The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1889-05-02
A GEOLOGICAL TRAMP.
A Summary of Original Research
and Investigation.

For the Statesman.
geographically, the country around
the city presents very diverse features
The sterile mountain side and the beau,
tiful bottom lands, the verdant hill and
peaceful valley, the babbling brook and
the flowing river, the smiling prairie and
the majestic forest all appear as if nature,
foreseening the time when the
children of men should erect
the capitol of great and glorious
state, had determined to make the locality
as representative of herself as possible.
Geologically, we have the oretaceous or
tertiary systems third and fourth periods
of earth's formation), with occasional pro-
tusions of basalt and other igneous rocks.
These last are attributable to volcanic
dyke, which extends for considerable
distance through the center of the state.
They were upheaved during some period
of volcanic disturbance, breaking the in
tervening strata and protrude above the
surface like a wart on the
skin. A curious effect of
these disturbances is seen in a small
hill south of the city. The molten matter,
urged upward by some invisible force, has
broken the massive limestone, changing
its position from horizontal to nearly YER
tical, and arranging the .upturned edges
in series of oval rings. In mining coun-
tries these contacts are considered very
favorable to the formation of precious
metals.
The most prominent feature, one that
first strikes the observer, especially if he
be of practical turn of mind, is the
vast quantities of building materials
which nature has spread around us, par
ticularly brick clay. The deposits of this
material occur chiefly along the courses
of the principal streams, and extend with
the Colorado throughout almost the en-
tire length of the county, furnishing brick
of superior quality and are practically in
exhaustible in extent. Austin will never
want for brick houses, for here are a score
of cites inchoate. Turning to the hills
and mountains north and west of the city,
we see unlimited quantities of build
ing material in the shape of excell-
ent limestone. Concerning the quality of
this material, it is only necessary to men
tion the fact that limestone quarried near
the CITY, has been transported all the way
to Rusk to be used in the state furnace
there.
An exact estimate of the building re-
sources within a circuit of ten miles of
Austin, could such be obtained, would
present figures utterly imcomprehensible.
And, with the sand furnished in vast
quantities by the beds of the river
and other large streams, and the
unlimited quantities of the excellent lime
that can easily be obtained, enough NOR
tar can be provided to utilize these vast
stores to any extent likely to be de.
manded within the next hundred years;
and it is safe to aver that Austin can be
duplicated, and in the place of every
wooden building now existing erect sub
stantial buildings of brick or stone at less
aggregate cost than any city of equal size
in the state.
Apropos of the lately much mooted road
question, few words may be in order.
In this branch of constructive economy,
Travis county presents unusual facilities.
/, None of the material to be used in the
construction of macademized roads need
be transported over FIVE miles, and where
+ the hard limestone is not easily available
& the large deposits of gravel in the eastern
and southern portions of the county
\ would take its place and
y furnish just the material needed.
The fact that our roads can be macada-
mixed cheaper than can be done by any
agricultural community of equal impor
tance in the state having the same char
acter of roads, would seem an additional
argument in their favor. Owing to the
lack of complete geological survey, the
mineral products of the county are yet
undetermined. Bitnmen, asphaltum, ce
ment, gypsum and mineral waters are
known to exist in considerable quantities
near the city; small exudlngs of petro-
leum have been noticed south
of the city near Bollings creek, but
not in sufficient quantities to develop
into anything profitable. So long as our
virgin soil retains its fertility it is hardly
probable that fertilizers will be used to
any great extent in Texas. Yet, unhap-
PLY owing to the abusive methods of Gull
ovation long practlced on the Oldest of
our large plantations deterioration has
set in marked degree. On these farms
fertilizers will soon have to be used per-
force, and in view of these facts
it is some consolation to
reflect that we have close at hand an
abundance of natural fertilizers in the
shape of gypsum and green sand marls.
.
Onion creek near Pilot knob, and another
just east of Fairview Park. 1 have been
told by well-known we'll digger, who has
dug a number of wells between these two
points, that in nearly every case
he has encountered these strata.
This gives to the deposits of this
material, an area of over dozen square
miles. Mixed in the proportion of seven
parts mari with three parts guano, it fur
nishes a most excellent fertilizer, and
these beds are destined at no distant
period to become quite valuable. In the
exposure of these marls near Fairview
Park, mentioned above, have OBJ
. served several outoroppings of as
bestos, fibrous, indestuctible min
eral much used for making fire.
proof cloth. Although have had no OPP
portunity to make an extended personal
examination, 1 am satisfied it may be
found in quantities sufficient to work.
It has long, delicate, silky fibre and, 80
far as is known to the geological depart
ment, it is the only appearance of this
mineral in the state, with the exception of
q deposit of inferior quality in Llano
county. Some photographic stone also
o--aara IN fhia vicinitu INIT M affort hoe