San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1882-04-27
GREAT COAL BEDS NEAR LAREDO.
Fabulous Wealth Of the Famous San Tomas Mine.
lCor. Galveston Newell

The importance of the question as u
: where the future supply OF fuel mus
come from 10 meet the wants OF the
great State OF Texas, is the only expia
, nation TO be offered for hardening the
columns OF the NeiCs with this lengthy
: article. 1t is well.known fact that the
mesquite wood is the principal fuel used
by large portion of Northern ano
Western Texas, but ID is not 80 Wei
known, however. but true, nevertheless
that the acids liberated in the compus'
ton of this wood, act most inlurlousiS
Gu iron, rendering il worthless IN very
short time, comparatively speaking,
and the annual cost to Texas III replac'
ing stoves and steam-boilers destroyed
as indicated, amounts to hundreds oil
thousands of dollars, to say nothing oil
, the increased liability OF boiler explo'
sions by its use. Hence, the develop
ment of coal beds in Texas must solve
the problem rs TO this future supply OF
fuel, and with the purpose OF publish
ing to the world true statement OF the
coal supplies near Laredo, your cores
pendent visited the section OF the coun-
try where the coal beds are located and
spent some time in personal inspec-
ton of the coal mines already opened,
besides taking notice of the evidences
which go to indicate the extent OF the
coal veins.
THE LOCATION.
In travelling up the valley of the Rio
Grande from Laredo, at point twelve
miles distant, chain of hills is reached
which extend up the river probably
twenty-five or thirty miles. At dis
lance these hills present no peculiar
feature to attract the attention OF the
casual observer, but when once among
them there are many peculiarities pre-
sented to the eye of the close observer,
chief among which are the numerous
depressions and cavities in their sides
and along their SUBMITS, which could
well be explained by supposing that
the earth had sunk at these spots into
great caverns beneath-and this expla-
nation is supported by observations
made further on-where the road passes
between the foot of these hills and the
Rio Grande river. Here a fine view of
the geological formations is presented
in their almost perpendicular sides.
Many of them rise to an altitude Of pos
sibly thousand feet, and here many
of those depressions just spoken OF
connect with gulches that run down to
the waters edge, and in the beds OF
these a close inspection will show great
masses of coal ashes, and the conclusion
is readily reached that in long ages
past these coal-beds became ignited,
and for no telling how long
A SEA OF FIRE
ragged among these gloomy hills until
an opening was made, through which
the Rio Grande poured its waters, and
saved to Texas wealth that can not be
estimated until we take into considera-
ton the extent and quality, breadth
and length and thickness of the vein OF
camel coal that crops out now all along
the face of these hills for twonty-fiv
miles up the Rio Grande river. For
many years reports have come in that
specimens of coal had been found in
this region, and the untutored shepherd
has told the wonderful story, that while
watching his focks among these lonely
hills he fed his camp fire with
ROCKS THAT BURNED,
and yet but passing thought was given
the subject, and lands which contained
all this wealth have, until recently, been
changing owners at % cents per acre,
and but few months ago 5000 acres
of Webb county school lands, in the
very heart of this coal deposit, were
sold at $1.O5 per acre, to be invested
in United States per cent. bonds.
But change has come over the spirit
of our dreams. A little more than
wear ago steel bands began to stretch
across the unsettled frontier that sep
arated this Rio Grande valley from the
wealthy and populous regions to the
north and in advance of them came a
little wiry man in physical stature, but
in brain-power, nerve and energy
very giant.
Ex.Governor A. G. Hunt, of Colorado,
soon after his arrival took in the whole
situation, and at once set to work pros
pecting in these regions to find where
these rocks that burned had their habi-
tation; and last April, one year ago,
leased from two Of our citizens, Mrs.
Refugio Benavides and @. M. McDon-
nell, all the coal beds that might be
found on the San Tomas tract of land
fronting on the Rio Grande, twenty
seven miles above Laredo, and contain
ing about fifty thousand acres, for fifty
years. He is to give the lessons one
third of the profits arising from work
ing the mines. In addition to this he
has purchased twenty-six thousand acres
in his own right, which, with the San
Tomas tract, virtually gives him con-
,rol of all the coal beds in this region.
Having secured the San Tomas tract,
work was at once commenced, about
he 18th OF April, 1881, to open up the
cREAr san TOMAS