The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1882-02-22
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DALLAS COUNTY.


Dallas county contains $4,000 acres Of
land. and lies within what is known as the
Ublack waxy land" district, 1t is bounded
an the west by Tarrant, on the south by
Ellis, on the east by Kaufman and Rock
we'll and on the north by Collin and Denton
couuties Dallas city, the county seat, is
situated on the east side of the Trinity
river few miles below the junction Of the
Elm and West Forks. The West Fork en-
ters the county near the center Of its west
ern boundary and flows in All easterly
course to its junction with Elm Fork. The
Elm Fork enters the county near its north
western corner and runs in southern
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
lis northeastern corner and runs III 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 II whole, Dallas is
a level county, and contains very little land
that might not be put i'll cultivation. There
isa narrow strip of rough land bordering
on the river on its south side, and along the
eastern side of Mountain creek, u tributary
of the West Fork of the TriHity river, which
runs along the western boundary oft the coun-
~ from the south. These hills rise to the
height OF $50 feet above the valley, and are
covered with grass OF luXuriant growth.
Hydrography-There are some very fine
springs of excellent water i'll the county,
some of them aifOrding an abundance Of
water. Water is obtained almost anywhere
in the county at depth often to forty feet;
even on the highest lands in the county
it is an easy matter to get plenty OF water
at moderate depth. 1t is fact that water
is more easily obtained and at Il lesser depth
on the uplGnds 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 shay white rock,
or in assures in the rock. so far as ! am
informed, the white rock, Il whtish lime
stone, has never been entirely penetrated
except at the artesian well near Browder $
spring, at the city of Dallas. The thickness
OF the white rock in Dallas county is sew
eral hundred feet.
Geology-The geological formation Of
the county is principally cretaceous, over
laid in some places by the tertiary, and in
other places by drift, probably belonging
to the recent or quartenary period.
The entire county belongs to the cretace-
Gus period, except that part of the county
lying between the Elm and West Fork OF
the Trinity river and the part west OF
Mountain creek, which belongs to the
tertiary, and n strip of country lying along
the West Fork, Elm Fork and the main
river, which is evidently of Il much later
period than either of the other 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, rs
far 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 Gulf OF Mexico
accounts for the great number of shells
found everywhere, even on the highest
hills. When the gulf had receded and
another geological period had been ushered
in, and the northern boundary of the gulf
was about the north line of Limestone
county, there were then two arms of the
sea or gulf extending to the northern boun-
dairy of the state, occupying the place
where the upper and lower "cross-timbers"
are now situated. This tertiary sea was
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-
cceded until its northern boundary wa.
probably about Washington county or be.
low, and another geographical period had
arrived and this country was dry land
there came from the northwest n 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 o.
the Staked Plains and IL is found along all
the rivers to the northwest except the LATHE
Wichita. 1t seems to be of more recent
date than the glacial drift overlay'
ing all the country above the "up
per cross.timbers.n There is non,
of this DRIFT deposit anywhere OF
the East Fork of the. Trinity, which show:
conclusiyely that the water came from the
northwest.
This drift is the sand and pebbles found
along the West and Elm forks as well a'
that OF the main Trinity below their contiu
ence. Ii is found everywhere in wells in
the city Of Dallas, and extends out 10 the
fair grounds on the east. When the mighty
flood had passed the cretaceous hills wer,
high aud steep, but in after ages they hav,
washed down and covered the drilt will
several feet OF the black, waxy soil belong
ing To that period, In this DRIFT, every
where, is found the fossil remains of til,
primitive elephant, (elephas primigenius.
Almost an entire skeleton has been takei
out at Browders spring, near the city o
Dallas. The farther northwest we 10 thu
more numerous these fossil remains occur
on tributary of the south fork Of Re,
River there lisa perfect bone bed of thes
fossils, as well us that Of the extinct hors,
and buffalo
This drin must have been brought from
Q. considerable distance to the northwest, a
the pebbles composing the drift are princi
pally quartz. aud the accompanying igneou
rocks and, so far as | know, there are n,
such rocks In position this side Of the Rock!
Mountains. W. Il. Il.
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