principally cretaceous, over
lull III vi IIilNC " AiN VI ti"A 1919
other places by a drift, probably belonging
to The recent or quartenary period.
The entire county belongs to the cretace-
Gus period, except that part OF the county
living between the Elm and West Fork of
the Trinity river and the part west OF
Mountain creek, which belongs to the
tertiary, and a strip Of country lying along
the West Fork. Elm Fork and the mail
river, which is evidently OLA much later
period than either of the oNRer two, COM
posed of drift, and probably belongs to the
quartenary.
The cretaceous formation is principally
marine. The Gulf of Mexico, during that
age, extended over this entire country a.
tar as the northern boundary OF the state
and further. The mouth of the Mississippi
river was at the mouth OF
the Ohio. The fact that this
country was covered by the Gulfot Mexico
accounts for the great number of shells
found everywhere, even on the highest
hills. When the gulf had receded ana
another geological period had been ushercd
in, and the northern boundary of the gull
was about the north line OF Limestone
county, there were then two arms of tie
sea or gulf extending to the northern boun-
Diary of the state, occupying the place
where the upper and lower cross-timbers"
are now situated. This tertiary sea wa>
then bounded on the east by the hills
on Mountain creek and the high lands
on the east side OF the Elm fork OF the
trinity river. At that time, Of course,
there was no Trinity river, and the hills
were no doubt much higher than at pres
ent. During that period the part OF the
county belonging to the tertiary was de-
posted or formed.
Again, when the Gulf of Mexico had re-
ceeded until its northern boundary was
probably about Washington county or be-
low, and another geographical period had
arrived and this country was dry land,
there came from the northwest a mighty
torrent of water rushing across the country
carrying away hills and valleys, and max
ing the channel for the Trinity river. This
torrent bore upon its waters immense
amounts of sand and gravel, and large
numbers of the animals of that period. /
have traced this drift deposit to the foot Of
the Staked Plains, and it is found along all
the rivers to the northwest except the Little
Wichita. 1t seems to be of more recent
date than the glacial DRIFT overlay-
ing all the country above the up
per cr~oss.timbers." There is none
OF this drift deposit anywhere on
the East Fork of the. Trinity, which shows
~conclusively that the water came from the
northwest.
This drift is the sand and pebbles found
along the West and Elm forks as well n
VIA VI Nv ihAAA 'NA'" NHN' $3.50
ence. 1t is found everywhere in wells in
the city of Dallas, and extends out to the
fair grounds on the east. When the mighty
flood had passed the cretaceous hills were
high and steep, but in after ages they have
washed down and covered the drift with
several feet Of the black, waxy soil belong.
ing to that period. In this drift, every
where, is found the fossil remains of the
primitive elephant, (elephas primigenius.)
Almost an entire skeleton has been taken
out AT providers spring, near the city OF
Dallas. The farther northwest we 60 the
more numerous these fossil remains occur.
on a tributary of the south fork OF Red
River there is a perfect bone bed of these
fossils, aswell as that of the extinct horse
and buffalo.
This drift must have been brought from
a consids rable distance 10 the northwest, as
the pebbles composing the drift are princi-
pally quartz. and the accompanying igneous
rocks and, so far as | know, there are no
such rocks in position this side ofthe Rocky
Mountains. W. p. T..