San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-08-26
TEXAS GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
What IL has Done, Is Doing and
Will do.
AUSTIN, August %, 1889


AUSTIN, August rs, 1889.
Daily LIGHT:
The geological survey of the state
owes it's existence to an act passed by
the TWEEN tieth legislature at the last
special session. entitled "An act to
provide for complete geological SUI
vey of the state.n By the provision
of this law the commissioner of Agri-
culture, insurance statistics and his
tory was empowered to appoint the
| necessary agents and to arrange the
details of the survey.
On the 2lst or September, 1888, Mr..
f. II. Dumble received his appoint
ment as state geologist, and at once
proceeded to organize the survey.
The state was divided into districts
and into each district was put a COM
petent geologist and a corps of assist
ants. To Prof. w. III. SteernwitZ was
assigned Western Texas, to Prof. w.
f. Cummins Northern Texas, DIR. r.
A. f. Penrose to Eastern Texas; while
Southern Texas was divided up be-
tween Messrs. J. Owen, Gustav Jen-
nv, and J. l.. TAFT. Active work in
the field was commenced at once.
The plan of the survey embraces
first, q search for what valuable min
erals are to be found in the state
second, to ascertain the thickness and
extent of the various geological for
nations, and to prepare maps and
sections of the same; third to collect
data relative to the extent of artesian
water bearing beds, and the POSSIBLE
ity of irrigation by means of artesian
wells; and fourth, to ascertain what
articles of commerce are found in the
rocks, such as are not fully known.
The plan as outlined will require
about ten years for its compile
ton. Although great part of
the work done has been mostly
preliminary, the results already
obtained have fully shown the wis
dom of the legislature in establishing
the survey. The report of Prof
Steernewitz sent in after hasty three
weeks examination shows the rich
copper, and lead. From the reports
of other biologists is learned the Oc-
currence of valuable minerals in
many other parts of the state. From
the maps thus far prepared we CLEAN
the following information: There
are three coal fields in the state: the
Central or bituminous; the Nueces OF
semi bituminOus of the Mi ssOurian
or fourth coal belt of the
United States. 1t commences on
Red River and extends as far
south as Burnett, comprising in whole
or in part some twenty-five counties.
The Nueces field embraces the coun-
ties of Webb, Dimmit, Xavalla and
Maverick, but the northern limits of
| the field have not been ascertained.
The Ignite is by far the largest of
the three. Its boundaries may be
approximately represented by line
drawn from Sabine county west and
southwest near NavasOta and Helena
to the Rio Grande, and thence back
bv way of Pearsall, Marlin and Galen to
Red river. The iron fields lie mostly
i'm east. northwest and central Texas,
being largely developed in Rusk,
Cherokee, Llano a I'd San Saba cOun-
ties. incidentally every county so lar
visited by the parties mas afforded
evidence of containing some min
eral or article of commerce,
An inspection of the specimens
now in the museum, will give you a
very good idea of the mineral re-
sources Ofthe state. The museum is
a large room 34X6i feet, fitted up with
a large number of cases which are al
ready filled with specimens. OF pc.
culiar significance are the fine grades
of coal and iron and the diverse
localities they represent. The iron
ores represented include all grades
known; magnetic, specular, hematite
in various states of tlneness and puri-
ty. The specimens of gold, silver
copDer and lead would seem to rGfute
the assertion that Texas contains NJ
mineral wealth. The gid occurs II
distinct grains disseminated through
masses OF quartz. Silver occurs chiefly
associated with copper or lead; those
specimens sent in by Prof. Steernwit,
from the Trans-PecOs region being e.
pecially fine. The list OF Otner eco
homie minerals is as varied as they
are useful: bismuth and platinum
and petroleum from BeXar, Edward!
and Anderson counties, kaolin from
Fayette and Edwards counties, TIT
product of the latter pronounced D!
European experts to be equal to tn
celebrated deposits of Limoges
, France. Rock salt from Van Iand
and Southern Texas, and so OF
through the list, too numerous men
ton in a newspaper article. In fac
Texas may be said to contain ever:
known mineral except tin, whic
may yet be found. Among preciou
) gems, we reckon the beryl, from Gil
lespie county, garnet, from Burne
) Onyx OF great beauty from +